‘Just Say Goodbye’ (January 2013 online edition)

DVRCV Discussion Paper No. 8Dean WilliamsonIn July 1999, in a motel room in Sale, Victoria, Dean Williamson (30 years) smotheredand killed his five-year-old son, Braddon, while he slept. 91 Later, he cut himself withrazor blades. He rang an ambulance for himself the next day.Braddon’s mother, Lisa, met Dean Williamson ten years earlier, when she was 18 andhe was 20. They began living together but he was jealous and controlling which resultedin her leaving several times. Braddon was born in 1993 and was eight months old whenLisa left the relationship for the final time. Dean Williamson had access to Braddonduring this time and when Braddon was old enough he had overnight access. Throughsolicitors, orders by agreement were eventually made in 1994 that stipulated Lisa hadcustody of Braddon and Dean had access each alternate weekend from 5 pm Fridayto 5 pm Sunday with some other days and parts of holidays. Dean had Braddon for aweekend access visit when he killed him. Dean Williamson was found guilty of murderand sentenced to life imprisonment. 92Dean Williamson resented his financial obligation for child support ($50 perweek) and fell into substantial arrears. He complained to friends that the financialburden was destroying his life. He developed a deep anger towards Braddon’smother for this. He used access visits to manipulate Lisa, told Braddon hismother was a ‘bitch’ and returned him in an upset state. 93Dean Williamson’s sister told the court that he was ‘consumed’ withthoughts of Lisa and Braddon. Several months before he killed Braddon, DeanWilliamson started telling friends and family that he wanted to kill Lisa. Thenhe changed his focus. He told a friend he had thought of a ‘better way to fuckher life’: to kill Braddon and himself. 94After killing Braddon, Dean Williamson wrote a note to Lisa, in which he stated:Well have I got news for you. You’re not getting Braddon back, and you’re notgetting any more money from me! again. You are a fucking useless bitch …And you are now going to suffer for the rest of your fucking useless life. I hopeyou rot in hell for the rest of your miserable rotten lonely life … I’ve takenBraddon with me because all he wanted was to be with me… 95The killing of the child in this case may be related to resentment stemmingfrom conflict about access and child support. However, Dean Williamson didnot attempt to use avenues that were available to him to obtain greater accesswith his son. He did not seek legal assistance with this, although he did seeklegal assistance to attempt to reduce his child support payments.91 The following information is taken from the sentencing decision – DPP v Williamson [2000] VSC 115.92 He was given a minimum sentence of 24 years. He killed himself a year later in prison (Berry 2003).93 DPP v Williamson [2000] VSC 115 (para 6).94 DPP v Williamson [2000] VSC 115 (para 9).95 DPP v Williamson [2000] VSC 115 (para 13).56