‘No justice to bring closure to our grief’
"It has been a year now," said Mr Korb. "Still, my son's case has not seen its day in court. The police never give us feedback. I have to contact them," he lamented.
A year and a month ago, the Ihlenfeldt family felt the first sharp, excruciating stab of grief. Barely four weeks after that, the Korb family had their hearts ripped open by the violence of life.
A year later, these families still grieve over the loss of their loved ones. They will never again share a ‘hello’ or ‘good night’, never again share a joke, or a hug. Never again raise their glasses in celebration, or shout in anger. Violence tore these victims away, leaving nothing but a gaping hole of sorrow and regret.
Frustrated and angry, the two families met at the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court to hold a silent vigil last Wednesday, in their campaign for justice to be served for the alleged killers.
Dean Korb passed away after he had been stabbed during an alleged argument last year. Paul Korb, his father, approached the media with the sole intent of making their plight known.
“It has been a year now,” said Mr Korb. “Still, my son’s case has not seen its day in court. The police never give us feedback. I have to contact them,” he lamented.
Mr Korb alleges he was told by a police official the reason the case had not been set down in court was due to a lack of funding to conduct drug tests on Dean’s blood.
“If there is a lack of money, they should tell us these things,” said Mr Korb. “They should at least be able to provide a time frame, so that the victims can know what to expect.”
During an interview Mr Korb explained how he still lives only four houses away from the man who allegedly murdered his son, and how difficult it was for him and his family to find closure.
“We still do not know exactly what happened that night,” he said. “But it is not for me to take the law into my own hands. All I want is justice.”
Jenny Ihlenfeldt, the widow of Greg Ihlenfeldt, also explained her frustration with the justice system.
“The man who was involved in my husband’s death walked into the police station that night, covered in blood,” she claimed. “No statement was taken from him, even though he was there to report the incident. He left, and only when my husband passed away later in the hospital did they put two and two together. He was arrested the next morning. I found out that he still, a year and a month later, has not been charged with anything.”
Mrs Ihlenfeldt then explained the only piece of evidence linking the accused to the death of her husband was a shirt worn by the suspect on the night Mr Ihlenfeldt died.
“I know the shirt has blood on it, and according to the new Investigating Officer, DNA tests have not been done on the blood as yet,” she said.
The families have grown close in their struggles, finding comfort in their shared grief and frustration.
“The cases are identical,” said Mr Korb. “Each has gone through three investigating officers, and no progress has been made on the investigations. When my son’s case was removed from the court roll, the senior prosecutor assured me it was for the better.”
According to Mr Korb, the same prosecutor also informed him that a bit more information was required in the docket before the case would be brought to court, including the blood test.
“It angers me to think about the implications a case like this could have for a family less well off,” said Mr Korb. “What about those families who do not have a car, that cannot travel to court, or phone the investigating officer to find out what is happening with their case.”
Mr Korb also claimed the justice system gave more rights to the accused, ignoring the rights of the victim.
“I asked a policeman the other day if he knows what the Victims Charter is. He had no idea.’
A confidential source confirmed the Investigating Officer who has now been assigned to both cases has done everything within his power to assure the evidence is processed in the manner prescribed by law.
Unfortunately, at the time of going to print the commander of investigations, Colonel Richard Khawula was on leave. Upon his return, the media will conduct a full investigation into the time frame and allegations regarding these cases.
“There is no closure for our grief,’ said Mr Korb. “All we want is our day in court,” he concluded.
