Speaking yesterday to the Southern Cross, Mitchell Ferrario’s father Ray said the family can only describe the verdict handed down by the jury as “absolutely devastating”.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard 72-year-old Alan Lawson-Brown had been acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges following the stabbing of Mitchell on April 9 last year.

Still unable to comprehend the jury’s findings, Mr Ferrario said the family will now have to live with the decision as best they can.

“We can’t understand how the decision has been reached.”

“Now we have to live with the decision. The family is absolutely devastated.”

One of the hardest parts throughout the trial for Mr Ferrario was hearing evidence given by witnesses and Mr Lawson-Brown into alleged death threats made by Mitchell.

During the trial the court heard Mr Lawson-Brown had received death threats from Mitchell on two occasions with the first being a threat Mitchell was going to shoot him and the second on the night of April 9 when Mitchell approached Mr Lawson-Brown’s unit after leaving a nearby party yelling words like: “I’m going to get you, I’m going to kill you.”

Mr Ferrario said he doesn’t believe these threats can be believed.

“I am not satisfied that the alleged threats made by Mitchell can be substantiated, as only one side of the story can ever be told.”

Mr Ferrario said the family will now focus on the process of moving on to the next chapter of their lives –trying to deal with the decision.

Over the last 10 months the family has received support within the Junee and wider community, which they are thankful for, Mr Ferrario said.

“We would like to thank Detective Fletcher and for the moral support from friends.

“We have received so much help and encouragement from people and we are really appreciative of the condolences people have extended to us.”

With the news of the verdict hitting Junee within minutes, Mr Ferrario said the support from the community has made the family feel like they are not alone in their fight to come to grips with the loss of Mitchell and in grappling with the decision made by the jury.