Son remembers murdered mum
Florence’s killer is expected to be released from jail soon after almost 24 years behind bars
Helping people and always having a smile on her face are two things Russell Bennett remembers about his mother Florence, murdered 23 years ago. Bennett said his mother believed in helping people, and she was like that her whole life. Florence was murdered at the age of 74 in Invercargill in November 1996 in her home. Her killer, Justin Ross Garthwaite, 51, was expected to be released from prison soon after serving almost 24 years behind bars for raping and killing her. During the night-time attack, the then 27-year-old bound and taped Florence’s mouth and cut her telephone line in case she survived his assault. She died from suffocation. In July 1997, Garthwaite received the mandatory life in jail on the murder charge, with a 14-year nonparole period. He was also given a concurrent sentence of 12 years’ jail for raping her. The year 1996 was a hard year, Bennett said. His father, Norm, had died from a heart attack in June, only a few months before Florence was murdered. ‘‘It was hard to get over losing your mother and father in the same year.’’ Remembering his mother, Bennett, who was now also 74 and the oldest of six siblings, said it didn’t matter what you did, she was always there to help. ‘‘She didn’t want anything back. She would just give. She always had a smile on her face.’’ Florence never drank or smoked and was playing bowls up until the day she died. She was also a good cook, Bennett said. ‘‘She should have had one of those cooking shows . . . that was how good she was.’’
Bennett said he was informed that Garthwaite was being released after a friend heard it on the radio. He then read a story published in The Southland Times yesterday. Garthwaite was granted conditional release, with that confirmed earlier this month once his accommodation was approved. A release condition included not to return to the South Island, unless prior approval was given. The Parole Board noted that Garthwaite’s rehabilitation was complete, and he had been on release to work for three years. Bennett said he knew Garthwaite’s release would be coming. While he was hopeful that ‘‘some people change with 20 years inside’’, he also said Garthwaite should be monitored, given that in the past he had said he was not ready to be released. ‘‘He knew it [the attack] wasn’t right,’’ Bennett said. At his sentencing, reports by two forensic psychiatrists said Garthwaite had a schizoid personality but he could undergo treatment. In June last year, Garthwaite was denied parole. The board had earlier met with the Bennett family, who opposed his release and expressed concern that he had appeared to show no remorse for his crimes, had no support and was a loner. At that time, the board said Garthwaite accepted he was not ready to be released from prison yet. After Florence’s death, her son Tony helped Norm Withers, who became Christchurch’s deputy or, gather petitions for tougher sentencing of violent criminals. In 1998, Tony said Garthwaite’s penalty was nowhere near enough. ‘‘I believe our old people and our children deserve to be protected and the deterrent should be so great that there is no second chance,’’ he said at the time.