'Like a horror movie': WWII veteran tied to bed, stabbed 13 times in the back
The daughter of a World War II veteran murdered by two former employees in a brutal home invasion says she feels like she’s stuck in a “horror movie”.
Two men attacked 90-year-old Ken Handford, stabbing him in the back 13 times while he was tied to a bed, before stealing the World War II veteran’s service medals and a few thousand dollars.
Doctors say it took more than four hours for the 90-year-old to slowly die from his injuries, with Mr Handford’s body found by neighbours a few days later.
Mr Handford’s family confronted the killers, Jonathon Cooper and Adam Williamson, in court on Wednesday and labelled them as degenerates.
Mr Handford’s grandson Jarrod, who was once friends with Williamson, asked the killer if he was remorseful or just sorry he got caught.
“He had a violent and terrifying end to his life, despite his kindness to others,” Mr Handford’s daughter Margaret Murray said.
The court had heard Mr Handford ran a potato farm outside Ballarat where he kept the money he made in his house.
The two former workers, Cooper and Williamson, knew where and in September 2015, decided to rob the elderly man.
When the duo entered Mr Handford’s room, the robbery became more sinister and the war hero was stabbed in the back 13 times while tied to his bed.
“I get really down in the dumps and nothing can take my mind off how he was murdered,” Mr Handford’s brother Ron said.
“I think maybe I might be next.
“Kenny was a strong bugger.
“He would’ve put up a fight.”
Cooper and Williamson were caught when one of the duo failed to hang up a mobile phone call, with police listening in to their conversation.
A pre-sentence hearing is expected to conclude tomorrow, with both men to be sentenced after Christmas.
