The brother of murdered woman Samantha Kelly wants the public to know his sister was a loving, doting mother who wanted nothing more than to bring up her own children.
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Michael Kelly spoke to the Bendigo Advertiser after a Supreme Court jury yesterday found Christine Ann Lyons guilty of Ms Kelly’s murder and attempted murder, and Ronald Lyons guilty of attempted murder and assisting an offender.
“We’re so stoked… We think the jury’s got it right,” Mr Kelly said of the verdicts.
Ms Kelly’s aunt, Tracey Lubcke, was present in the court from the start of proceedings and said it was “such a relief” when the verdicts were read.
Mr Kelly said the verdict also meant vindication for Ms Kelly and the family, after the accused lied in the days following her disappearance that she was taking drugs and had run off on her children.
He said it “really hurt” that they tried to paint his sister as a bad mother.
Mr Kelly was just 13 months older than his sister, and remembers spending childhood with her “racing around town”, and riding to and from school together on their bikes.
The pair spent a lot of time together after moving to Tasmania as teenagers, dreaming about how they would escape back to the ‘mainland’ once they were old enough.
Ms Lubcke said she grieved for ‘Sammy’ like daughter and while she knew there were still hard times ahead, she would look back on the memories she had.
She spoke of dancing in the rain together when a storm broke the heat of a summer day, and travelling to Warrnambool to watch the whales.
She remembered how much Ms Kelly wanted to be a mother, and how they would make up “ridiculous” baby names together.
“No one will ever forget her, because I won’t let them forget her,” Ms Lubcke said.
With the verdict now decided, Ms Kelly’s extended family now looks forward to ensuring Ms Kelly’s four young children have a happy, healthy upbringing.
“We remind them they did have a loving, doting mother who loved them unconditionally,” Mr Kelly said.