Throughout Mr Handford’s murder trial his brother, son, daughter and extended family pinned silver fob watches to their lapels.This simple act carries many meanings for the family. They remember their beloved dad and pop who collected clocks. The small watches are a symbol of the time lost, the time that should be served and symbol of unity of a family determined to ensure justice is served.

Mr  Handford was found lying face up, with his hands bound by his dressing gown cord and legs tied to his bed on the morning of September 15, his 90th birthday. He had been stabbed 13 times in the back, with a sock which is believed to have been used as a gag lying beside him.

Granddaughter Leah Handford has decided now is the time to fight for justice for her beloved pop and other families who live everyday knowing their loved ones died in the most the brutal way.  She and other family members have launched a powerful petition calling on the department of public prosecutions to appeal the “grossly inadequate” sentence handed down to Mr Handford’s killer and for the Attorney General to instate minimum sentencing. 

Jonathon Copper, 29, who stabbed Mr Handford on his 90th birthday was jailed for 16 years, but will serve a minimum of 13 years.

“We knew to anticipate limited justice but this is something else entirely. I remember it was like a sledgehammer to the guts – or to the heart,” Ms Handford said.

Supreme Court Justice Jane Dixon told the court she was bound to give the accused a discount for his willingness to give evidence against his co-accused.

Mr Handford’s youngest brother, Ron told The Courier at the time that no sentence would ever be long enough to heal the heartache they suffered from the loss of their beloved “Kenny”.

Ms Handford says the shock of the sentencing transported the family back to the original trauma. She believes the tough, generous and humble grandfather would have been appalled.

“To me, it’s devalued pop’s life – but it has also devalued the seriousness of the crime. 

“Pop didn’t have a lot of patience for people who didn’t contribute. If you didn’t give back, you were not much use.” 

While the family’s immediate focus is appealing for Mr Handford’s killer to be jailed for the maximum of 27 years they want their experience to act as impetus for legislative reform

“We are calling for minimum terms to reflect what the community feels about this kind of crime,” Ms Handford said. 

“(Mr Pakula) holds the key to influencing change and if our pop’s case isn’t a prime example of why we need change – then I don’t know what is.” 

Attorney General Martin Pakula said the government would roll out significant changes to sentencing for serious crimes including murder in coming weeks. 

"This must be a very distressing and difficult time for Mr Handford's family and my thoughts go out to them,” Mr Pakula said. 

"Our reforms will mean that for the offence of murder, a standard sentencing penalty of 25 years will override current sentencing practices. 

Under the proposed scheme, a ‘standard sentence’ will be created to represent the mid-point of seriousness for specific offences and be calculated at 40 per cent of the maximum penalty while courts will need to have regard to the standard sentence alongside other relevant factors in determining the appropriate penalty in each case. They will be required to provide reasons for departing from the standard

Opposition Attorney-General spokesman John Pesutto said “major changes” were needed to repair a broken justice system. 

“Our justice system is broken and needs to be fixed. Sentencing is a big part of that along with bail and police resourcing,” Mr Pesutto said. 

The Handford’s hope to collect at least 20,000 signatures before the required lodge of the appeal date on May 19. 

“We don’t want his legacy to be that his murderer got off so lightly – we want his sentence to reflect the seriousness of the crime, the loss to the family and the loss to the community,” daughter-in-law Carmel Handford said. 

The DPP said it was aware of the petition and did not wish to comment at this stage. 

SIGN THE PETITION

The Courier.