Murdered woman Maddison Pante-Parrott’s loved ones says Nicholas Cross was ‘delusional’

The family of murdered Geelong woman Maddison Pante-Parrott has spoken of the relief of the jury seeing through her killer’s “disturbing lies” after an “indescribable act”.

Family and friends of murdered Geelong woman Maddison Pante-Parrott are overjoyed that Nicholas Cross has been found guilty of all charges relating to the shooting and burning of her body.

The circumstances of Ms Pante-Parrott’s death, including leaving her padlocked in a tent that would be later set on fire, has sent “spine-chilling emotions to her friends, family and community”, those closest to her have told the Geelong Advertiser.

The family and friends of Maddison Pante-Parrott are overjoyed that Nicholas Cross has been found guilty of her murder. Source: Supplied.

On the morning of December 4, 2018, Ms Pante-Parrott was shot from point-blank with a loaded gun in a tent at the Geelong Showgrounds. Three-and-a-half years later, and after a “rollercoaster of emotions”, her mother said she was happy it was over.

“Everyone is extremely happy the judge has reached a verdict that Nick Cross is guilty. Cross being found guilty has shown family and friends that justice has been served for this horrific act,” Marlene Parrott said on behalf of those closest to her daughter.

Cross was found guilty of not only shooting Ms Pante-Parrott during a heated argument with one of the weapons he carried around with him “at all times”, but of either directing an associate to burn the tent she was killed in, or doing so himself.

The family and friends of Maddison Pante-Parrott are overjoyed that Nicholas Cross has been found guilty of her murder. Source: Supplied.

Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Rita Incerti found that the act itself was “conscious, voluntary and deliberate”.

This, Ms Pante-Parrott’s family said, was a critical ruling because Cross “needed to be accountable for his indescribable actions”.

In something that was also important to those closest to Ms Pante-Parrott, Justice Incerti clearly noted that Cross’ story was “difficult to reconcile”.

Nicholas Cross has been found guilty of murdering Maddison Pante-Parrott.

A childhood photo of Maddison Pante-Parrott.

Justice Incerti told the court that the “precision” of his account suggested a “dishonest fabrication”.

Ms Parrot said: “Justice Incerti certainly saw through all of the disturbing lies that he had constructed and Cross was completely blamed for all of his actions. Without a doubt.”

While other witnesses had struggled to recount the exact details surrounding Ms Pante-Parrott’s death and the days leading up to it — and mainly because of how long ago it was — Cross had boasted that he remembered the murder like it was yesterday.

This would ultimately be his downfall, with Justice Incerti finding that his unusual storytelling precision led her to believe he had “moulded a version of events” that would best suit his defence.

Supplied Maddison Parrptt

Ms Pante-Parrott’s family and friends said the story that Cross had presented to the court and stuck by through the police interviews, and the many attempts to get the trial off the ground was “just a fabrication” that directed the blame at a different man.

That different man had been in a relationship with Ms Pante-Parrott in the months before her death and had been present in the glamping tent when the shooting occurred.

Mrs Parrott said that those closest to her daughter never believed he was responsible for her death and was simply the “target” that Cross had used as part of a “cover-up”.

“Cross went to extreme lengths to carefully manipulate evidence and create a version of events that ended up being inconsistent and caused total confusion,” Mrs Parrott said.

“No one ever believed the story and (the friend) had been extremely loyal and caring and supportive of Maddison in the months before her death. He was a beam of comfort and a bright spot in her life at the time she needed a good friend.”

Mrs Parrott said that the friend was especially important to Ms Pante-Parrott’s life because she had just come out of a “very acrimonious marriage breakdown” and was struggling to cope.

The family and friends of Maddison Pante-Parrott are overjoyed that Nicholas Cross has been found guilty of her murder. Source: Supplied.

Cross came up with excuses for his unusual behaviour in the days after the murder, including why he had burnt a car he had travelled into the Geelong Showgrounds with. He also claimed to have left a gun with a friend before hatching a plan to escape to Queensland.

The court heard that during this trip, a female friend travelling with him had changed her hair colour several times. Despite this evasion tactic, police located them both with a gun in Sydney.

“All of this was insufficient and delusional,” Mrs Parrott said.

“No part of the fabricated story that Cross came up with during the trial was enough evidence to convince the court clearly that they weren’t constructed stories, one way or another.”

Marlene Parrott (left) and her daughter, Maddison. Picture: Supplied

While there is no date yet for Cross’ sentencing, the Supreme Court will hear sentencing submissions in September.

When it does eventually get to the conviction, Mrs Parrott said she hoped her daughter’s murderer would get life in prison.

“Family and friends that dearly loved Maddison are slowly adjusting to a life without her,” Mrs Parrott said on their behalf.

“Many beautiful memories will always be in their hearts — remembering the beautiful, bubbly, passionate, enthusiastic, determined and caring person that she was who absolutely loved life.”

Originally published as Murdered woman Maddison Pante-Parrott’s loved ones says Nicholas Cross was ‘delusional’