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Interviewer: 60 Minutes presents a live interview with Ken Marslew.

Interviewer: Ken, thank you for joining us tonight to talk about your story and experiences.

Ken Marslew: Hi, I hope that you got something positive out of this segment .

• Q : You are a great example of someone bringing good out of a horrific situation - how exactly do you plan to work with other offenders?
  
  I guess getting people to accept responsibility for their actions and the consequences of those actions is part of the work that we do with Enough is Enough.

• Q : How do you forgive when the pain is still fresh. I haven't given up on life just our justice system
  
  I'm not into forgiveness, I thought I made it clear that it was about letting go of hate, and we do not have a justice system, we only have a legal process.

• Q : Why did you decide to take on your son's killer in this way?
  
  I believe I can make something positive come out of this relationship.

• Q : Ken...do you still feel the legal system let you down?
  
  Yes, is the only way I can answer that. And it continues to do so.

• Q : Hi Ken, I just watched your story, and am in awe of you. Who recommended you utilise restorative justice??
  
  There were a range of people that encouraged me to participate in the restorative justice process.

• Q : What about the family of the man who killed your son? And his brother who was with him? Does he have no contact with them now?
  
  I am unaware of contact that he has with the people mentioned, but I am aware he is trying to re-establish a relationship with his son.

• Q : At what stage are you looking to intervene in youths lives?
  
  We currently run programs starting in primary school.

• Q : Do you believe all persons who commit a crime can be helped in the same way.
  
  Very difficult question to answer. As a result of the work we do in prisons, there are some people that you will never touch. But I think most can be moved to think differently or in a positive way.

• Q : Ken, was there a certain incident that turned your hate into such positive action ?
  
  There was a range of incidences that started to change my thoughts, some from the strangest places. A man who had 3 daughters murdered in one night, a man who was in prison for armed hold up, a man whose son had murdered somebody, all had a positive impact on me. Sounds strange, doesn't it?

• Q : Ken, how did you feel when you came face to face with the man that killed your son?
  
  The first time, I wanted to kill him. 15 years later on, was trying to work out a way to turn tragedy into triumph for both of us.

• Q : Ken, I first have to applaud you wholeheartedly. My heart was so heavy with sorrow as I watched tonight. I can't possibly imagine your torture. I was hoping you might provide some insight as to how you came to be in the mental space to release the hatred?
  
  I no longer think I am tortured, nor am I a victim. I dealt with that stuff, and now seek positive outcomes in all aspects of my life.

• Q : What you did was brave. do you think your son is proud of you for being the big man
  
  First of all, I'm not a big man. That's not what this is about. And I hope my son is proud of what I've done.

• Q : When you saw him for the first time as a free man, how did it make you feel?
  
  Mixed emotions. But now it's time to make something positive happen.

• Q : Hi Ken, I was wondering if you had an opinion on the Government initiatives under taken currently to rehabilitate offenders
  
  I think that we to do more of setting up prisons so that rehabilitation can occur. The Government cannot rehabilitate prisoners, only they can do that themselves. But good programs can assist.

• Q : What is your first project with this man Ken?
  
  To put him in a place with training, and physiological support to help the target group he has identified. (That would be young offenders or kids at risk)

• Q : How do you know you can you trust the man that killed your son? what's to say he wont hurt someone else?
  
  All I can do is create an environment that may produce positive outcomes, but I certainly will not put anyone at risk.

• Q : Do the guilty mostly seek to take part in visits with the victim's families?
  
  Not necessarily, sometimes there is fear of reprisal or rejection, even for the most genuine of approaches.

• Q : Do you believe that holding onto the hate only allows the offender to have yet another victim?
  
  By hating someone, you actually give them the power. By letting go of hate, you take your power back.

• Q : What does enough is enough provide to society?
  
  We have counselling services that is run from Sutherland, Grafton & Gosford in NSW and Toowoomba in QLD. As well as programs for schools starting in Primary, Secondary, kids at risk, juvenile correctional centres and main stream prison and we are also an active lobby group on youth, justice and safety.

• Q : You have made an awesome effort with this man and have let go of your hate, do your family feel the same way about him? Do you feel that they can let go of the hate also?
  
  My family supports me, but are on different parts of the same journey and don't always agree with what I do.

• Q : Hi Ken....I'm wondering why you have only connected with that particular offender and not the person who pulled the trigger.
  
  This particular person struck me as being remorseful the first time we met in the restorative justice process. The one that pulled the trigger still blames Michael for his own death.

• Q : Do you still feel angry and hurt? and find it hard to confront him at times?
  
  I still feel angry, but I use my anger in a positive way. I don't find it difficult to confront him at all.

• Question: Hey Ken, Long time, but you are a man who has always been bigger than life, lived by your convictions, and I remember a time when tonight's show would not have been possible. Well done my man. Do you see this man as being able to truly provide a positive in the community. God help that he can.
  
  I think with some help and if he does what he says he will do, I think he can do something positive for society.

• Q : Ken do you believe victims need more say in the criminal process.
  
  I think that victims have sufficient say in the process now with the use of victim's impact statements, but have a place in forming legislation regarding the way that victim are dealt with by the process. One of the things that victims need to understand is that revenge is not justice. Justice begins where revenge ends.

• Q : What would you like to see changed in the legal system Ken?
  
  I'm glad you called it a legal system, because it isn't about justice. It can be called a justice system when it does more for both victims and offenders.

• Q : In what way do you believe the legal system let you down?
  
  Inconsistency in the way the crime was dealt with; there was a distinct lack of support for victims 15 years ago. But part of the work done by our organization Enough is Enough and other groups have given victims a voice in the process, but more needs to be done to bring the scales of justice to balance.

• Q : How much of crime and violence in our society is to do with drugs and alcohol , and does our legal system fail us there too?
  
  I think a goodly amount of crime and violence is underpinned by drugs and alcohol but also the lack of acceptance of responsibility and a system that does not hold people accountable of the consequences to the full extend of their action.

• Q : Ken, congratulations on your choice to set up this organisation. How are you funded?
  
  With a great deal of bloody difficulty, we get some Government funding for specific purposes but we need to raise a lot of funds in our own right for research, development and implementation. Please check the website: www.enoughisenough.org.au for more information.

• Q : Has the rest of your family let go of the hate that they have for this man the way you have??
  
  No, they have not. But they support me in my actions. I can understand why others have a different view than I. And I love them anyway for their support even if they don't agree.

• Q : Can I ask if you have contacted groups like Qld Homicide Victims Support and the One Punch Can Kill program?
  
  Yes, we have a working relationship with the QLD Homicide Victims Support group of which I am a member and support their work. We hope to open an office in Brisbane in the not too distant future.

• Q : Have you spoken to other families that have done what you have done or are considering to do it?
  
  Yes, we have spoken to some and have assisted them in the process. Others we are encouraging to participate in the process and part of our prisons work is to encourage offenders, but only if they are genuine to face their victims. The process can be beneficial to both parties.

• Q : Is there any chance you could come to forgiveness?
  
  Time will tell. But is it necessary?

• Q : Is there anyway to become involved in the restorative justice program after being convicted, of a crime that has now been served
  
  Yes, please contact our office: 02 9542 4029 and see our website: www.enoughisenough.org.au for more information.

• Q : Do you have plans to implement any other types of programs in the future? If so what?
  
  We are constantly reviewing existing programs and including new material as it becomes available. We already have a range of programs dealing with anti-bullying, anti-violence and victim support, stress and anger management and a range of other programs, including goal-setting, leadership, resilience and positive psychology.

• Q : Does your organisation receive govt funding at all
  
  For specific purposes, we need to raise funds in our own right to enable us to operate at the level we do. We also invite people to join the organization as members. We are a non-government not-for-profit organisation.

• Q : Does your program look at violence in all areas. For instance, in the domestic violence area, we see too many men who don't want to change. You must, have some faith in the ability of men to change; is that so?
  
  We are very active in the area of domestic violence, which seems to be currently driven by a feminist agenda. Unless we take a broader approach to dealing with domestic violence, we are not going to impact on it. I appreciate your comment.

• Q : What plans do you have in helping young people who have come from difficult lives. And stopping them from a life of crime?
  
  We currently run programs for youth at risk, behavioural schools and correctional centres. Early intervention is imperative if we are to break the cycle of violence. But the community has to accept responsibility for it's role in dealing positively with young offenders.

• Q : How do you deal with all of the criticism you get? i Find you very admirable!!!!!
  
  Everyone is entitled of their opinion; most of the criticism comes from people who have not been on the journey that I have been on. And I believe in what I do to the extent that I value my critics.

• Q : How many success stories do you believe you have so far.
  
  What is success? I hope that our activities have given people strength to deal with issues, to see that there are a lot of different ways of confronting life and we can turn pain into power, tragedy into triumph just by the way that we think about things.

• Q : Ken where can you see yourself 10years from now?
  
  Somebody asked me when I was going to retire, I don't know that if an option I want to take up, the organization is growing. Just this month we became National, and we have several projects underway involving youth that will take us International. So hopefully as an old fart, I can still make a positive impact 10 years from now.

• Q : What type of crime (if any) do you think you may not have been able to react to like this?
  
  I think under the circumstances, in my opinion the worst fear a parent has is the loss of a child for any reason. I think that if we work with any crime, we can produce some form of positive outcome. But it is not always easy and trust me, this was not easy.

• Q : What help can the general public be to you?
  
  There are many ways the general public can support the work we do. Instead of being an arm-chair critic, each person can actually contribute to creating the society that we all want to live in. But talking doesn't do it. We actually have to get off our bum and do something. So, we can lobby Politician, when there is peace in our heart there is peace in the house. When there is peace in the house, there is peace in the community. And when there is peace in the community, there is peace in the land. And if we can extend that to the world. In practical terms, need funding, volunteers, goods and services. There are many ways that one can contribute to the work that we do.

• Q : Ken would you do the same thing if you had to reface this tragic ordeal??
  
  Everything that I have done since my son's death, I have no regrets with. And I wouldn't do it differently. I had no choice about what happened, but I certainly have a choice with the way I run my life.

• Q : Do you think enough is enough is making changes to peoples lives?
  
  I wouldn't do what I do if I didn't think we were making a positive difference. The answer is Yes, to both victims and offenders. But the real choice is up to the individual.

• Q : What would be the first thing you could change with the legal system if you could.
  
  Accountability of judicial offices, to ensure consistency in sentencing.

• Q : Ken, what do you feel is the cause for people entering into lives of violence, and is forgiveness enough to pull them out of it?
  
  I think a lot of the causes come from role models or lack there of. Drugs and alcohol, and I think accountability is more important than forgiveness.

• Q : Any advice to other parents that find themselves in the same situation you were in 15 years ago?
  
  I think there is enough that anyone can do to take away the pain. It is a journey, but that original concept "anyone touches your kid you kill them", you have to work your way through that. If this is a specific question, please contact me directly and I can give you some insight into the journey.
  

Interviewer: Unfortunately we are out of time Ken, do you have any final comments before we close?

Ken Marslew: Thank you all for your questions, just remember if we continue to do what we've always done we'll continue to get what we've always got. If we want something different in the world, we have to do things differently. Please check the website: www.enoughisenough.org.au, and we can use any support that you can give us to make a positive difference.

Interviewer: Thank you and goodnight.