WHERE IS MY BRUCE?
It’s deal or no deal time for the couple who killed Fiona Splitt’s husband. If they stay silent they may never leave jail
IF Fiona Splitt had her way, she would get in a car, drive to the jails housing her husband’s killers, stand in front of them and demand answers.
The trouble is, she doesn’t expect to ever get a response.
The Cooktown woman has been the centre of a legal change, signed off in parliament yesterday, which will prevent convicted murderers getting parole if they do not disclose the whereabouts of their victims remains.
It comes five years after her husband Bruce Schuler, 48, disappeared while prospecting on Palmerville Station in Cape York. Landowners Stephen Struber and Dianne WilsonStruber were convicted of his murder last year.
Ms Splitt concedes she felt “numb” as she sat in State Parliament yesterday, watching the unanimous decision in support of the legislation. It was a big win, but it wasn’t the biggest win of all – the one that would give their family closure.
“I feel like we should be going to Lotus Glen now and standing in front of them and saying ‘well?’,” she said.
“Hopefully this (legislation) is going to help a lot of families and help it become national law, but I really don’t know if it will help us.
“I honestly don’t believe they will (reveal the location).
“If by chance they see this and do come forward I’ll be surprised.”
The 1360sq km station, which has been in the Wilson family for decades, is expected to be sold off to the highest bidder by the Public Trustee, who called for anyone with claims on it last month.
The Strubers are understood to be facing financial strain and are still in the midst of a legal battle with their former lawyer Anne English.
Ms Splitt said she will contact the new owners to get permission to search the property.
“As soon as it gets sold I’m going up there to try and find him,” she said.
The police conducted a search during the investigation, but found no trace except for a small patch of blood in burnt grass close to where he was last seen by friends.
The law is due to come into effect within the month.
Cook MP Billy Gordon, who represents the area where the murder took place and Ms Splitt’s Cooktown home, was not in parliament for yesterday’s vote.