Brother of woman who was murdered, dismembered and buried in a strawberry field more than 20 years ago tells Supreme Court the killer is a ‘monster’ who remains a danger to the community if he is released.
Key points:
- Joanne Lillecrapp took Nicole McGuinness and Donna Lee Casagrande to help kick their drug habits
- But the couple killed and dismembered Ms Lillecrapp
- McGuinness was jailed for 18 years for the murder while Casagrande pleaded guilty to manslaughter
Nicole Therese Courcier McGuinness was using drugs when she killed Joanne Lillecrapp, 53, in November 2001.
The dismembered remains of Ms Lillecrapp were buried in her suburban yard in Angle Vale under a field of strawberries.
McGuinness was sentenced to life in prison in 2003 with 18 years without parole.
The court heard she relapsed into drug use after she was first released from prison last year and was brought back into custody twice for parole violations.
She seeks to be freed again.
The court previously heard that McGuinness had been drug free for 12 years, but reverted to drugs after Googling herself and seeing news articles about her crime.
When considering McGuinness’ request for release, the court must allow the victim’s family to be heard.
Ms Lillecrapp’s brother, Ron Lillecrapp, read her victim impact statement in court in person.
“I’m totally in disbelief at the suggestion of her being released into the community…because I think she’s a dangerous and unpredictable job,” he told the court.
Mr Lillecrapp told the court he was completely disgusted at the prospect of McGuinness being released from prison.
“I fear this monster thinks she can be rehabilitated in the community and every time she had the privilege she turned to drugs and did it again,” he told the court.
“I can’t express enough how this has affected my life, as well as other people and I wish there was a way to fully express my thoughts.
“I’m hurt, I’m angry, I’m frustrated.
“I have to live with this for the rest of my life. So who really gets life in prison here?”
McGuinness watched the proceedings via video link from police custody and mostly sat with her head bowed, and could be heard sniffling and crying.
Speaking to the media outside court after the hearing, Mr Lillecrapp said McGuinness deserved to be in prison for life.
“I think you have to keep it locked up and throw away the key, but that’s not going to happen,” he said.
He said he feared what would happen if McGuinness was released and relapsed into drugs.
“She goes out, she takes drugs, puts two and two together and finds another dead person, that’s my thought.”
The judge reserved his decision and did not give a date for his decision.
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