JUSTICE FOR QUEENSL AND GRANDMOTHER 'MUM'S DEATH IS NOT IN VAIN'

VYLEEN'S KILLER WAS SENTENCED LAST WEEK

- Emma Levett

Like so many others, Cindy Micallef used to shudder at the appalling news stories about youth crime in her area.

She assumed it wasn’t an issue that would ever directly affect her. Until, heartbreakingly, it did.

In February 2024, Cindy’s 70-year-old mother, Vyleen White, was stabbed as a gang of teens tried to steal her car.

Last week, the main culprit, who legally cannot be named as he was 16 years old when the crime occurred, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for her murder.

“The devastation caused to our family will take more than his sentencing to fix,” Cindy, 53, tells New Idea.

The teenager, who is now nearly 18, plead guilty to Vyleen’s murder in July, along with several other charges.

Cindy was in Brisbane’s Supreme Court, along with her dad Victor, for the two-day sentencing hearing.