Grandson describes Irma Palasics' death as a lifelong grief as killers await sentencing

During a sentencing hearing in the ACT Supreme Court, John Mikita recounted how his grandmother Irma Palasics' murder in a 1999 home invasion has imposed a "life sentence of grief" on his family, noting the loss of both his grandparents and the lasting trauma endured by his mother Elizabeth. The two accused, Joseph Vekony and Steve Fabriczy, were found guilty of manslaughter and several other charges after a DNA match identified Fabriczy at the scene and later linked Vekony to the crime.

Their convictions close a cold case that haunted Canberra for more than two decades, involving the theft of $30,000 and the brutal assault of the Palasics. Defense counsel highlighted Fabriczy's cooperation and health issues, while prosecutors argued the crime was pre-meditated and deserving of the maximum penalty. The court will hand down sentences on Friday, with Vekony also suffering from liver cancer.