Between dealing with customers on his car workshop, Richard Gander viewed the Victorian Supreme Court of the three people who have been accused of killing his son Charlie for weeks.
The remains of the 19-year-old were found by emergency services in a burnt car in Bunbartha, in the north of the state, on Christmas Eve 2022.
Danny Clarke, Dimitri d’Elio and Kylie Stott did not owe kidnapping, murder and arson.
Yesterday a jury found all three guilty to kidnapping, but only d’alio was found guilty of murder and arson.
Stott was found guilty of manslaughter.
Mr. Gander said it seeing how the process unfolded was a tiring experience.
Emergency services found Charlie Gander’s body in a burnt car on a unpaved road in Bunbartha. ((Delivered: Gander Family))
“By the end of the day I am mentally exhausted, I am in bed at 7:30,” he said.
“But then you wake up on one, two, three. Stuff taps in your head.“
For almost 30 days the jury heard a series of proof and had to look at photos of skeletale remains of researchers from the crime scene.
“I have not looked at the earlier things of certain evidence, because I don’t think a parent should see that,” said Mr. Gander.
He felt “crushed” that not all three accused were found guilty of murder.
Charlie was an avid sportsman who sought to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a mechanic. ((Delivered: Gander Family))
‘Horrible’ call on Christmas Eve
Gander remembers his son “Chaz” as a “good child” who played football and loved crafts with cars.
“He always helped others. A very good child. A good sportsman. Just a good boy,” said Mr. Gander.
“He always wanted to become a mechanic – always work on cars, always do something in the shed.“
During the Melbourne trial, the jury was shown the last SMS messages that Mr. Gander exchanged with his son while making plans for Christmas.
The jury also heard that Mr. Gander heard of the death of his son through a phone call from the mother of one of Charlie’s football companions.
“That was terrible – I just couldn’t believe it and hear it as I heard it,” said Mr. Gander.
“If that happened, you know, your whole world just stops. And even going to the police station,” do you know what’s going on? “
“They are like:” Oh, we can confirm that a car has been burned and we cannot confirm who was in it. “
It took a few days to identify Charlie’s remains. ((Lever: Supreme Court of Victoria))
Gander said it was two or three days before the police could confirm that his son was dead.
“That was a difficult time, because in the back of your mind you think … maybe he is going to walk into the door every day. But it wasn’t,” he said.
“I don’t think I will ever get the outcome I want in terms of their conviction, because nothing can replace Charlie.“
The Gander family created a memorial for Charlie in Bunbartha where his body was found. ((ABC Shepparton: Charmaine Manuel))
Memorial for Charlie in Bunbartha
The Gander family has made a memorial for Charlie on Loch Garry Road in Bunbartha.
“We all overtaken and we groove a hole and put that cross in it,” said Mr. Gander.
“It’s hard to go there.
“Even just drive there, you break.“
Charlie’s ash rest in Richard Gander’s house. ((ABC Shepparton: Charmaine Manuel))
The workshop that Mr. Gander now runs in Melbourne is in honor of Charlie’s love for cars.
“He wanted to become a mechanic – that is the reason I bought this workshop because I said to him:” Once you were fully qualified, I will buy a workshop for you and we will run it together. “
“If he was with us, he would be like,” This is gold. “
Richard Gander is wearing a memory of Charlie on his knuckles. ((ABC Shepparton: Charmaine Manuel))
Gander says that the family will never come over the murder of Charlie.
“As soon as the conviction is completed, we just have to continue, I think,” said Mr. Gander.
“We just have to keep Chaz in our head. He doesn’t want us to brew things.“
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