Release date devastates family
THE family of a man who was stabbed to death in an argument was left distraught after learning that the man responsible was to be released from jail on the fifth anniversary of the killing.
Michael John Cuskelly, then 41, was initially found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison after stabbing Dean Carr, then 34, in the chest in a town house complex on Flint St, North Ipswich, on the night of September 17, 2007.
Cuskelly appealed the sentence, and in a legal battle that dragged on for another three years, his murder conviction was eventually quashed and he was allowed a retrial.
In the second trial, he was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to nine years in jail.
While frustrated and upset at the judicial process over what they viewed as a very lenient sentence for the crime, Mr Carr's parents, brothers and sisters said they had decided not to attempt to interfere.
But that attitude changed last week when they received a letter informing them that Cuskelly would be released on parole on September 17 this year - the day they will mark the fifth anniversary of the horrific death of their beloved brother and son, Dean.
Dean's brother Jason said the family had expected bad news after receiving a letter in May informing them that Cuskelly was applying for parole.
But they never suspected the release date would be allowed to coincide with the date of the crime.
"It is a day for us to mourn the loss," Mr Carr said.
"We sat through the decisions for the first trial - then the second - and we had moved on from it.
"But as soon as we found out about this we thought that's it, there is no compassion or consideration for the victims."
The family this week contacted the office of the Attorney-General in an attempt to find out if the release date could be changed.
However, they had not received a response to their inquiry as of yesterday.
The Queensland Parole Board only decided to rethink Cuskelly's release date after being contacted by the Queensland Times on Thursday.
The QT was informed late yesterday afternoon that the decision had been made to set back Cuskelly's parole release.
Sister Samantha Carr said the Parole Board's decision had taken a massive weight off the family's shoulders.
"That's all we wanted - this is the best news we've had all week," Ms Carr said.
"It is just that bit of compassion that we ask for - to be able to grieve for Dean on that day instead of worrying about that person getting out of jail."
