Family of Jack Nankervis slam ‘gutless’ killer Bonnie Sawyer-Thompson during appeal
BONNIE hacked a man to death while he slept, stabbing him 70 times. As she appeals her 10-year sentence, the victim’s family wants to send a message.
BONNIE Sawyer-Thompson used an axe and a knife to inflict maximum damage.
The Victorian woman stabbed Jack Nankervis 70 times while he slept inside the killer’s unit in Morwell, in the state’s east, in 2014.
Mr Nankervis never stood a chance. Sawyer-Thompson, 19 at the time, blamed her boyfriend — a man she met online — for pressuring her into it. She was the last person in Victoria to be found guilty of “defensive homicide”, a charge that no longer exists.
It was a win for the now 22-year-old who was originally charged with murder and who could be eligible for parole in 2021. But she’s not satisfied.
On Tuesday, she made an application to the Victorian Court of Appeal to have her sentence reduced further. It didn’t go down well with Mr Nankervis’ family, who told news.com.au that Sawyer-Thompson deserved everything she got, and much more.
“Bonnie appealing her pathetic sentence is just another kick in the face,” Mr Nankervis’ sister Kathleen said.
“A sentence of 10 years is nothing in comparison to the life sentence we have been served.
“Bonnie was 19 when she committed this horrendous crime. When she is released she will still have time to start a family and make a life for herself. She took all of those opportunities away from Jack.”
Ms Nankervis said “Bonnie chose to do what she did that day” and “her lifestyle was her decision”. She has no sympathy for the convicted killer.
“Hearing her sob and tell stories to the judge is almost laughable,” Ms Nankervis said.
“Bonnie is where she is because of her choices, she is not hard done by.”
She doesn’t plan on speaking to Sawyer-Thompson, but has a message she’d like her to read.
“I would tell her that I hope Jack’s face haunts her every night. I hope the fact that she caused so much pain and suffering eats her alive.
“Most of all, I’d tell her just how much of a treacherous, revolting, heartless, gutless and putrid person she is. No normal human being could have done what she did.
“No normal person could even fathom bludgeoning someone to death or mutilating another human. She is an animal, a monster.”
Sawyer-Thompson previously told the court her boyfriend at the time convinced her to kill Mr Nankervis. She said the boyfriend brought the weapon into her house and warned her that if she didn’t comply with his demands, her family would be killed, the ABC reported.
The court heard that on the morning of the killing, the trio took a cocktail of drugs including GHB and ice. The boyfriend was never charged in relation to Mr Nankervis’ death.
Sawyer-Thompson’s lawyers told news.com.au their client was handed an “excessive” sentence because “the judge didn’t place enough weight on a range of factors ... including her young age, immaturity and the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of her partner”.
Tim Marsh, Chief Counsel at VLA Lawyers added: “her borderline IQ and significant mental health problems, her genuide remorse and good prospects for rehabilitation” should have also been considered.
The Supreme Court in Victoria abolished the defensive homicide charge — created in 2005 to help victims of domestic violence — after Sawyer-Thompson was sentenced.
At the time, Attorney-General Robert Clark said the law had been “hijacked by violent men who’ve been able to get away with murder”.
On Wednesday, Ms Nankervis said her family was strong and has “stuck together”, but life was hard without her brother.
“Jack was very much loved, he made a huge impact on many people’s lives. When things like this appeal happen, it tends to get harder,” she told news.com.au.
“We have coped quite well considering the circumstances but the thing I think we all miss the most is Jack’s infectious laugh and his ability to make people smile even at the worst of times.
“He had a huge heart and an even bigger personality. He truly was the best.”
Sawyer-Thompson’s legal team told news.com.au their client was handed an “excessive” sentence because “the judge didn’t place enough weight on a range of factors” including her young age, immaturity and abuse she suffered.
Tim Marsh, Chief Counsel at VLA Lawyers, added: “her borderline IQ and significant mental health problems, her genuine remorse and good prospects for rehabilitation” should have also been considered.
The Court of Appeal did not reach a decision on Tuesday.
Email: rohan.smith1@news.com.au | Twitter: @ro_smith