His mum Sarah Ward was convicted of the 2008 murder of Eli Westlake – she is coming home soon and he looks forward to living what remains of his life with her (he has terminal bone cancer). “She’s changed she’s sorry and she’s served a lot of years to reflect on what she’s done,” he writes.
As we reported seven years ago, Ward was convicted in 2010 of the murder of 21 year old Eli Westlake on June 7, 2008; she was sentenced to 25 years prison, with a non-parole period of 18 years, 9 months. She maintains that several prosecution witnesses’ testimony at the trial differed markedly from the statements made at the Committal Hearing.
And the trial judge, Justice Howie, remarked, “some of these witnesses are not reliable… Firstly nearly everybody was intoxicated including the accused … and you do not need me to tell you what alcohol does to your recollection of events and to your perception of events.” (He should know: see our story.)
It’s quite a story all in all, with a backstory outlined in our earlier report. But today, it is over to Austin Ward:
Me and my Mother Sarah Ward have began to solidify a good solid relationship. Her sentence is only 5 months now. Being October 9th 2026. Did she murder this man… That I don’t know. Is she sorry and remorseful yes she is. Has she missed watching her son.. Me grow up…yes. I’m 31 now and definitely not in the hey day of my life anymore I was in my 20s it would have been good having her around. I do think and I know this to be true this guy eli westlake definitely provoked her and assaulted her. Knowing mum she didn’t take S#### but it would take her a lot to get to a state she was enraged.
She could be a monster on the alcohol yes this is true I was estranged from her for a long time due to a few personal reasons growing up. I want to get this out there before her release goes to the press. She wasn’t a angel but she could be a kind hearted person until she drank that was her downfall it was jekyl and hyde but the Westlake brothers are not innocent in this incident. She’s learnt her lesson let her move on.
I can’t visit her in Sydney when she’s released due to being physically unwell myself. So we are hoping she gets housing in coffs harbour close to me. She’s basically free now she can go to the movies…walks…to the shops she is really going well… Judge Howie said she won’t be released until she is a lot older and alot wiser…this is true she has changed. I look forward to living what remains of my life with my mum now me being a very family oriented person. She’s changed she’s sorry and she’s served a lot of years to reflect on what she’s done. Thank you