As the sentencing for convicted killer Anthony Eriksen draws near, the grieving family of his slain partner, Lisa Fenwick, is making an emotional plea to the judiciary. They are urging the court to impose a sentence that guarantees Eriksen will never again be in a position to inflict such pain on another woman.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Plea
Leonore Fenwick, Lisa's mother, delivered a powerful victim impact statement, expressing her profound distress. "I don't want him to be associating with any other woman and give her the pain he gave my daughter," she told the court. The violence of the crime was so extreme that Leonore revealed she was too traumatised to view her daughter's body after the attack.
The court heard harrowing details of the 2023 murder, which took place in the couple's Mascot apartment. Eriksen stabbed Lisa Fenwick more than 25 times with such ferocity that one wound penetrated completely through her body. Prosecutors described the attack as "vicious" and with a clear "intent to end her life."
A Volatile Relationship and Missed Warnings
Evidence presented painted a picture of a volatile relationship where Fenwick was the sole provider and had expressed her intention to leave Eriksen. In the days leading up to her death, she sent chilling text messages to friends, indicating her fear. "If anything happens to me, believe I am of sound mind. I am fearful of Tony," one message read.
Ian Thomson, Fenwick's former husband, supported this outside court, stating that Lisa was trying to move on with her life, but Eriksen refused to accept the end of their relationship. The confrontation occurred moments after Lisa had returned home from walking their pet schnauzers.
Courtroom Drama and Lack of Remorse
Eriksen's recent appearance in the NSW Supreme Court was marked by dramatic turns. He appeared thin and dishevelled, wearing a green prison jumpsuit and keeping his eyes downcast. In a surprising move, he sacked his defence counsel ahead of the sentencing hearing, choosing to represent himself.
When addressed by Justice Andrew Coleman, Eriksen mostly replied with "no comment." The judge warned him that if he chose not to say anything, the sentence would be based solely on the existing evidence. Crown prosecutor Daniel Boyle emphasised that Eriksen has shown no remorse for his actions, a key factor in arguing for the full weight of the law to be applied.
The sentencing, set for Thursday, December 18, will narrowly miss being subject to Mackenzie's Law, new NSW domestic violence legislation passed on November 18 that sets a minimum 25-year non-parole period for murdering a current or former partner.
For Leonore Fenwick, who travelled from the Gold Coast to Sydney to face her daughter's killer, the hope is simple: "There is one victim of this crime, and that's my poor daughter Lisa. I hope justice will prevail."
