Ten years ago, I lost my beautiful daughter Leisl forever. Her ex-lover was charged with murdering my daughter but the day before the verdict was due to be delivered, James took his own life, leaving me without closure since then.

I’m calling on Mark Speakman, the NSW Attorney-General, to change legislation so that a verdict can be passed down by a judge even if an accused becomes deceased, to ensure no other families are stuck in legal limbo.

I need closure after my daughter’s death. I spent 68 days in court at the accused’s trial but no verdict was handed down because of his death. I have spent a decade without not just my daughter, but any answers. 

Leisl’s body has never been found despite extensive searches. I wonder if the case would have gone through, we could get more information about where she is, where her body is and what happened to her. 

One day, everything was fine and the next, my world completely changed. Yet, I was given no answers or explanations. And I’m still stuck there a decade later. I have hoped, searched and wondered where she is.

Leisl was an angel with a heart of gold. I don’t know how she died. No other family should have to feel this emptiness from not knowing what happened. Please sign this petition to change legislation to allow verdicts to be passed down even if an accused becomes deceased.