Mum of Raichele Galea reveals heartache at pre-sentence hearing for killer Travis Wills
The heartbroken mother of a woman who was stabbed to death while she was an innocent bystander in a family argument in a Geelong home says her life has been torn apart.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The heartbroken mother of Raichele Galea says her life has been torn apart since her daughter was stabbed to death inside a Corio home.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the 2017 killing, Margaret Galea revealed her emotional turmoil in a moving statement read to the Supreme Court on Thursday.
It came during a pre-sentence hearing for her daughter’s killer, Travis Wills, who was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial last year.
In a victim impact statement read on her behalf, Ms Galea said she had been left “heartbroken” since the sudden death of her 44-year-old daughter.
“I no longer find any enjoyment in my life,” she said.
“I feel unhappy constantly, as if part of my heart is gone.”
Ms Galea said she suffered nightmares and would often wake to what she believed was the sound of Raichele’s voice.
She said she had also lost her appetite, was depressed and had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism to avoid crying endlessly and being in the “pit of despair”.
“I feel very angry all the time and keep asking myself: ‘Why Raichele?’” she said.
“Losing her so suddenly has destroyed a large part of my life.
“I can no longer hold my daughter and tell her I love her.”
The victim, a mother herself, was residing in Waurn Ponds at the time of her death.
She had just finished a shift at the SKM Recycling plant in South Geelong when she visited Debra Wills — her killer’s aunt — at a unit on Matthews Rd, Corio, late on June 30, 2017.
The trial heard her arrival coincided with a heated argument between several members of the Wills family, including Travis, who had never met Galea.
She was stabbed six times within minutes of entering the unit, including a fatal wound to her leg.
Galea was described in court on Thursday as an “innocent bystander”.
“The worst feature of the case is the death was entirely pointless,” Justice Paul Coghlan said.
On the day of the killing, Wills — then aged 20 and homeless — had consumed alcohol, cannabis and prescription drugs.
He has continued to deny responsibility for the stabbing, claiming he left the Corio unit before Galea was fatally injured.
Defence barrister Richard Backwell said his client, now 23, had a deprived upbringing that was marked by drug use at an early age.
He said Wills was motivated to “better himself” for his young son, who was born after the killing.
“In his words, he doesn’t want his son to look at him as ‘just a crim’,” Mr Backwell said.
Crown prosecutor Justin Lewis said Wills’ lack of remorse should serve as a significant factor in assessing his prospects for rehabilitation.
Wills was remanded in custody for sentencing on a date that is yet to be determined.
MORE NEWS