Stephanie Scott was days away from marrying when she was murdered. Credit:Facebook Police will prepare a report for the information of the coroner. Stephanie Scott was killed at Leeton High School on Easter Sunday last year, days before she was due to marry her boyfriend Aaron Leeson-Woolley. Leeton High School cleaner Vincent Stanford was sentenced to life in prison last month. Mr Scott, known as Bob, had been a pillar of strength to his family, since his daughter's death.

Robert Scott, centre, speaks at a memorial to his daughter Stephanie. Credit:Kate Geraghty Only weeks ago, he stood beside his wife, Merrilyn, holding her hand as she read a victim impact statement to a special sitting of the NSW Supreme Court in Griffith. Mrs Scott had spoken of the difficult and "harrowing" 18 months her family had endured. "So much has been taken away from us. Stephanie has had everything taken away from her," Mrs Scott said in October. "Losing her has shattered so many lives and we are all struggling with the consequences."

The day afterwards, Mr Scott and his family were present in court when Stanford was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder and rape of Ms Scott. At the time of his daughter's death, Mr Scott held his family together and spoke to a crowd of hundreds in Mountford Park on what should have been his daughter's wedding day. Mr Scott told the crowd that he wanted his daughter to be remembered for the great girl she was - and not the tragic way in which she was taken away. "Unfortunately, she was taken away from us for a short time, but now we've got her back and we will restore her dignity," Mr Scott said as he stood on stage beside his wife, children and other family members. "Stephanie was a bubbly, bright, witty, intelligent fun-loving girl who has obviously impacted on many people here to today and our wishes for the future are that that will continue in your minds. You remember her as the girl she was and I'm sure wherever she is now that she would wish that to be the case and maintain that as you remember her, as that great little girl she was."

After 15 years of service, Mr Scott retired as head teacher from Canowindra High School at the end of 2015. At the time, the principal Neryle Smurthwaite described him as a strong advocate for public education.



"It would be remiss not to acknowledge the unparalleled contribution he has made to the young people of our community. Loading "Bob has led the Technological and Applied Studies faculty through significant change and at all times his one focus was on delivering the best education possible for his students whether in the workshop, on the farm or in the classroom," she said. "Bob, as both head teacher and relieving deputy principal, has been a strong advocate for public education in our community and his determination to forge partnerships between the school and home has been invaluable."

