Jack Beasley murder: Gold Coast parents of teen stabbed to death outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub reveal what they really think of their son’s killer
The grieving parents of a teenager stabbed to death in a busy nightlife area have admitted they will never forgive the teen who took their son’s life.
Student Jack Beasley, 17, was murdered by a 15-year-old teenager during a night out with friends in Surfers Paradise on December 13, 2019 on the Gold Coast.
Jack’s parents Brett and Belinda Beasley have been the driving force behind ground-breaking legislation to tackle youth knife crime.
The couple didn’t hold back when asked about their son’s killer after being crowned Gold Coast Australians of the Year last week.
Mr Beasley was asked if he would ever forgive the teenager, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
“Never, absolutely not. He was 15 years old, he took our son’s life. Jack was only 17 and this little brat was 15. No, absolutely not,” he told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
‘I will never forgive what he did to our son. Our son lost his 18th, his 21st, his entire life of having a family, having children, getting married, all those milestones.”
The grieving father said his son’s life was ended “for no reason whatsoever.”
Jack Beasley (pictured) was just 17 when he was stabbed to death by a 15-year-old in Surfers Paradise. His killer will be released before he turns 22
Brett and Belinda Beasley (pictured) have been named Gold Coast Australians of the Year for their work with the Jack Beasley Foundation. The parents have said they cannot forgive their son’s killer
Mr Beasley added that they received the “devastating” news just two weeks before Christmas.
When Jack’s mother was asked the same question, she said she couldn’t see herself forgiving her son’s killer, who will be free in just seven years.
“That’s a bitter pill to swallow. He’s coming out before he’s 22 and Jack’s life was lost when he was 17. I can’t say I’ll never forgive him, but right now I can’t see that.”
Jack’s mother added that the killer has taken “enough” from her family and she doesn’t want to think about him.
Although honored to receive the award, Mrs. Beasley wished no one knew who she and her husband were.
To honor their son Jack and create a legacy for him, the two created the Jack Beasley Foundation, weeks after the 17-year-old boy’s murder.
The foundation was the driving force behind Jack’s Law, which gives Queensland Police officers special powers to use a metal detector to check people for knives in entertainment venues without a warrant.
Mr Beasley has described his son Jack’s killer (pictured father and son) as a ‘grub’ who robbed his son of life milestones such as marriage
Since Jack’s Law was introduced, it has led to more than 800 guns being taken off the streets of the Gold Coast.
The law has now been passed by NSW and the Northern Territory, while Western Australia and Victoria are now also looking at it.
To ensure no other family has to go through what they did, the Beasleys are talking at schools about the impact Jack’s death had on their family and his friends.
Their youngest son is also involved in the conversations, explaining the impact his brother’s murder had on him, and the family show photos of Jack’s funeral.
The Beasleys also show photos of Jack’s friends and footage from the scene to show the “lifelong trauma” a single act can have.