The mother of a Victorian woman tortured and murdered by a rapist on parole has called for the man to be locked up for life, fearing that \u201cno woman or child will be safe\u201d if he\u2019s ever let out. \u00a0Michael Cardamone, 50, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Friday to the murder of mother Karen Chetcuti, who disappeared on January 12, 2016.<\/p>\n
Police allege Cardamone sedated his 49-year-old neighbour with animal tranquilliser, tied her wrists and ankles with cable ties, duct tape and rope, fractured her skull and ribs, then set her on fire while she was alive. \u00a0It was also alleged Cardamone injected Ms Chetcuti with battery acid and drove over her dead body. \u00a0Ms Chetcuti\u2019s battered and burnt remains were discovered on January 17, 2016.<\/p>\n
Cardamone was out on parole at the time, having been previously convicted for the 2005 rape of a 15-year-old girl,<\/p>\n
Outside court, Ms Chetcuti\u2019s mother Clary Verbunt said Cardamone should never be released. \u00a0\u201cNow he should be locked up for life, if he comes out no woman or child will be safe in this world,\u201d she told reporters. \u00a0Ms Chetcuti\u2019s sister Leny Verbunt said Cardamone\u2019s guilty plea came as a relief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never thought he\u2019d plead guilty,\u201d Ms Verbunt said outside court. \u201cMum\u2019s 85, and for the children as well, for Karen\u2019s children, this is good that we\u2019re not having this trial.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cardamone also pleaded guilty to inciting another to murder. \u00a0He will face a formal plea hearing on August 21 and will be sentenced on August 25 in Wangaratta.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"