Almost three years after the tragic murder of Mackenzie Anderson in her Newcastle home, her ex-boyfriend Tyrone Thompson pleaded guilty to the crime in court. This marks a significant development as footage of Thompson was captured by 9News when he was brought into the NSW Supreme Court, where he quickly confessed to killing Anderson.
The incident occurred in May 2022, just two weeks after Thompson was released from prison on parole for a prior domestic violence incident involving Anderson. During this brutal attack, he stabbed her 78 times, leaving behind their young son to grow up without his mother. Anderson had previously documented her injuries to encourage others to speak out against domestic violence and had sought protection through an apprehended violence order (AVO).
In a poignant statement, Anderson’s mother, Tabitha Acret, expressed her frustration at the inadequacies of the system, remarking that a piece of paper does little to protect victims. She believes that the authorities failed her daughter and insists on the need for legislative changes to better safeguard vulnerable individuals. Acret proposes implementing ankle monitoring devices for offenders, suggesting that such technology could alert authorities if they breached protective boundaries.
In her ongoing campaign for reform, Acret emphasises the love and memory of her daughter, stating, “We want her remembered as someone that was really loved because we really, really loved her.” She lamented the enduring pain of loss, asserting, “That hole is never going to leave us.” She advocates passionately for a future where no woman dies due to a lack of protection from domestic violence.
Thompson, now 25, is set to face a sentencing hearing in Newcastle later this month, bringing closure to a heartbreaking case that highlights the urgent need for systemic improvement in addressing domestic violence in Australia.