The mother of a tradie shot dead during a botched home invasion has delivered a remarkable show of mercy, declaring she forgives her son's killers because she doesn't have room for anger.
Fatal Home Invasion in Rye
Jack Gilmour was killed by a gunshot to the chest when three intruders smashed through the front windows of his Rye home in December 2024. The 26-year-old tradie confronted the intruders while his girlfriend hid in the bathroom. Moments later, two people were dead.
“I do forgive them, absolutely,” Gilmour's mother Kim Male said outside court on Monday. “I'm devastated. My son's not here. But I don't have room for anger.”
Court Proceedings
Mason Mattacoli, Charlie Hayter and Tyler Vandesteeg came to the house armed with a loaded rifle. Mattacoli and Vandesteeg have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter and on Monday pleaded for a lenient sentence. One of the killers was seen crying in court.
Defence barristers for both men argued their clients are remorseful and can still turn their lives around. But Justice Dixon noted a glaring omission — neither man has told the full truth. To this day, no one knows who pulled the trigger.
Aftermath and Sentencing
Hayter also died during the incident. Both co-accused men left her and Gilmour for dead as they fled, later meeting Jarod Smit who set fire to the getaway car. All three men will be sentenced on July 17.
“Jackson was not a horrible person,” Gilmour's brother Sam Male said. “He came from a beautiful family. He had beautiful friends.”
