I have a life sentence Balin Stewart’s dad speaks after knife killer’s sentence
The father of a teenager who was stabbed to death with a steak knife on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has described the court process as “bewildering”.
Balin Stewart’s teen killer will spend three years and six months in detention after a Brisbane judge handed down his sentence on Friday.
“As a father losing a son, I have a life sentence and he has three years, three months behind bars,” Michael Stewart told Weekend Today.
“The court process… has just been bewildering,” he said.
Stewart told the 19-year-old, who was convicted of manslaughter, he would never forgive him during the sentencing submissions.
He told Weekend Today he made the statement in court because most teens don’t “realise the ramifications of of carrying a knife”.
“A single stab wound killed Balin. Knives are incredibly deadly.”
“I needed to get that across, not only for the judge to hear but for people to fully realise just how dangerous these knives are.
“We don’t get to hold his children… That just rips my heart out.”
The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was 17 at the time of the brawl with Balin outside the Stewarts’ home on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in January last year.
There had been a significant history of animosity by the teen towards Balin, who died from a single stab wound to the heart from a 12cm steak knife.
A Supreme Court jury in June acquitted the teen of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter, a charge to which he had offered to plead guilty but which was rejected by prosecutors before the trial.
Crown prosecutor Rebecca Marks argued on Friday the teenager acted with the intention to at least cause grievous bodily harm when he armed himself and drove the 5km to Balin’s house.
He took the knife out of jealousy after being provoked by videos sent by his ex-girlfriend of her with Balin, Marks said.
The family is hosting a Balin Forever Festival on the Sunshine Coast to have a party and remember their son.
Reported with AAP
