A Brisbane widower has wished for his wife’s teenage killer to experience the same love he experienced for 50 years, stunning a packed courtroom.
Beloved Brisbane grandmother Rosemary Franzidis, 69, died when her car was struck by a stolen car driven by a 16-year-old boy on Dohles Rocks Rd at Murrumba Downs about 9.45am on November 7, 2024.
Under Queensland law, the boy, who is now 18, cannot be named.
He pleaded guilty before the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to one count each of manslaughter, dangerous operation of a vehicle, aggravated attempted robbery, negligent acts causing harm, and operating a vehicle dangerously in any place by excessively speeding, alongside two counts of aggravated unlawful entry of a vehicle.
Widower’s gracious wish
The courtroom grew increasingly solemn as Ms Franzidis’ widower Jean-Paul Franzidis and daughter Alexia read their statements to the court.
“My mother Rosemary was kind, generous and full of love,” Alexia said.
“She was far more than a mother, she was our best friend … she was our constant.
“We lost her violently and unexpectedly … there was no time for final conversations or goodbyes.
“She loved her family deeply and there was nothing she enjoyed more than being with her children and grandchildren.
“Our mum should be here to watch our kids learn, grow, achieve their goals and become adults.”
Mr Franzidis spoke aloud his gracious desire for the boy who caused his family unimaginable pain.
“Rose chose me out of all the people on this earth,” he said, directing his attention to the young boy.
“I would do anything to have her back.
“My wish is that the young man in the dock would find someone excellent that will choose him and love him.”
Mr Franzidis described an enduring love for his wife, the love of his life and his carer, whom he met at university in 1964.
The pair had been together ever since and were planning their 50th wedding anniversary, set for the next year, at the time of Rosemary’s death.
“There is a big empty space in my life,” he said.
Carjacking spree
Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins said the boy, with two adult co-accused, “embarked on a series of violent offences … culminating in the death of Rosemary Franzidis”.
Before the fatal crash, the trio, in a stolen Holden Barina, stalked a 63-year-old as she drove her Audi.
They then stole her car, threatening her with a realistic false firearm, with the boy taking control of the wheel, his two co-offenders remaining in the stolen Barina.
The boy drove frantically for about 20km, the court was told, weaving through traffic, crossing over to the wrong side of the road, running red lights and flying at speeds between 119km/h and 136km/h.
Ms Franzidis was on her way home from church.
As she turned on a green light, the boy sped through a red light at full acceleration, colliding with her car and sending her careening downhill.
At the point of impact he was driving 136km/h in a 70km/h speed zone.
While police were discreetly following from a distance, they were not in active pursuit.
Another unmarked and unrelated police car was hit by the boy’s rolling vehicle.
Two police officers were injured; one since forced to medically retire from active duty due to the crash.
Ms Franzidis suffered multiple puncture wounds to her lungs, haemorrhaging on her neck and brain, multiple fractures and a dislocation on her spine.
She never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The boy injured his toe.
He was found in the wreckage wearing a balaclava, still on the phone to his co-accused.
The court was told he also had MDMA, cannabis and methylamphetamines in his system.
Before the crash, the trio had first confronted a 62-year-old woman in a stolen Holden Barina, demanding her car and keys.
While the woman was able to hold off the group, they then approached an 18-year-old waiting for a train, this time demanding she hand over her handbag.
The young woman told police one of the offenders held what appeared to be a gun at her before she ran towards a crowd of commuters.
“Now we know it was a replica firearm … (nevertheless) those women would have been terrified,” Mr Wilkins said.
The boy tried to claim to police a gelblaster, found in the stolen Audi, belonged to the 63-year-old owner of the vehicle.
Boy expresses remorse
Defence barrister Laura Reece KC said the boy was extremely remorseful for his actions, “waking up” in the night remembering how he hurt so many people.
“He has already participated to some extent in a process where he has been confronted with the impact of his actions,” Ms Reece said.
“He said he felt “sh*t” that there were so many ways he could have avoided what happened … said he didn’t really have the words to express how he felt.”
The court was told the boy had little sleep in the week leading up to the crash.
Ms Reece said the boy’s offending “occurred in context of significant childhood adversity”, adding he was drawn into a bad crowd of older offenders who influenced him for a short time.
The court was told the boy planned to remain substance-free following his release and was willing to participate in further restorative justice to “own up” to what he had done.