Samantha Armytage speaks to Bruce and Denise Morcombe about grief and losing a family member

In a moving interview with parents of murdered teenager Daniel Morcombe, Sam Armytage has shared her own experience with grief.

This is a hard one.

In the newest episode of Something To Talk About with Samantha Armytage, the host and former Sunrise star sat down with Denise and Bruce Morcombe, the parents of Daniel Morcombe.

Daniel Morcombe was abducted and murdered in the Sunshine Coast in 2003 while he was

waiting to catch a bus to the shops to buy presents for his family.

Daniel’s killer, Brett Peter Cowan, abducted Daniel at a bus stop near his home and took him to a secluded spot and choked him to death when the 13-year-old tried to escape.

Daniel Morcombe was abducted and murdered when he was only 13-years-old. Picture:

RELATED: ‘Police could’ve done better’ with Morcombe

Daniel’s parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe have continued his legacy through The Daniel Morcombe Foundation, which was established to make Australia a safer place for children.

During the podcast episode, Sam shared a touching moment with Denise and Bruce when they talked about how they deal with grief.

Sam only recently lost her mother Libby, who suffered from an auto-immune disease, and sympathised with the parents when it came to people wanting to express their condolences.

“When you’re recognised, it takes everything off to a different direction. I lost mum in November, and at the service station, people will come up to you when you’re putting fuel in your car and say ‘I’m so sorry about your mum’. You’re thinking ‘Thank you’, of course it’s lovely, but you’re not in that zone and all of a sudden you’re shaken out of putting fuel in your car and you’re brought there. I’m not comparing what I’ve been through to you at all, but when you’re recognised, and people mean well … it sort of shakes you out of your day to day.”

Samantha recently lost her mother Libby. Picture: Instagram

RELATED: ‘For Daniel’ vigilante inmate walks free

Denise understood, with many people stopping her often to ask if she is Daniel’s mum, and saying they know how she feels. “They don’t really know how I feel. It’s difficult. But we have to smile.”

Bruce mentioned that there are only two places where he doesn’t appreciate being approached.

“There’s only two places where it does bother me, and one is when I’m somewhere eating with a knife and fork in my hand, like please, I’m going to poke you with my fork … and another one is when I’m in the gents. The boys are just standing there doing their business and then want to shake your hand.”

Denise and Bruce Morcombe deal with the loss of their son everyday. Picture: Getty Images

RELATED: What good can come of Daniel’s death

In a poignant moment, Samantha asks Bruce and Denise outright if they wished that there was the death penalty when Daniel’s killer – Brett Peter Cowan – was convicted.

“I don’t know how I would control myself, but do you wish there was the death penalty for people like this? Do you want revenge?”

“No, no, no,” said Denise. “We just hope Cowan stays in jail forever. What he did to Daniel was horrific. What he did to many other children was horrific as well. We just hope he’s kept off the streets forever, I don't believe he should be killed.”

“I think we all have to remember is that he will be doing jail time with one eye open,” added Bruce. “Even on the inside he’s not liked. He has a target on his back. He will be doing it tougher than many other people in jail. We don’t want to give him an easy escape.”

In fact in May 2018, Brett Peter Cowan was stabbed in jail, making it the second attack had been a part of since being locked up.

In 2016, he was scalded with boiling water by another inmate.