LEGACY OF VIOLENCE BORNE BY FAMILY

JULIE Hutchinson was laid to rest on September 13 when she was farewelled with the respect family and friends had always wanted for her … it had been 1286 days since she was last seen alive.

Detective Sergeant Fred Starr said Julie’s family continued to live in heartbreak.

He said the tragic nature of the loving mother’s death was life-changing, especially for her two children.

“They don’t have a mum … they now don’t have a dad either,” Sgt Starr said.

“Julie’s siblings now have the responsibility to bring up her children as well as their own.

“Her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, extended family, work colleagues at Yabulu of which there are many … even childhood friends are taunted and haunted about what happened to someone they loved.

“There is still a disbelief and anger at the way that she had been treated.”

Meanwhile, Michael Hutchinson rots in jail.

Little is known about his experiences behind bars but they appear uneventful.

Sgt Starr said he had not once been notified of an incident at the prison involving Hutchinson.

As for the arresting officer himself, he now looks back on the Hutchinson case as an example of the deadly consequences of domestic violence.

“It is a perfect example of how family can be ripped apart by a heat-of-the-moment action,” Sgt Starr said. “It should have never happened; domestic violence is unacceptable at any level. He goes on with his story for a month but I am sure the actual incident took place in a very short period of time, and I’m sure it was very heated.”