“I’M GOING home now, have a nice Easter.”
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They were among Stephanie Scott’s final words.
A friendly, happy farewell to someone who at best 26-year-old Ms Scott knew as a temporary cleaner who had worked for five weeks at Leeton High School where she was a popular teacher.
The words – revealed in an agreed statement of facts tendered to the Supreme Court in the Leeton courthouse this week – were said to Vincent Stanford, who a few minutes later sexually assaulted and murdered Ms Scott on Easter Sunday last year.
Ms Scott’s mother, Merrilyn, in a victim’s impact statement read at the court, described her daughter as full of life and fun and “truly one of those special ones”.
“Stephanie represented all that is good about humankind,” Mrs Scott said
“She possessed all the qualities we value, and was a source of pride, joy and inspiration to our family, her many friends and all who knew her,” Mrs Scott said.
“As our second year of birthdays, anniversaries and special family occasions without Stephanie passes, we steel ourselves for the months and years ahead.
“There will be no end to the sorrow we feel, and we can never make sense of losing our beautiful girl.
“She had only good in her heart and was so loved by us all.”