Sally Anne's killer taunts family from dock

3:56pm Friday 22nd February 2008

Murderer Mark Dixie taunted the family of Sally Anne Bowman as he was sent down to the cells.

Members of the model's family shouted angrily at the 37-year-old chef as he was sentenced to life in prison. One said: "Rot in hell, pervert."

Friends in the public gallery joined in the insults, saying "I'll see you again" and Dixie called back: "Come on, both of you."

Sally Anne's mum Linda confronted Dixie before a packed courtroom, demanding he give her an explanation for his horrific actions.

"Why did you do these things?" she pleaded. "She was so tiny and full of life. She had the singing voice of an angel which is very fitting now.

"My heart will never mend, not even with time. I cannot ever see things getting easier. I lost the will to live when she was taken away from me in such a brutal and depraved way.

With her voice breaking and tears rolling down her face, she added: "I cannot see why he killed her and why he did what he did.

"It was bad enough knowing Sally Anne had been stabbed to death but then to be told that after death he raped her and stole her belongings.

"It leaves me feeling he took her last bit of dignity.

"The hurt and loss will never diminish. Today is not just about justice being done, it is about us all finally letting go and undergoing the final journey of all, life without Sally Anne."

Dixie was found guilty by jury of murdering 18-year-old Sally Anne and subjecting her to a gruesome sexual attack when she was dead or dying from seven stab wounds.

He will serve a minimum term of 34 years before he can apply for parole.

Detectives are furious Dixie made Sally Anne's mum Linda, dad Paul and her three sisters Danielle, Nicole and Michelle, sit through a trial.

Judge Gerald Gordon told him: "No words of mine about what you have done can remotely match the ones we have heard today from Mrs Bowman.

"I shall only say that what you did that night was so awful and repulsive that I do not propose to repeat it.

"Your consequent conduct shows you had not the slightest remorse for what you had done."

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