Point blank killer who burnt woman’s body jailed
Karen Sweeney |
Maddison Jane Parrott was loved.
“There’s a little bit of Maddison in everyone here today,” her mum Marlene said of the dozens of people who packed the courtroom to watch as her killer was sentenced to 27 years behind bars.
Ms Parrott died instantly when she was shot at point blank range inside a glamping tent in Geelong on December 3, 2018.
The trauma of the 29-year-old’s horror murder didn’t end there for family.
In an effort to cover his tracks, Nicholas James Cross – or another at his request – set the tent alight with Ms Parrott’s body inside.
The 35-year-old was ordered on Friday to serve at least 21 years of the sentence handed down by Justice Rita Incerti, who last year found him guilty of murder after a trial by judge alone.
Cross had been arguing with Ms Parrott when they arrived at the glamping tent she was sharing with her partner at Geelong Showgrounds at the time.
He picked up a gun, pointed it at her forehead and pulled the trigger.
“You shot her in the heat of the moment and with no warning. You thoughtlessly acted in the most violent and deadly way,” Justice Incerti said.
“This was an utterly senseless killing … unprovoked (and) cold-blooded.”
While Cross continues to maintain his innocence, it was argued in a pre-sentence hearing that he had showed remorse for his actions by turning to Ms Parrott’s partner and apologising to him for killing her.
But prosecutor David Glynn rejected that claim.
“The apology was … in the sense of ‘sorry I just killed your girlfriend’, which is a bit different to anything actually approaching remorse,” he said.
Justice Incerti agreed. Even up to his sentencing on Friday he had shown no sign of regret or remorse for his ghastly actions, she said.
Outside court, family and friends shared pictures of Ms Parrott – volunteering with children in Africa, as bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding, grinning on a playground and with one of her beloved dogs. The large group then headed out for bubbles.
It’s something they used to do with her and a way to honour her as they pass another dreadful milestone in the long court process.
The sentence came as a relief for her parents Marlene and Dale Parrott.
“We are as happy as we can be under the circumstances, considering we don’t have a daughter anymore,” Mr Parrott said.
“She was very loved because that’s what Maddison was – she had that zing about her, she bounced into a room and it would light up.”
She was a very loved girl and is very much missed, Mrs Parrott said.
While dozens of family and friends were in court in person, more watched the sentence online.
“It’s a good reflection of the beautiful person she was,” Mrs Parrott said.
While they’re hopeful the sentence ends the court process they won’t know for sure quite yet. Cross has 28 days to file an appeal.
AAP
