Coral-Ellen’s killer offered support

The mother of the man who murdered six-year-old Coral-Ellen Burrows says she and her son have received support from around the country.

Steven Williams' mother Robyn's comments follow a Court of Appeal ruling to extend his prison term by two years, to a minimum of 17 years behind bars.

Ms Williams told Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon show yesterday that some wonderful people had written to him.

"One lady sent him a whole lot of art gear, because he loves his art, and one lady sent him phonecards to be able to ring."

Ms Williams said her son had also been receiving letters from a friend's daughter. She denied they were love letters, but said they were supportive.

"She's a nice girl, and that has made him feel a lot better, because even as 99 per cent of the public hate him, at least 1 per cent out there doesn't."

Williams killed his stepdaughter Coral-Ellen in September last year, after a four-day bender on pure methamphetamine, or P.

Ms Williams said her son wanted nothing to do with drugs now.

"In his last letter he was quite adamant how much he hates them. He's actually asked me to do some work on the P issue, but I haven't been in any state."

She said that since the murder she had felt uncomfortable going to public places where she might be recognised.

"It's been very difficult for quite a long time. I still don't like going out to hotels or any places where people might know me."

However, she said when she had gone out, most people had been supportive.

"I've had a few people come up and give me a hug ."

Ms Williams said she and her son expected the Court of Appeal to hand down a much longer sentence.

"He expected a lot more, we did too. As far as Steven's concerned he doesn't care, because he lives with this in his head anyway, and will do, for the rest of his life, so that's his real sentence.

"He still is dreadfully remorseful. I think even more so now that reality is setting in, whereas before he was in such panic mode over everything he's done and it didn't occur to him how bad he was going to feel, and now, reality has set in."

She said it had taken her a long time to come to terms with her son's crime.

"It was only a couple of months ago that I could walk into a shop with little girls' clothes and buy a couple of dresses for one of my grandchildren."

- NZPA