Nathan Russell Obituary – Death: Murder victim daughter and sister

During the court proceedings at the Supreme Court, the daughter of Nathan Russell, a murder victim from South Australia, expressed her desire for her father’s “piercing blue eyes” to remain etched in the memory of his killer. The tragic incident occurred in January 2021 on Street Street in Adelaide’s CBD, where the father-of-four was mercilessly stabbed by Dylan John Kowalski. While Kowalski has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, the court is yet to determine the parole period, leaving the family in a state of emotional unrest and anticipation.

According to Prosecutor Carmen Mateo SC, Kowalski, masked with a balaclava, forcefully broke into the building, where he brutally attacked Russell, inflicting fatal stab wounds. Mateo emphasized Kowalski’s clear intention to inflict physical harm through the use of the weapon, painting a vivid picture of the harrowing events that unfolded within the span of a mere nine seconds.

In her emotional address to the court, Russell’s daughter, Ulyshka de la Perrelle, expressed her lack of compassion for the perpetrator, while also acknowledging the pain faced by Kowalski’s parents in coming to terms with their son’s actions. Through tears, she asserted her conviction that the haunting image of her father’s eyes would forever remain ingrained in Kowalski’s conscience.

Belinda Russell, the victim’s sister, delivered a poignant victim impact statement, confronting Kowalski and holding him accountable for his choice to take her brother’s life. She questioned the depth of Kowalski’s remorse, pondering whether he was capable of experiencing genuine regret or whether his actions were a manifestation of his own self-centeredness and arrogance. Addressing Kowalski directly, she asserted the gravity of the consequences he would now have to face, emphasizing that his liberty would rightfully be stripped away.

In defense, Kowalski’s lawyer, Nick Vardas, shed light on Kowalski’s claim that he had received threatening messages from individuals associated with the Stewart Street location, which was notorious for its involvement in methamphetamine use. Vardas attempted to contextualize the events, indicating that Kowalski believed his mother’s safety was at risk, providing a backdrop that sought to shed light on the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.