Family of stabbed Ipswich grandma heartbroken

The family of Vyleen White, the grandmother allegedly stabbed to death at a shopping centre, say they are shattered by her shocking death.

The husband and daughters of the woman allegedly stabbed to death in the carpark of a suburban shopping centre say their hearts are “shattered”.

Vyleen White, 70, died after allegedly being stabbed at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre’s underground car park about 6pm on Saturday.

Her husband of nearly 50 years Victor White said it felt as though it was not just Vyleen who had been killed, but the whole family.

“This has changed the course of everyone’s life,” Mr White told on A Current Affair.

Daughter Cindy Micallef tearfully said if the crime had been a carjacking rather than a stabbing, her mother would have gladly given up her car.

Vyleen White and her husband Victor. Vyleen died after allegedly being stabbed at a shopping centre in Redbank Plains. Picture: A Current Affair

“She just had a love for people, for God and Jesus and her love was just what kept us all alive,” Ms Micallef said.

“She would have said ‘here’s the keys’. She would have said ‘I don’t care, take it’, as long as we are safe.

“She would have prayed for the offenders.”

The family also praised the six-year-old girl who got help, saying she “deserves a medal”.

“She just ran to get help. She just ran. She just screamed at the top of her lungs and of all people, she finds a doctor,” Ms Micallef said.

Dr Ademola Afolabi ran to Ms White’s aid, but could not save her life.

Mr White said he wants justice done for Vyleen. Picture: A Current Affair

Mr White, who would have celebrated his 50th anniversary with Vyleen soon, is struggling to come to terms.

“All I knew, she went to (the) shop to get a few quick items and sitting here, hearing all police sirens going on and not long after, I get the knock on (the) door saying she was gone,” he said through tears.

“When this (person) stabbed my wife (they) stabbed four of us in the heart.

“(They) didn’t just kill her, (they) killed four of us with her.

“Justice has to be done, not for my sake, for the memory of Vyleen.”

The family said they did not want the devastating loss of Ms White to morph into discourse about race, but rather about the broader issue of youth crime.

“I did not want community backlash,” she said.

“We thank every nationality in the community that’s been supporting us.

“I don’t want the community targeting anyone.”

Five teenage boys have been arrested. Only one has been charged so far