The victim impact statement of Belinda Angus, Garry Angus’s daughter:
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October 17, 2011, I started as any normal Monday would. However, we were all very tired after celebrating my 18th birthday party a couple of days prior. Little did we know that it was going to end in a tragic way and change not only one day but change the rest of our lives.
This day marked the death of my father in a horrible, awful and disgusting way. He was murdered by a cold hearted human being. How could somebody think to even take a life? Did he not think about others and the effect that this would have, a horrible act to say the least?
To be 19 and living without your dad is something you could never imagine and something that could never be wished upon anyone, but to live with the thought that your dad was just an innocent man, working hard, and then turn around and be taken in a tragic way in which neither he nor no-one deserves.
The night of my dad’s murder I was woken by my stressed and worried brother after he had spoken with mum who found dad and informed him there had been an accident. Instantly this left us wondering what sort of accident. Is our dad OK? More to the point, when will mum and dad be home?
Before we knew it the doorbell rang and opening the door to find police on the doorstep was just heart-wrenching and scary. The police then entered and told us what had happened. Instantly my heart broke into bits and pieces while tears filled my eyes and fell down my face.
I was absolutely shattered and became numb. I didn’t know what to do or say. I just hoped it was all a dream, but it wasn’t, it was reality. Slowly it sank in to me, I would never see my dad again. I’d never hear his voice or laugh again. I’d never be held in his arms again and I’d never, ever get to make any more memories with him.
Ever since this day I have changed so much. I get scared so much easier. I am more emotional. Sometimes I have difficulty sleeping and I find have less motivation to get up and keep going, but I do. Each and every day I, my mum and brother put a smile on our face and continue to live for the present and hope for good things in the future.
Due to owning the newsagents where my father’s death occurred we were forced to make many hard decisions, whether we keep it going or close it. Who could continue to walk into a building and work where their father or husband had not passed away normally but was murdered.
I don’t know about anyone else and I guess others will never know, but for my family and I it would be virtually impossible, so not only did we lose our father, we lost our life. Mum and dad worked seven days a week and long hours so Tim and I practically grew up in the shop. We learnt so much and our communication level and business understandings were a lot more progressed compared to peers.
A need that I have but never can have again is my dad back again. Dad to me wasn’t just a father, he was a role model and educator. He shared his knowledge, values and belief with me, whilst he also shared his heart, inside jokes, family holidays, trips to the races, days spent in the shop and the many laughs and few tears we had all created the bond that dad and I shared.
If only I could have one more day with him, I would work to achieve all my dreams so he could be part of them, of how I imagined, fill the promise left unfilled and let him know just how much I love him.
My dad was a man with a heart of gold who was a friendly face known by many within the community. He had time for everyone, whether or not they were the best mates or family to stranger he hadn’t seen before, and under all the circumstances he found something good about everyone. He was a hardworking business man who had a strong passion and drive for the newsagency industry in which he excelled over his lifetime in the industry.
Each and every day I think of my dad, I think of the memories that fill my heart and I look at his picture in a frame. Some days I weep and leave tears along the roads I take. His friendly, bubbly personality is missed more and more every day, along with his beaming smile and larrikin-sounding laugh. If only we could share this once again.
I now aspire to be a kind-hearted person and friendly face among the community just like my dad and I only hope that with every step I take I continue to make him proud.