Kylie Blackwood’s killer jailed for life over horrific Pakenham murder
The family of slain Kylie Blackwood have taken aim at Victoria’s parole system for allowing Scott Alan Murdoch to be free to kill the “dearly loved” mum, as he was today jailed for life – but was once again given a chance at freedom.
Police & Courts
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The family of a young mother stabbed to death in a brazen daylight burglary at her home has finally seen justice done almost seven years on, as her killer was condemned to life in jail.
Supreme Court Justice Jane Dixon said the murder of Kylie Blackwood at the hands of Scott Alan Murdoch, 42, was in “the worst category” of the crime.
She said she must protect the community from him.
But Justice Dixon said Murdoch’s early plea of guilty to the August 2013 murder meant he deserved a non-parole period.
He will be eligible for release in 36 years when he is in his mid 70s.
This is despite the prosecution pushing for him to be locked up without parole, arguing he was on parole for another violent crime when he killed Mrs Blackwood, 42, in her Pakenham home on August 1, 2013.
Mrs Blackwood’s grief-stricken family had also hoped he would never be freed,
Her parents, Alan and Edith Whitta, in a statement on behalf of the family, today took aim at Victoria’s parole system which allowed Murdoch to be free to kill their daughter.
“We hope that the parole system will be more accountable for whom they release in the future,” they said.
They thanked everyone involved in the case, in particular the Homicide Squad, for “their persistence and efforts to get a result”.
“After six-and-a-half years we have some closure but it does not bring our daughter back,” they said.
“Kylie was a dearly loved daughter, wife, sister, mother and friend.”
It was Kylie’s twin daughters, Holly and Mia, then 11, who raised the alarm after finding their mum in a pool of blood in the lounge room after school.
“The savage murder of Kylie Blackwood deprived her of the precious gift of life,” Justice Dixon told Murdoch.
“Kylie Blackwood lost her life and her husband lost a loving wife. Her children lost a doting mother. You did that.”
His criminal history and breaches of parole show “why the community must be protected from you”, Justice Dixon said.
Murdoch had argued his remorse and guilty plea should see a non-parole period imposed.
In an apology letter earlier read out in court, he said: “I hate myself for what has gone on.
“If I could take it back, I would.
“I know I have destroyed her husband and kids’ life. I’m sorry.”
Justice Dixon said she gave “modest weight” to Murdoch’s belated remorse.
Crown prosecutor Nick Papas QC had argued the only appropriate sentence was life without parole.
An aggravating feature of Murdoch’s offending, Mr Papas said, was that he was on parole for another violent crime.
Murdoch also pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious injury over an eerily similar attack on Ilona Prohaska, 80, in her Endeavour Hills home three months earlier on May 21, 2013.
Mrs Prohaska miraculously survived the monster hammering a knife into her neck.
He was sentenced to 10 years for the attack, to be served concurrently with the life sentence for the murder of Mrs Blackwood.
Earlier this year, Mia and Holly Blackwood, now 17, said they hoped their mother’s killer would suffer in jail.
“After doing something like that, how could you call yourself a human being?” Holly said.
“I hope you suffer and get what’s coming to you. My mother deserves justice.”
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