'I felt lost without her': Sister of Anita Cobby who was brutally gang raped and decapitated reveals how the horrific murder affected her childhood
- Anita Cobby's sister has broken her silence about the aftermath of her death
- She admits she struggled with losing her sister and felt 'lost without her'
- Michael Murphy, 65, was one of five men who raped and murdered Anita Cobby
- The notorious inmate died of cancer in Sydney's Long Bay jail on Thursday night
The sister of a nurse who was brutally gang raped and decapitated has revealed how the horrific murder affected her childhood.
Anita Cobby, 26, was stalked and snatched while walking home from Blacktown station in Sydney's west in February 1986.
She was brutally raped and beaten by five men before one of them slit her throat.
Anita Cobby (pictured left and right) was killed in a horrific crime that shocked Australia in 1986
On Thursday one of the killers, Michael Murphy, died from liver cancer in Long Bay Jail.
Anita's sister Kathryn Szyszka told A Current Affair that while she constantly thinks of her sister, she had tried her hardest over the years to not think of her killers.
Ms Szyszka was only 20 when she lost her sister.
Anita's sister Kathryn Szyszka said that while she constantly thinks of her sister, she had tried her hardest over the years to not think of her killers
An undated image obtained in 2016 of Sydney woman Anita Cobby's parents Gary and Grace at her grave site
'I think I was fairly lost. Being so young and having her always leading the way for me, I did feel lost,' she said.
'I miss just not having her there to be a part of it, to share, to have someone to talk to, bounce things off, just things you do with family.'
Share this article
Ms Szyszka said her parents never quite recovered from the loss of their other daughter.
'I think any parent would understand the impact that it did have. The loss of a child in such a horrific way. They did suffer.'
While Ms Szyszka kept composed when she heard of Murphy's death, Ms Cobby's widower John was elated with the news.
Ms Cobby (right) is seen she posing for a photo with her younger sister Kathryn Szyszka (left)
Four others (from left to right), Leslie Murphy, 22, Gary Murphy , 28, Michael Murdoch, 19, and John Travers, 18 - were convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison
'I hope it was painful for him,' he told The Daily Telegraph.
'One down, four to go.'
Murphy had been in an out of hospital and was recently asked if he would apologise to Ms Cobby's family.
He was remorseless until the end.
'Why would I f**king apologise to anyone while you b******s leave me in this f**king [hospital] room and treat me like this?' he barked.
The death comes 32 years after the heinous crime sparked national rage and widespread calls for the attackers to be hanged.
Ms Cobby had been walking home late at night when she was abducted by five men.
She was taken to a rural farm about 5km away in Prospect where she was savagely tortured, raped and beaten.
Her body was discovered naked and face down, with her eyes still open, in a field two days later.
Murphy, then 33, his brothers Leslie, 22, and Gary, 28, as well as Michael Murdoch, 19, and John Travers, 18 - were convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in jail.
The confession of Travers, considered the ringleader of the group who slit Ms Cobby's throat, was secretly recorded.
'We were all drunk and she f***ing seen all of us. So I just cut her,' Travers said.
All five were arrested about three weeks after the attack.
THE VILE ATTACK THAT SHOCKED AUSTRALIA
Ms Cobby was walking home late at night in Blacktown, in Sydney's west, when she was abducted by five men, before she was savagely tortured, raped, and beaten
Shortly before 10pm on February 2, 1986, Anita Cobby, 26, was snatched from Newton Road in Blacktown by John Travers, Michael Murdoch and brothers Mick, Les and Gary Murphy.
She was repeatedly bashed and sexually assaulted in a stolen car before the five men drove her to a cow paddock at Reen Road in Prospect, dragging her through barbed wire fences.
Ms Cobby would be further subjected to a horrific sexual ordeal, with the five men taking turns raping her on the farm.
Her attackers then argued over who would cut her throat, a heinous act which would be carried out by Travers, chosen because he had previously done so with animals.
Ms Cobby's brutalised body was found two days later by a local farmer, sparking a manhunt which would see all five suspects arrested about three weeks later.
The crime was so horrific there were widespread calls to hang the men, who were arrested after police captured them on secret tapes confessing to the brutal murder.
All five were convicted in 1987 and sentenced to life in jail, never to be released.
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
