‘Our family is no longer whole’: Devastating victim impact statements revealed

Russell and Ann Field lost their beloved son Matthew, his partner Kate and their unborn grandson, Miles, when a youth driving a stolen car slammed into them on Australia Day 2021. These are their heartbreaking victim impact statements.

Russell and Ann Field lost their beloved son Matthew, his partner Kate and their unborn grandson, Miles, when a youth driving a stolen car slammed into them on Australia Day 2021.

PETITION AGAINST ‘MANIFESTLY INADEQUATE’ SENTENCE

These are the heartbreaking victim impact statements read to the court before the offender was sentenced.

Ann and Russell Field. Picture: Zak Simmonds

RUSSELL FIELD

I will never forget 26 January 2021, Australia Day, when we were notified of the death of our son Matthew, his partner Kate and their unborn child Miles. Three lives gone in an instant. Our lives will never be the same with this tragic loss, and has affected me, my family and friends in every possible way.

Our family lives have changed forever. No longer can we enjoy happy moments like

Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries without Matthew, Kate and Miles being there. These

happy times are now gone forever.

Australia Day will now and forever hold a new meaning for us. It will be a “Remembrance Day” for Matt, Kate and Miles.

Just one month before, following our Christmas lunch, I was lying in my hammock as I often do. I was just thinking how lucky we were to have three wonderful children making a life for themselves.

Our eldest was married with three children, our daughter and partner had one, and now Matt and Kate were expecting their first child. What a joy it was for us to think that our children had survived the most troublesome years of their lives, and moving on to become wonderful parents.

We were so happy for Matt and Kate to be having a child, as they already had a house, two dogs and a cat, and now were embarking on parenthood with their first child.

Matt and Kate were expecting their first child. Picture: Supplied

We were watching the 6 o’clock news when a newsflash appeared “young couple killed at

Alexandra Hills while walking their dogs”.

Ann immediately said “I have a bad feeling about this, I think that is Matt and Kate.”

I hoped she was wrong.

She tried messaging them, but there was no response. They and their dogs looked forward to the evening walk, and they very seldom missed a day.

We had an agonising wait for over three hours until the police were at the front gate. We

knew then they were about to confirm our worst nightmare.

You do not know what three hours of anguish, praying and wishing is like, hoping that it was not them.

At 8.55pm on that Tuesday night our whole lives changed forever in an instant.

Matthew was a wonderful child, he was a Boy Scout, loved playing football, loved fishing, loved playing cricket, loved playing golf, in all a good all-round sportsman. OUR SON!

I miss the golf days we used to have and will cherish all of the memories I have as he was growing up.

He was loved by many, disliked by few and will be missed by everyone. A true gentleman. A son who knew right from wrong, and knew there was always consequences to his actions. There is no excuse for your actions by blaming others or saying you come from a broken home, or you were abused or your dog ate your homework. Right and wrong is on social media every day of the week. There is no excuse and you could have stopped the car at any time.

Matthew did not come from a privileged family. We are not doctors, nurses, accountants or solicitors. I am but a humble Chippie, my father was a policeman.

Matthew knew if he wanted a bike, he had to earn it. When he wanted a car, he went and got a job. He did not go steal one.

He knew nothing in this world was free. Nothing is a gift from God except life itself, and you took three beautiful, precious lives from us that day. These can never be replaced.

I now need sleeping pills every night to sleep. I often think is one enough or do I need the whole packet.

I still wake up during the night imagining what happened. Night after night. How the lives

of many have been effected, of the poor innocent people who actually saw the incident, the lives of the first responders. These people are scared forever.

I imagine how it unfolded as if it was in slow motion. How could you create so much destruction in peoples lives, and then do a runner at the first opportunity you had. This was a low act, the lowest of lows, a real dog act. Your total disregard for life was on show for all to see that day.

Every day I get out of bed, I walk like a zombie to the kitchen to make a coffee, passing many photos of Matt and Kate like this one.

Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter hold a picture of their unborn child, Miles. Picture: Facebook

We have many beautiful memories of Matt and Kate, wonderful photos and videos but unfortunately we have only but a few of Miles. In the morgue. These are the only photos we have to remember him by.

Every day I wake up I’m searching for something that will assist me in getting over this. I get my coffee, sit on the veranda and stare at the front gate for hours, hoping they drive in.

I would try and do something around the yard, but everywhere I look, things remind me of Matthew. I would remember the things we did together at home, a home that he and his brother help me build. Thinking of things that we could and should be now doing with Miles, and all the happy time we are missing out on, leave me depressed every day and unable to face work. I would go to his place and complete the renovation jobs he had started. Pretending he was there helping me.

At times I could do very little except sit and try to come to terms of what had happened. Other times it did actually feel he was there. This was my therapy, but I do know I still need more. A lot more.

Having Miles at home playing with his cousins is now only in our dreams.

We used to be very outward family, but now we have become more reclusive. We barely venture out fearing the slightest comment will set us off on another emotional journey.

I went to the football last weekend with a mate who convinced me to get out. I lasted 10 minutes before I was overcome with memories of Matthew playing. People around me didn’t understand why I was in tears, and I had to leave.

The site where Matthew Field, Kate Leadbetter and unborn baby Miles were killed. Picture: Tara Croser.

I find it difficult sometimes to even talk about the incident and become very emotional every time I pass through that intersection. I can only hope that it gets better in time.

All too often people sit in that chair and say they are remorseful in order to get lighter sentence, only to return months later to repeat the same charade. So please do not pull at the heartstrings and insult me, or us by saying you’re remorseful, I will not accept it nor should we.

Every time you go to bed, every time you wake up and every spare moment you have, just think and picture in your head, these two beautiful souls and their unborn child whose lives you have taken.

The misery you have caused to others from families, friends, witnesses, first responders

and others in the general public.

Maybe, just maybe when you complete your sentence, you may understand the real meaning of remorseful. But I will not be holding my breath.

Whatever your sentence, and may it be long, it will never be enough. It will not bring back Matt, Kate and Miles.

Every one of us here today have been given a life sentence, our memories will not wane and our pain will not diminish with time. We will carry this burden forever and to our grave.

I will not forget that day, it is etched in my memory forever, and I will never accept an apology.

May you rot in hell my dear man, may you rot in hell.

Ann and Russell Field at the site where their son Matthew Field and his partner Kate Leadbetter and their unborn child, Miles, were killed. Picture: Tara Croser.

ANN FIELD

Our lives will never be the same because what happened on the 26 of January 2021. I’m no longer the person I was before. Our family is no longer whole. This crime has not only affected us emotionally, physically, socially, mentally, but as a family dynamic, the way we go about our day-to-day life has all changed.

Matthew was a fun life-loving boy, I remember he loved climbing trees, making jumps and riding his bike.

Matthew was always happy, he was an amazing person. He was just so caring, gentle, kind and funny.

Matthew was a loving person and he was one of the most honest people I’ve known.

Matthew was big on family gatherings, he loved to entertain and cook for his family and friends.

Some days he called in unexpectedly to see me, I wouldn’t even know he was in the house and then he would surprise me, laughing about my surprise reaction. He was just a beautiful man.

Matthew was sporty he played golf and played in super league indoor cricket teams. No matter what Matthew tried he was always amazing at it.

We live on acreage, so it was the perfect environment for Matthew and his brother and

sister and friends to play footy and cricket and hang out.

Matty Field was an “amazing person”.

Matthew had found a beautiful partner in Kate who kept him grounded. They were like two peas in a pod and they built a life together, they were bringing a new life into the world – a son in baby Miles.

They were beautiful people and just so happy and in love.

I remember hearing the news that a young couple had been killed walking their dogs and thinking to myself, “that was our kids”.

When the police came and asked was Russell home my worst fears were confirmed.

Russell broke down and I made coffee as it was the polite thing – but I was just numb.

Every day I wake up and feel like something is missing, because it is. I am emotionally and physically drained all the time. I can barely get out of bed some days.

After I have a shower I’m exhausted and I feel I can’t do anything. I walk around in a daze not knowing what to do. I struggle to do daily chores around the home like leaving the washing in the machine for hours on end then having to rewash it.

I lack sleep. Because I lack sleep, I lack energy and motivation.

Every day blends into one and I feel like I’m going through the motions. I read things and I cannot absorb what I have read.

This is all because of the sadness and grief I feel from losing my son.

Kate Leadbetter and Matt Field. Picture: Supplied

Since Matthew was killed, I haven’t been sleeping very well.

I now have to take sleeping tablets, they have helped me get to sleep but I still wake up early in the morning and it starts all over again.

I used to be a happy and creative person, I don’t feel like that person any more and every day is a struggle. I can’t concentrate on anything. Some days I can’t even follow simple instructions like cooking recipes that I’ve cooked all my life or reading a pattern and using my sewing machines that I have done for many years. I had started onesies and other baby clothes the same as I did for our children and our other grandchildren, my grandies.

Some days I feel paralysed, and I can’t remember what I’m supposed to be doing.

Leaving the house and going out is something I dread. My world seems to have shrunk without Matthew in it.

I can’t see a counsellor/psychologist yet. I know that I need to but I just can’t face talking about it, talking about what my life means without Matthew in it. It’s so hard to put into words what it has meant having Matthew taken from us.

My life is hell, I wish with all my heart it would go back to normal and I had Matthew back with us.

It’s so hard to believe that Matthew Kate and baby Miles are not coming home. I still hope they will come up the driveway.

Seeing Matthew in his casket the day before the funeral made it a bit more real for me.

The impact of Covid made it difficult for us to plan Matthews funeral, this meant many of

their friends could not attend which was devastating to me.

I didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to Matthew the night they were killed.

Recently I attempted to apply for a few new jobs to get my mind off what happened, but my concentration is so poor it’s all too hard for me.

I used to help volunteer at the Mater Hospital where I previously worked, with Parent Aide Unit with new mums with babies but I am unable to do this at the moment as it is too much of a trigger. When seeing a young dad and mum with a pram, it brings back that I’m

not going to experience this myself with Matthew, Kate and baby Miles. Knowing I’m never going to experience all these wonderful milestones with my son and grandson is devastating. Family is the most important thing to us. It will be sad that Matthew will be missing seeing his nieces and nephews grow up who he loved dearly.

Trinkets left at the scene where Kate Leadbetter and Matty Field and their unborn child were killed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

I’m very nervous in a car now, every screech and cars going fast frighten me. I really do not like being in a car. I have found some days I drive out of our driveway only to go down the

road and have to come home. It took me three times of leaving and returning before I could go out one day.

I don’t go to my quilting and sewing groups as often as I used to as it is just too hard to socialise.

I cancel a lot of coffee catch ups and lunches with friends as it’s just too hard.

Every night when I close my eyes, Matthew’s the last thing I think about. When I wake in the morning Matthew’s the first thing I think about.

We have an everyday reminder of Matthew and Kate‘s death as Russell and I look after their dogs: Frankie and Django. Unfortunately, Django has bone cancer so his life is

limited. It’s going to feel like losing another part of Matthew, like losing him all over again. Sadly we did not have Matthew’s phone password resulting in us losing all of his photos which has further added to our suffering.

Attending court is a new experience for me, I never thought the first time would be for the death of my son, his partner and my unborn grandson, Miles.

I cry every day. I hate having to put on a brave face and pretend that everything is okay in

public like I am today. I’ve always felt “mothers are meant

to protect the children” and even though Matthew was an adult, I wasn’t able to do this.

When I think about what happened to Matthew, Kate and their unborn baby, Miles, I get heart palpitations and chest pains. This is my new broken heartbeat. I would never wish this feeling upon anybody else.

We are here today so the court can understand how this one poor choice that the offender made has changed our entire lives and left a hole that we will never be able to fill.

I just hope the offender receives a sentence that reflects his actions and all that he has taken from us.

How do we continue to live without being paralysed with what happened?

Originally published as ‘Our family is no longer whole’: Devastating victim impact statements revealed