The sister of Sunshine stabbing victim Fiona Warzywoda says she still calls Fiona’s phone just to hear her voice recording.
Jolene Warzywoda broke down while remembering her sister at a community vigil last Thursday to mark the first anniversary of her death.
Reading out a letter to her sister at the site where she was fatally stabbed, Jolene said she was distraught Fiona would never see her niece.
“You will always be a part of us,” Jolene said. “I still ring your phone to hear your voice recording.”
About 70 people attended the candlelight vigil to pay respects to Fiona’s memory and to call for an end to family violence. Many carried signs with Fiona’s picture on it, bearing messages such as “Enough is enough”, “No more heartache” and “Laws need to change”.
Fiona, a Melton West mother of four, was allegedly stabbed by her de facto partner of 18 years, Craig McDermott, on April 16 last year.
Fiona died just hours after the pair left a Sunshine Magistrates Court hearing about an intervention order. The incident happened on the corner of Hampshire and Devonshire roads in broad daylight.
Mr McDermott has been ordered to stand trial on October 19 this year. He will appear in court again on April 23 for a further directions hearing.
Last year, Sunshine Magistrates Court received a staggering 3041 applications for family violence intervention orders, more than quadruple the number for matters outside homes.
