Mother opens up about Mackenzie Anderson’s murder, TikTok and AVO

The mother of alleged DV murder victim Mackenzie Anderson says she believes AVOs are “just a piece of paper” and has called for a major overhaul of laws protecting women in NSW.

The mother of alleged domestic violence murder victim Mackenzie Anderson says she believes AVOs are “just a piece of paper” and has called for a major overhaul of laws protecting women in NSW.

Tabitha Acret wakes up in the morning “with a startle”, realising as soon as she opens her eyes that her 22-year-old daughter “is not coming back”.

Police allege Mackenzie was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Tyrone Thompson ­inside her unit on Crebert St, Mayfield, in Newcastle’s suburbs, about 10.40pm on March 25.

“That night … I can’t even imagine how scared she would have been,” Ms Acret said.

Two months on and in her first interview since her daughter’s death, Ms Acret said she wants all domestic ­violence deaths to make as many headlines as Mackenzie’s – and urged men across Australia to campaign for equality for women, to protect their “mothers, daughters, wives and sisters”.

Tabitha Acret has spoken for the first time since the death of her daughter Mackenzie Anderson, 22, at her unit in Newcastle in March. Picture: Sue Graham

Ms Acret remembers Mackenzie as a child who was “always giggling, a bit sassy and very extroverted”, and talks about the “humungous ripple effect” of her death, that, among other things, has led to her becoming a carer for her two-year-old grandson.

“We’ve been kind of just learning to breathe to be honest,” she told The Daily Telegraph.

Police allege Mackenzie was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Tyrone Thompson and that he stabbed her more than 20 times. Picture: TikTok

“There’s some days where it’s OK and some days where it’s really hard ... not that you forget at night, but it wakes you up in the morning, with a startle.

“You’re just like, it’s there every day … she’s not coming back.

“It’s really hard to get up some days, but you just have to.

“The ripple effect of this is humungous. Every time a woman dies, no matter who it is, she’s someone’s kid, someone’s sister maybe, she’s someone to a lot of people and everyone has to try to ­figure out how to keep living through it.”

Ms Acret was away on a trip to Cairns when she got the call at 2am to tell her that Mackenzie had died. Picture: Toby Zerna

Ms Acret was away on a trip to Cairns when she got the call at 2am that would change her life.

By the time she got back to Newcastle her daughter’s death was already making ­national headlines.

In the days that followed the shocking details about her alleged final moments continued to emerge. Mackenzie was allegedly stabbed more than 20 times and had her head stomped on, in a final act of abuse.

“You know, one of the things that keeps me awake at night is that she must have been so scared,” Ms Acret said. “And that’s how she spent her last breaths, being petrified. Women shouldn’t have to feel like that … I just wish that was not her last ­moment.”

There was a massive outpouring of emotion across Australia in the wake of the shocking death of Mackenzie, including a march of thousands through the Newcastle CBD. Picture: Toby Zerna

Thompson was charged with Mackenzie’s murder, ­aggravated enter dwelling with intent and breach AVO.

The young mother’s death saw thousands march through the streets of Newcastle and community leaders from Attorney-General Mark Speakman to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb vow to investigate and learn from the tragedy.

A major source of outrage in the community was not only the horrific nature of Mackenzie’s death, but also the fact the man charged with her death was out on parole and subject to an AVO requiring him to say away from her.

Thompson (left) was charged with murder, aggravated enter dwelling with intent and breach AVO, over the alleged attack on Mackenzie (right). Picture: Instagram

Incredibly Mackenzie had managed to hide the AVO from her mother, with Ms Acret slamming the orders as “just a piece of paper”.

“Paper doesn’t stop anyone from doing anything. It doesn’t. People still speed, people still do things wrong. It’s just a piece of paper ... why aren’t they made so they’re physically away – like an ankle bracelet that can track where they are so it goes off if they come in their vicinity.”

Ms Acret said every domestic violence murder deserved the same community outcry as her daughter’s.

Ms Acret she believes AVOs are “just a piece of paper” and has called for a major review of the state’s domestic violence laws, as well as urging men to better support women. Picture: Sue Graham

“Shouldn’t we be outraged every time a woman’s killed?” she said. “How many men walk to their car at night and hold their keys in a certain way and actually scan a whole area? ... That’s how women live every single day. So why aren’t men enraged that this is their mother, this is their daughter.

“Why are men not screaming and shouting with us, why are they just not disgusted. Until men start calling out other men in the pub and saying ‘dude that was an inappropriate comment, don’t speak to women like that’, or ‘don’t shove your girlfriend like that’, it’s not going to change.”

A-G VOWS TO LOOK INTO AVO FAILURE

Attorney-General Mark Speakman has reiterated the NSW government will review the “abhorrent” death of Mackenzie Anderson after her mother Tabitha Acret slammed the use of AVOs in domestic violence cases.

A trial of electronic monitoring bracelets for domestic violence offenders has been underway in NSW since 2017, but Mr Speakman said a review would still take place once the matter was finalised in court.

Attorney-General Mark Speakman said Mackenzie Anderon’s death was “abhorrent and devastating”. Picture: Instagram

“Mackenzie Anderson’s death was abhorrent and devastating,” he said.

“As is ­standard practice, a review by the domestic violence death ­review team will take place once criminal proceedings are finalised.”

Opposition police spokesman Walt Secord supported Ms Acret’s views and called promises of reform by Mr Speakman and the NSW government “cruel hoaxes”.

“Sadly, the reality is that AVOs offer no protection for many women escaping domestic violence,” Mr Secord said.

“Ms Acret has made an observation that few would ­dispute. (Mr Speakman’s) call for reviews and studies are cruel hoaxes.”

Ms Acret also said she believed prisons were often failing to rehabilitate offenders and called for a course for domestic violence offenders to be made available, similar to the traffic offenders program used for drink and drug drivers.