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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/08/karen-chetcuti-killers-mum-thought-son-was-innocent-when-paying-for-witness-hit
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| Karen Chetcuti: killer's mother 'thought son was innocent' when paying for witness hit | Karen Chetcuti: killer's mother 'thought son was innocent' when paying for witness hit |
| (6 months later) | |
| Victorian killer Michael Cardamone’s elderly mother says she believed he was innocent of their neighbour Karen Chetcuti’s brutal murder when she paid a hitman to kill a key witness. | Victorian killer Michael Cardamone’s elderly mother says she believed he was innocent of their neighbour Karen Chetcuti’s brutal murder when she paid a hitman to kill a key witness. |
| On Friday, Maria Cardamone, 80, appeared before the Victorian county court sitting in Wangaratta and Melbourne via video link from prison for a pre-sentence hearing. | On Friday, Maria Cardamone, 80, appeared before the Victorian county court sitting in Wangaratta and Melbourne via video link from prison for a pre-sentence hearing. |
| In August, she pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice over her role in hiring a hitman, an undercover policeman, to kill a key witness in the case against her son. | In August, she pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice over her role in hiring a hitman, an undercover policeman, to kill a key witness in the case against her son. |
| Michael Cardamone made arrangements for his mother to pay the hired killer when she visited him or phoned him in prison this year while he was awaiting trial for Chetcuti’s murder. | Michael Cardamone made arrangements for his mother to pay the hired killer when she visited him or phoned him in prison this year while he was awaiting trial for Chetcuti’s murder. |
| He arranged with another prisoner to hire a hitman for $25,000 to kill Edward George, an associate who had helped him burn Chetcuti’s car after she was murdered. | He arranged with another prisoner to hire a hitman for $25,000 to kill Edward George, an associate who had helped him burn Chetcuti’s car after she was murdered. |
| His mother withdrew thousands in cash and gave it to the undercover operative in March 2017. | His mother withdrew thousands in cash and gave it to the undercover operative in March 2017. |
| “She knew the funds were going towards an effort to prevent Edward George from giving evidence against Michael,” the prosecutor Andrew Moore told the court on Friday. | “She knew the funds were going towards an effort to prevent Edward George from giving evidence against Michael,” the prosecutor Andrew Moore told the court on Friday. |
| Michael Cardamone pleaded guilty to Checuti’s murder on 30 June, just weeks before he was due to stand trial. | Michael Cardamone pleaded guilty to Checuti’s murder on 30 June, just weeks before he was due to stand trial. |
| Checuti, 49, suffered a brutal death at the hands of her ice-addict neighbour in the rural Victorian township of Whorouly. | Checuti, 49, suffered a brutal death at the hands of her ice-addict neighbour in the rural Victorian township of Whorouly. |
| Sedated with horse tranquilliser, she was bound with rope and duct tape, injected with battery acid and bashed before finally being doused in petrol and burned to death. | Sedated with horse tranquilliser, she was bound with rope and duct tape, injected with battery acid and bashed before finally being doused in petrol and burned to death. |
| Maria Cardamone pleaded guilty on 3 August to the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice over her role in helping her son cover up his crime. | Maria Cardamone pleaded guilty on 3 August to the charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice over her role in helping her son cover up his crime. |
| Michael Cardamone, 50, was jailed for life without parole on 25 August. | Michael Cardamone, 50, was jailed for life without parole on 25 August. |
| The defence counsel for Maria Cardamone said the killer had influenced his mother. “His mother was labouring under a false impression that her son was not responsible for this horrendous crime,” Rob Stary said. “She was vulnerable and susceptible to his influence.” | The defence counsel for Maria Cardamone said the killer had influenced his mother. “His mother was labouring under a false impression that her son was not responsible for this horrendous crime,” Rob Stary said. “She was vulnerable and susceptible to his influence.” |
| Maria Cardamone’s mental and physical health was deteriorating and she would probably require care once she was released from custody, the court was told. | Maria Cardamone’s mental and physical health was deteriorating and she would probably require care once she was released from custody, the court was told. |
| She has already spent 127 days in pre-sentence custody. Judge Gerard Mullaly will sentence her on 22 September. | She has already spent 127 days in pre-sentence custody. Judge Gerard Mullaly will sentence her on 22 September. |
| Crime - Australia | Crime - Australia |
| Victoria | Victoria |
| Law (Australia) | |
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