Smith family guilty

THREE members of the same family are tonight behind bars after a Bunbury Supreme Court jury returned three guilty verdicts following the 2009 stabbing murder of a 23-year-old man.

Kenneth John Smith, 21, hung his head after the jury found him guilty of murdering Jarrad Roy Fitzpatrick on the driveway of his ex-girlfriend’s Glen Iris home.

Kenneth’s father Colin John Smith, 41, was found guilty of manslaughter while his mother Tanya Louise Smith, 39, was also found guilty of manslaughter.

Kenneth Smith held his head in his hands and wept after the verdict was announced.

After the jury left the court, Kenneth Smith said: `` It’s f……bulls…, I didn’t even f…… do it.’’

Outside court, Mr Fitzpatrick’s mother, Jacqueline Elizabeth, said the past week had been gruelling and something no parent would like to sit through.

`` The perpetrators have devastated and crushed the people who loved Jarrad,’’ Ms Elizabeth said.

``The evidence presented in their defence was ludicrous and offered nothing in the way of sincere remorse.

``In fact the evidence was wholly fabricated to protect Kenneth – a mollycoddled 21-year-old, who wanted to take out his rage and his parents supported him.’’

Ms Elizabeth also thanked her supporters.

`` Thank you to the justice system, the police, family, friends who’ve all supported us through thoughts words and deeds.

``And the media who in the last week have been correct and respectful in the reporting of Jarrad’s murder. Thankyou,’’ Ms Elizabeth said.

Kenneth Smith’s sister Nartisha was helped to an awaiting car by her brother Morgan and friends.

She cried as she said her family had been through hell because of the incident.

She was now possibly giving birth to a child while its grandparents would be behind bars.

The trio are expected to be sentenced in Perth Supreme Court on May 16.