‘You're the devil’: Grieving family of Joe Cinque reject apology from his killer
She planned and carried out the senseless and twisted killing of their son and now, 20 years later, Anu Singh is appealing for forgiveness from the parents of Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Cinque.
For the first time since their son’s death, Anu spoke directly to Maria and Nino Cinque during an interview with Sunday Night.
“I would like to say to them that I am deeply, deeply sorry for what happened and that if I could, if there was any way I could turn back the clock, I would do so in a heartbeat,” Anu said in the message that was played to Joe’s parents.
But Joe’s heartbroken mum Maria said she could never forgive Anu for taking her son’s life.
“There is nothing in this world that you can do, don’t even think about coming near us,” she said.
“You have killed the most precious thing I had in my life, my first son, my first born. The one that was going to carry his grandfather’s name is not here anymore.”
For Joe’s parents, raw emotions resurfaced.
“I call you the devil and you are the devil. Monster. You have destroyed my family completely.”
On Friday October 24, 1997, Anu acted on the disturbing plot she had been planning for weeks.
She had arranged a bizarre farewell dinner and told her guests she and Joe were going to end their lives together in a tragic suicide pact.
But, unbelievably, no one told Joe – or the police.
During the dinner party, Joe had been given a coffee laced with Rohypnol.
Once he was asleep, Anu injected him with heroin. But to her surprise, he slept through the night and all through the next day before waking up.
On Sunday morning, a panicked Anu purchased more heroin and injected Joe with a lethal dose, finishing the job she had been planning for weeks.
In court, Anu’s defence argued that she was mentally ill.
“There are many things people don’t understand. There’s a lot of things that have been overlooked,” she told Sunday Night.
“One of the biggest things was, I was suffering from a very, very severe mental illness at the time. If I could have listened to people and sought the right sort of mental help, this wouldn’t have happened.”
But Maria Cinque doesn’t buy it.
“Don’t tell me this bulls**t about… you didn’t know what you are doing because I don’t believe you,” Maria said, shaking with emotion.
“I never, ever forgive her for as long as I live.”
If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
