RIP Daniel Morcombe. Your parents fought for you every day of your life... and beyond.

13-year-old Daniel Morcombe went missing in 2003. Today his distraught parents, who have never given up the search for their little boy, heard as a jury found Brett Peter Cowan guilty of murdering Daniel.

The jury found that Cowan, who has been previously convicted of several child sex offences, was guilty of murder, indecent treatment of a child and interference with a corpse.

Cowan was first convicted after attacking a seven-year-old boy in Queensland in 1987. In 1993, Cowan was convicted again, after he attacked a boy in a caravan park in Darwin, and pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty, grievous bodily harm and gross indecency.

This horrific story has gripped the nation for over a decade, as we have watched Daniel’s tormented and lost parents search for meaning in a meaningless world. Today Daniel’s father has spoken to the media. Here is what he said:

Ten years ago you made a choice that ripped our family apart.

Why was he really dumped without clothes? Why was his belt loose and not still looped through his pants? It makes me nauseous for your total lack of respect for a child’s life.’

He was a great kid and would not hurt a fly, you have robbed him of 70 years of life.

Nothing about my life today resembles how we enjoy our lives today … we are no longer the same people.

You picked on the wrong family, our collective determination to find Daniel and expose a child killer was always going to win.

I often wonder about the other victims that you have left in your wake.

I have sat watching you in the same court for close to 40 days. throughout that time you have been completely devoid of any remorse than what you did to Daniel.

Sitting in the same room as you revolts me. How you sit there day after day almost frozen in the one position is chilling.

Predators like you cannot be rehabilitated.

Bruce Morcombe also called Cowan a “perverted, cold-blooded child-killing” paedophile.

The crown prosecutor is the case also read out a victim impact statement from Daniel’s mother, Denise Morcombe.

For years I haven’t slept more than three hours at a time, I have lived and breathed each day to find the answers.

I see my son lying by himself in that dark eerie bushland being devoured by wild animals … you Mr Cowan, have no respect for human life.

We all know one person is not there and we will never recover from that.

Mr Cowan I saw you smiling with your son … and wife … you had a smirk like nothing had happened, a happy family snap, meanwhile my family was living in hell searching for a son who was dead.

Your mistake was you picked on Daniel to release your animalistic perverted needs.

That was your mistake you evil, evil unhuman thing.

RIP Daniel Morcombe.

Daniel’s family have set up a foundation in his name, which is committed to protecting children and keeping them safe. You can donate to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation here.