Grieving family’s torment over ‘beautiful soul’ Alicia’s death

It could never be shown beyond reasonable doubt that Charles McKenzie Ross Evans acted with intent on December 28, 2017, but Alicia Little’s family are certain she was the victim of malice.

Like so many women, Alicia Little had her bags packed when she was killed by her partner.

It could never be shown beyond reasonable doubt that Charles McKenzie Ross Evans acted with intent at Kyneton on December 28, 2017.

In their own minds, Alicia’s family are certain she was the victim of malice.

Evans is a violent man who had assaulted Alicia previously and did so in their house on the day of her death.

But, as has been said many times before; it’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove.

Alicia’s brother, Bronson, knows this is true but questions how a man with a history of violence towards his sister, who was well over .05 when he ran her over, who did not get help for her and lied about what had happened could get just four years in jail.

“I believe this (Alicia’s death) was a deliberate act,” Mr Little said. “I can’t understand our justice system. I thought he’d get eight to be honest.”

Alicia Little had been with Evans since 2013, a relationship punctuated by fear and violence. A prosecution summary said in December 2014, Alicia contacted triple-0, to say Evans assaulted her at their former Diggers Rest home.

Lee Little, with her son Ariki, 21, hold a picture of her daughter, Alicia. Picture: Mark Stewart

Six months later, Evans called triple-0 and said Alicia was “going berserk”. But, the summary said, she could be heard in the background saying “get off me” and “get your hands off my … throat”.

Police found Alicia had bruising to her eyes, cheek and arms and a suspected rib fracture. Evans had been bitten and scratched.

“When he pinned her down, the only way she should get away was to bite him,” her mother, Lee, said.

The prosecution summary said on April 20, 2016, Alicia visited an anti-domestic violence social worker in Wangaratta and said Evans attacked her the night before.

Nursing a black eye, Alicia told the worker she continued to return to life with Evans because of the pull of the property and her horses.

Later that year, they moved to Lavenders Lane, Kyneton, where she was to die on December 28, 2017.

On that day, after another period of volatility, Alicia phoned her mother and told her she was packing her bags. In a second call to her mum, at 2.53pm, Alicia battled to be heard over a ranting Evans.

Charles Evans arrives at the Supreme Court in Melbourne on September 10, 2019. Picture: AAP

Lee Little received a text message 36 minutes later in which her daughter said she was transferring possessions into her name.

“In the next 24 hours there is going to be drama,” the text said.

Less than an hour later, Alicia was dead after being hit by Evans’ Toyota Hilux.

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A major collision investigation unit detective’s report tabled in the prosecution summary said the vehicle was travelling towards a water tank and “steering to the right” (towards Little) before the impact.

Evans would tell police he didn’t know what had happened and had returned to the property because he thought Alicia had killed herself.

Lee Little later found Alicia’s packed bags near the front door.

“Our daughter was a beautiful soul,” Mrs Little said.

“She was fiery but she always thought she could repair broken people. That’s what killed her.”

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