Dawn Edge (top right) with Margaret Dodd, mother of Hayley Dodd.
Camera IconDawn Edge (top right) with Margaret Dodd, mother of Hayley Dodd. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Mother of Carramar man Jason Edge welcomes State Government’s new ‘no body no parole’ legislation

Breanna InferreraWanneroo Times

THE mother of a Carramar man whose body was dumped at sea and never found is relieved the ‘no body, no parole’ legislation has passed in WA.

Dawn Edge was a strong advocate for the legislation after her son Jason was killed on Anzac Day in 2015.

Jason’s killer Jonathan Pihema was sentenced to life with a 25-year minimum last year after being convicted of beating Mr Edge to death over a drug debt at a Clarkson home.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Pihema is appealing his conviction and sentence.

Two other men, Christopher Moir and Matthew Howarth were also jailed over the murder.

Mrs Edge joined Margaret Dodd, mother of murdered teenager Hayley Dodd, in campaigning for the laws.

The new laws require those convicted of murder, manslaughter or infanticide to disclose the location of their victim’s remains before being considered for parole.

Those convicted will not be considered for parole unless they can satisfy the Prisoners Review Board they have co-operated with police and law enforcement authorities in determining the location of their victim.

Mrs Edge said the new laws would bring closure to families who had always wondered where the remains of their loved ones were.

“Hopefully now we can all bring our kids home,” she said.

“It’s bad enough going through trial and hearing all the lies, it’s like (the convicted) have a hold over you,

“If they said anything then they own up to being guilty – it’s like a trump card for them.”

State Attorney General John Quigley said he was pleased the State Government was able to deliver one of its key pre-election commitments.

“When a killer withholds information about the location of their victim’s body, it adds to the suffering of families and this is unacceptable,” he said.

“These criminals should not be afforded the privilege of parole while their victim’s family remains in limbo.

“These laws send the strongest message yet to those sitting in their cells today, serving life sentences for homicide-related offences, to seriously reconsider their position.”

Mrs Edge was thrilled the McGowan government fulfilled its promise.

“WA has finally caught up – we always seem to be last and we have been waiting for this for a long time,” she said.

MORE: Measles outbreak has Perth authorities on alert

MORE: Police called to Cannington home after woman’s body found

MORE: Woman found seriously injured in Wellington Square

MORE: Perth researchers link vitamin D deficiency with autism behaviours