Father defends 'steroid rage' murderer

07-05-06

The father of a man who kicked and punched a woman to death in a Sydney stairwell has tried to defend his actions, now that his son is seeking parole.

Steven DeSouza was jailed in 1995 for the murder of 21-year-old Fiona Harvey at Kings Cross.

He was the first person in New South Wales to use so-called ''steroid rage'' as a defence.

DeSouza is now facing deportation to England.

His father, Anthony DeSouza, has told 2GB's Ray Hadley he continues to maintain his son was under the influence of drugs at the time.

''He was on steroids, which we never knew,'' he said on-air.

''That boy was working with them seven days a week, then he spent one minute out in the club and that's what happened.''