A sister’s anguish

By Melissa Meehan
LISTENING to the radio before bed, Katrina Fitzpatrick never thought she would hear the news of her brother’s death.
“My ears pricked up when they said a man from Pakenham was found bludgeoned to death,” Katrina said.
“I’d been trying to get in touch with Michael for a couple of days, but it didn’t click until mum called after the police knocked on her door.”
She describes that moment as a blur.
“It’s hard to explain the feeling, your body goes into shock,” she said.
“You hear about murders on the street, but it’s terrifying when it’s so close to home.”
Still grieving and disappointed the case of her brother Michael’s death has not been solved, Katrina says the only thing her family wants is closure.
“It’s not fair that he’s in the cemetery,” she said.
“We just want the person who did it.”
It was the fifth anniversary of Michael’s death in December last year, but Katrina still has nightmares about the ordeal.
“It’s (the investigation) dragged on a bit,” she said.
“Every day goes by, we will never forget what happened.”
The only thing that keeps her going is that Michael said he loved her the last time they saw each other.
“He said he loved me and gave me a big kiss,” she said.
“He always called me smiley – he was a good brother, good son, good father and good husband.”
As she speaks from her home in Ballarat, Katrina’s pain is evident.
“We need this to get out – if someone has heard something, we need it,” she said.
“I’m very emotional. I’m sorry, but I just want my brother back – I see families down the street and think why is he down there.”
For the past five years, Michael’s murderer has been able to eat, sleep and enjoy life – something Katrina thinks they don’t deserve.
“We are desperate to get this over and done with, we won’t move on – it will be with us for the rest of our lives, but we need closure,” she said.
“Especially for my mum.”