RIP to Daniel Morecombe

[Jim Goose]

One of QLDs most followed and public cases finally has an important chapter close...


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-0...rcombe/4414088

The funeral to farewell teenager Daniel Morcombe is underway on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

The 13-year-old disappeared nine years ago today while waiting for a bus to go Christmas shopping.

His remains were found last year in bushland in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Today his family, friends and the community are saying goodbye at Siena Catholic College at Sippy Downs, which is Daniel's old school.

The Morcombes asked people not to be sad or angry today but to celebrate their son's life.

Parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe placed Daniel's unopened Christmas presents from nine years ago on his coffin.

In his eulogy, his brother Dean Morcombe, spoke of the close bond Daniel had with his twin Bradley.

He highlighted his brother's love of cakes, bikes and animals.

Bruce Morcombe paid tribute to all those who helped in the search for his son, describing him as a quiet, unassuming little boy.

"He was not an attention-seeker yet because of his sparkling eyes and beaming smile he is someone everyone took into their hearts," he said.
People gather for Daniel Morcombe's funeral. Photo: People gather for Daniel Morcombe's funeral. (ABC News: Bruce Atkinson)

About 2,000 people, many wearing red, are at the service and have spilled out of the church and are watching on a big screen.

Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says today's service gives the Morcombe family some closure.

"I think the whole of Queensland joins with us in the sympathies to the Morcombe family particularly today, nine years to the day that Daniel went missing," he said.
Tributes sit at the memorial for Daniel Morcombe at the Kiel Mountain Road overpass. Photo: Tributes and olive trees, symbolising peace, sit at the memorial for Daniel Morcombe at the Kiel Mountain Road overpass. (ABC News: Bruce Atkinson)

Father Joe Duffy says there will be a requiem mass and a procession with a guard of honour.

"There'll be a guard of honour that's at least 150 metres long and I think that's something that a lot of people will want to take part in," he said.

Father Duffy says he hopes it will bring closure for the family.

"The most important thing about this funeral is for his brothers, his parents and grandparents and the immediate family - that they have a time of prayer and closure," he said.
The plaque on the memorial for Daniel Morcombe at the Kiel Mountain Road overpass. Photo: The plaque on the memorial for Daniel Morcombe at the Kiel Mountain Road overpass. (ABC News: Bruce Atkinson)

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman says the thoughts of all Australians are with Daniel Morcombe's family today.

Mr Newman is attending the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Canberra, but says he wishes he could be with the family.

"They have been amazing people through this terrible ordeal - they've shown incredible stoicism," he said.

"They've also become inspirational in terms of their quest to warn everybody in Australia about child safety issues and I certainly pay tribute to them today as well."

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has offered his condolences.

"We've all been there beside them, supporting them through what has been a very tumultuous nine years," he said.
Timeline: Daniel Morcombe

Look back at key developments in the case

A committal hearing for the man accused of murdering Daniel will resume in February.

Brett Peter Cowan, 43, has been charged with Daniel's abduction and murder.

Forty-five witnesses have testified at the hearing over the past fortnight in Brisbane.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Very sad... I still remember it going on 9 years ago... Made me feel sick then, still does now.

[Peuty]

Yep, RIP finally

[The Yeti]

I was watching a thing on the news this morning about the service, and I look at his parrents 9 years on and you can see the pain in their eyes.

What can I say but I hope this can help give them some form of closure , it wont turn back the clock but hopfully it can lift some of the load they are carrying

[TC200six]

Saw the funeral on Channel 9 today. It was very touching and it's great that Bruce and Denise have finally been able to lay Daniel to rest.

Someone like me has no idea how it would truly feel like to be in their situation. What it felt like to be them over the last 8 years, not knowing what happened to one of their kids is beyond imaginable to me.

[LG17]

They appear to be a very strong and resolute family who now live their lives through Daniel's Foundation.
How they have managed to focus on the positives is far beyond my thinking - but that's probably what has gotten them this far.
Daniel's spirit is well and truly alive thanks to them and all who are associated with the Foundation.
I see that Bob Atkinson is now a co-patron of that organisation now.

RIP Daniel, finally.

[TC200six]

A new development in the case has been released today.

A recorded conversation with Brett Peter Cowan and police in 2011 reveals he confessed that he did kill Daniel and wanted to molest him.

Very sick.

[2011G6E]

RIP little guy.

As for the animal that did it...well, he'll have a long and hopefully savagely violent prison sentence to think about what he's done...

[Super Roo 1970]

Bring back the death penalty for scum like that. He deserves to die horribly and painfully 3 or 4 times over.

[Mickxr8]

Hope they grow cactii in prison ,,, RIP little dude

[blueoval]

death is too good for filth like that. He needs to know the meaning of pain and sorrow. RIP Daniel.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by Super Roo 1970

Bring back the death penalty for scum like that. He deserves to die horribly and painfully 3 or 4 times over.

Oh don't worry...even without the death penalty, he's going to have plenty of years to find out all about "horrible" and "painful" when he gets into prison...

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Oh don't worry...even without the death penalty, he's going to have plenty of years to find out all about "horrible" and "painful" when he gets into prison...

These kind of people get their deserved punishment when the general population finds out about their crimes.

Like the ring leader of the Sydney rapes, the other prisoners were planning to inject him with some HIV infected blood but he got moved out when the officials found out.

[Super Roo 1970]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Oh don't worry...even without the death penalty, he's going to have plenty of years to find out all about "horrible" and "painful" when he gets into prison...

This bloke will probably go straight into the protected area, not general population.

[karj]

It may be wise to close this thread now given that the accused is committed to stand trial.

[2011G6E]

I rode in the "Ride For Daniel" one year which leaves from the Ettamogah Pub on the Sunshine Coast...it was truly amazing to be riding along the highway with about three thousand other bikes. They actually had to cancel it one year as it was too successful...just too big to safely manage.

Awesome day!

[ltd]

This kind of thing reminds me of some of my former colleagues who ended up in criminal law, and I've watched several of them who I graduated with back in 1996 transform over the years. Every last one left uni with beaming smiles, ambition and a certain glow of doing good. Years later some ended up either prosecuting or in some cases defending heinous crimes against children, and all of them now are former shadows of themselves. One girl in particular named Amy was the happiest girl I knew, ended up taking her own life after being made to defend an alleged pedophile and after getting him acquitted, he offended again; she couldn't carry the guilt.
The judiciary in this country is woefully inadequate, and full of political appointees that routinely give minimum sentences based loosely on some specious precedent set in some obscure case somewhere where the law got it wrong. And with each judgement it is getting worse. Furthermore, the erosion of our civil liberties and the PC elite have cascaded the problem by allowing the perpetrators to be given protective custody, security and other rights that these vermin never afford their victims.

The sad part is, crimes against children are on the increase and with the advent of the internet, access to children for sexual gratification purposes has encouraged a massive growth industry. It would frighten any person to realise just how many international pedophile rings there are in this country. We literally have more pedophiles than we've ever had before and frankly, crimes against children I believe are sound reason for the reintroduction of the death penalty alone.
I realise this little rant is uncalled for and believe me I've written and deleted most of it but I plead with all of you with children; be as careful as you can when it comes to the kids, make the extra effort to know where they are, pick them up late at night and do all you can to protect them from the literally thousands of sick ***** who prowl the streets looking for children. I can tell you solemnly from people I've met and consoled over the years with missing kids, the pain for those left behind and searching is insurmountable and it never ever goes away. Please be cautious mums and dads.

As for poor Daniel, this piece of scum Brett Cowan has shown contrition for his crime by describing Daniels death as an accident in an attempt for clemency by the court, don't be surprised if he gets less than 15 years/10 with parole.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by karj

It may be wise to close this thread now given that the accused is committed to stand trial.

Or even correct the spelling of his surname in the title.

Speaking of names, the accused killer has changed his name to "Shadoo Nunya Hunter".

[78xcgxl]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Oh don't worry...even without the death penalty, he's going to have plenty of years to find out all about "horrible" and "painful" when he gets into prison...

It's much better without the death penalty. Being locked up for life is way more torture than being sentenced to death IMO. Death plenty is a quick and painless death but being locked up for life is slow and a pain in the *** *pun intended