NSW: Galante jailed for at least 20 years for shooting wife=4

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2008
NSW: Galante jailed for at least 20 years for shooting wife=4

Justice Adams today said while the child had been present when Mrs Galante was murdered,
it was unlikely the toddler witnessed the shooting.

Galante showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down, but his wife's brother,
mother and sister wept and embraced.

Outside court, Mrs Galante's mother, Julie-Anne Hand, welcomed the result.

"After what seems a terribly long time, we got justice for Jody and her baby," a tearful
Mrs Hand told reporters.

"And although it won't bring Jody back, he got one year for every year that he took
- 26 for Jody and one for the baby."

Mrs Hand fought back tears as she recalled the pain of having to pretend she did not
suspect Galante had killed her daughter.

"There aren't words in this world to explain how you stand beside a killer, to protect
my daughter's (child) and make sure that justice gets done in the end," she said.

Mrs Galante's brother Colin Pomery struggled to contain his emotion, remembering driving
a young Mark Galante to school and celebrating his birthdays.

"We were all best friends, we lived in the same street," Mr Pomery said, holding his
mother's hand.

"To see him then and what he's turned out to now, you just don't know who you can become
friends with.

"Don't let go of your family, it's all you've got."

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KEYWORD: GALANTE 4 SYDNEY

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