On November 4, 2018, Australia woke up to the news that Angry Anderson’s son had been killed.
Liam Anderson, who was 26 at the time of his death, had been murdered in the early hours of the morning, after a night out.
His friend, 20-year-old Matthew Flame, was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he allegedly killed Liam, who was just trying to help him.
Now, six months later, Anderson has appeared on Andrew Denton’s Interview on Channel Seven. Anderson had asked Denton to not discuss the details of Liam’s death or even mention his name.
He quickly became emotional when the subject was brought up.
“I am not angry. I am just profoundly sad,” he told the veteran TV host. “I know that I can’t use anger to express myself.”
“The bad days are awful. Sometimes I just don’t leave the house. Nothing can describe those first terrible days.”
Liam’s older sister Roxanne, who was sitting beside her father throughout the interview, described her late brother as “just such a beautiful soul”.
“He was so kind and very gentle, very similar to what dad is like with us,” she said.
“He always saw the best in everything, he was positive. He had so much love to give to everyone, not just his family, complete strangers. He had amazing strength for such a young person. If he wanted something he worked hard to get it, especially around his music.”
Anderson, 71, told Denton he had raised his children “to be kind”, above all else. Denton then asked the singer whether he took comfort in the fact that was exactly what Liam was doing when he died.
“I’ve tried, I’ve tried," he said. “I can’t think about those last moments."
“But one thing I did say… in the press, just to right some wrong things that were being printed, was that the way he was raised is what got him into that situation. He was looking after somebody. And so do I regret that? How could I possibly regret that? He was the man I wanted him to be.”
Anderson then broke down in tears.
“I can’t do this, I’m sorry," he said.
Flame has remained behind bars since the night he allegedly killed Liam. When he was arrested, he made full admissions to police about the attack and participated in forensic procedures.
According to court documents, Flame had briefly passed out that morning and when he woke up "he was ‘under something’s control, something f**king evil”.
Roxanne told Denton despite their heartbreak, Liam's death had actually brought the family closer together.
“We still have happiness, regardless of something that has been so tragic for us,” she said.
“If anything it’s taken the love each other and the appreciation for each other to a whole other level.”
Anderson said he is slowly learning to accept Liam's death.
“Believing that time heals, et cetera, they’re all true. The reason they’re cliches is because they’re true," he said.
"Time takes care of us in the most beautiful way if we allow that to happen. I’ve learnt that the hard way, like we all do.”
Top Comments
The most uplifting part of that story to me, is that the family has stuck together and become stronger. Too often, people become so consumed by grief and/or anger that they shut out the very people who understand and care the most.