Mates try to erase the horror

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Hours after William Bell was sentenced yesterday, members of the Mt Wellington-Panmure RSA and families of the victims returned to the club for a quiet drink and a chat, relieved that the long court process was over.

Earlier, a busload of RSA members had made the trip to the High Court at Auckland to watch Bell receive the longest sentence in New Zealand legal history.

President Alan Eastwood and vice-president Terry Williams said the bus was unusually quiet on the way back - everyone was exhausted after the tension.

"The hurt that has been done, people will never get over."

The two men were the first to arrive at the club on the day of the murders, discovering the bodies of their three dead friends, Bill Absolum, Wayne Johnson and Mary Hobson. The fourth victim, Susan Couch, was barely breathing.

"I can still visualise exactly where they were and what they looked like," said Mr Williams. "It's going to take a long, long time to go away."

Mr Eastwood said that one day they were just an ordinary club, then "all hell broke loose. And it didn't go away for 15 months. Now we can finally let it rest."

Among the families of victims at the club were Mr Absolum's sisters Faye Maurice and Carolyn Dunn.

The two women are not members, but visit regularly because it was a special place for their brother, who was the president.

They said they were relieved the sentencing was over.

"He got the maximum penalty, I guess that is some comfort," said Ms Dunn. "But it can never be enough."

The past 15 months and the trial had been a painful time, they said.

"Until it happens to you or your immediate family, you never realise what it's like," said Ms Dunn.

Ms Couch, the sole survivor of the attack, released a statement yesterday.

She thanked the people who supported her and said she hoped the sentences would deter others who might have evil intentions.

"For many of us, though, sentencing is a hollow sort of victory as the damage to us has been done and can never be undone."

During the sentencing, Crown solicitor Simon Moore described how the brutal attack, which left Ms Couch close to death, had affected her.

She suffers chronic tiredness, some paralysis on her left side, a damaged vocal cord and severe weight loss.

Justice Judith Potter said of Ms Couch: "She lives to be a mother to her young son - but with significant disabilities."

Outside the court other people connected to the trial spoke about the sentencing.

Faye Hjorth, who fired Bell from the RSA after he went there for work experience, said he was out of the way and could not hurt anyone.

During the trial, the court heard that Bell had said to Ms Couch and Mrs Hobson, "I wish that bitch Faye was here."

Ms Hjorth said she was shocked to later hear what Bell had said.

Earl Johnson, the brother of Wayne Johnson, said Bell would face a hard time in jail but the sentence would help to safeguard the people of New Zealand against his terrible antisocial behaviour.

"I would say taking him to thetip, shooting him and leavinghim for the rats and seagulls to pick his bones would be pretty appropriate."


Longest non-parole periods in NZ history

December 12, 2002: