THE family of Corey Power - the man bashed and left for dead on a Young street - have voiced their disgust at comments made by the mayor following the brutal attack.
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Mr Power’s sister, Phia, has spoken out about the anguish over what they feel is a lack of empathy shown by mayor Stuart Freudenstein.
Ms Power claims Cr Freudenstein has “shoved the murder under the rug”.
“That’s the last thing we need, we need people to talk,” Ms Power told The Daily Advertiser on Monday.
“If we don’t keep talking about it and getting it out there it’s going to be one of those things that ‘just happened’, we don’t accept that.”
“Having someone charged isn’t going to bring him back but it’s our right as a family to have closure and these people brought to justice.”
Councillor Freudenstein told The Canberra Times late last month the majority of Young’s residents had returned to normal life following the August 29 attack.
“I think we’ve come to accept that these things happen,” Cr Freudenstein said on September 27.
It was the first comment the mayor had made since he spoke to The Young Witness on the day of the murder and said it was “quite disturbing” and that “the community would be shocked about it”.
“Each and every person has the freedom of right to be safe on the streets in the town they reside,” Ms Power said.
“I believe (Cr Freudenstein) owes my brother, my mother and myself an apology.
“And, he owes it to the public to not shove this murder under a rug.”
Cr Freudenstein told the Advertiser yesterday the comment was made in reference to today’s society, where “unfortunately these things do happen”.
“It’s an extremely sad and tragic event but the police are doing their job and there’s not much I can do,” Cr Freudenstein said.
He also refuted any idea he had swept the matter aside.
“That’s certainly not the case, I wouldn’t be so insensitive to do that sort of thing.”
Police have launched a fresh appeal for information as they trawl electronic media and CCTV footage as part of the ongoing investigation.
“I’ve got a niece at home crying... she’s confused and doesn’t know why her dad isn’t there and isn’t coming home,” Ms Power said.
“There are a group of people or persons who know more than they are letting on, people aren’t talking,” she said.
By Andrew Pearson, The Daily Advertiser
