Karen Ristevski’s troubled stepson ‘tormented’ behind bars
THE troubled son of accused wife killer Borce Ristevski says he was tormented during his time behind bars because guards knew he was the stepson of murdered woman Karen Ristevski.
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THE troubled son of accused wife killer Borce Ristevski says he was tormented during his time behind bars because guards knew he was the stepson of murdered woman Karen Ristevski.
Anthony Rickard said the torments nearly “broke him” during 11 days in the custody centre under Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, but conditions improved when he was moved to Melbourne Assessment Prison.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life and I don’t scare easily,” Mr Rickard told the Herald Sun.
“They said ‘you’re going to pay for your father’s (alleged crimes).
“I told them it wasn’t me that killed her, I was the one that fought (for justice for Karen).”
“They would have had their way if it wasn’t for God watching over, or Karen watching over, me,” Mr Rickard added.
TRIAL DATE SET FOR ACCUSED MURDER OF KAREN RISTEVSKI
It emerged today that Mr Rickard has had three criminal charges against him dropped.
Mr Rickard’s lawyer Erin Byrt, of Papa Hughes Lawyers, said her client had been forced to endure extra time in custody after staff failed to transport him to his initial court appearance.
Mr Rickard was meant to appear at Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on July 20 but would remain behind bars for another fortnight.
Police last month surrounded the house where Mr Rickard was living with a friend, after he repeatedly failed to meet Missing Persons Squad detectives.
The midnight arrest — in front of his friend and her young daughter — came days before his accused father was due to face court again.
Mr Rickard had indicated he would not comply with requests to take the stand as a witness.
The young man, who said his life of trauma had led to a brain injury and drug use, was charged — though none of the offences related to the case of his murdered stepmother.
The allegations were linked to a 2016 argument he had had with an ex partner, who had not herself pushed for the charges to be pursued.
While he admitted he had “pushed his luck” with police during their attempts to meet him before his father’s court hearings, Mr Rickard said the treatment he had endured was unjust.
He was freed after prosecutors withdrew three charges relating to failing to answer bail and accusations he had made threats to his former girlfriend.
A separate charge of contravening an intervention order proceeded, but it was ordered he had already served more than enough time in custody.
It comes as Mr Ristevski was ordered to stand trial for murder next March.