A mother broke down in tears as she recalled the moment she tried to save her friend from being stabbed to death by an intruder in a property office.
Susan Scardigno, 50, was working at Real Estate Agents Group in Plympton, Adelaide, on December 20 when Shaun Michael Dunk, 30, allegedly burst through the door and stabbed her and her colleague, Julie ‘Julez’ Seed. 38.
Mrs Seed, a mother of two, died at the scene while Mrs Scardigno was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
A visibly traumatized Ms Scarigno said she spoke out about the traumatic events, saying she was the one who survived and was left with enormous “sadness, guilt and pain”.
Susan Scardigno, 50, has opened up about how her colleague and friend was allegedly stabbed by a random intruder
“I did everything I could at the time to keep her (Ms Seed) safe and in the aftermath I thought she was – but she wasn’t,” Ms Scarigno said. Nine news.
She branded the alleged attacker a “coward” and recalled how cheerful the office was just before the incident.
Ms Scardigno said her colleague had “bounced into the office” that day and was excited about her new Christmas-themed nails she had recently had done.
“It was very calm, it wasn’t like some madman ran through the door or we would have been warned,” Ms Scardigno said.
“I remember the fear when I ran outside. I remember people’s faces. So many people got involved in the scenario. So many were injured.”
Ms Scardigno suffered several stab wounds to her body, but said she was able to conceal them.
“But I have to look at it every day,” she said.
‘I can’t seem to find myself there at the moment. I just can’t connect with myself, it feels like it happened to someone else.
“It feels like shame, it feels like I’ve been violated.”
Police said they recovered a knife and a small hammer from the crime scene.
Mr. Dunk has been charged with the murder of Ms. Seed and the attempted murder of Ms. Scardigno.
Julez Seed (left) and Susan Scardigno (right) were allegedly stabbed by a stranger at their workplace on December 20. Mrs Seed died at the scene.
Julie ‘Julez’ Seed, 38, is pictured with her fiancé Chris Smith
Ms Scarigno will sit down with South Australian Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas this week to discuss what needs to be done to prevent further tragedies.
“It can’t be in vain, we have to take that power back for her (Ms Seed),” she said.
She had worked at the agency for five years as a business development manager, while Ms Seed was hired two years ago.
In the wake of the tragedy, close friends paid tribute to Mrs Seed, a mother of two daughters aged 12 and 18, from Morphett Vale, who got engaged to partner Chris Smith a year ago.
“Julez was a beautiful soul, she had a smile that lit up the room,” close friend Cathy Black previously told Daily Mail Australia. ‘She was very loved.
‘Julez and Chris were so happy together, it’s tragic. She was always happy, everyone loved her.
Ms Scardigno is pictured with her partner, Sean Sykes, on a recent night out in Sydney
‘She was a wonderful mother of two beautiful girls, one of whom just turned 18.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that she finally had everything she ever wanted in life, only to be so tragically taken from the world in a senseless, random act of violence that should never have happened.
‘Now the entire life of a beautiful family has been torn apart… and just before Christmas.
“My heart breaks for her family.”
The real estate building is located next to a supermarket parking lot, where families were among those who saw the tragic events unfold.
Dunk appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link last month.
He was refused bail and the case was adjourned to March 28.