Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
The wife of Jock Zonfrillo thought police had made a mistake when they first contacted her about the MasterChef star’s death, confessing she went into shock when the news was confirmed.
That is just one of the revelations from Lauren Zonfrillo as she breaks her silence almost two years after Jock was found unresponsive in a Melbourne hotel room in May, 2023.
“I thought they had gone into the wrong room or something has gone wrong here,” Lauren said.
“I think I went into shock, and I stayed in shock for a very long time. Possibly up to a year.”
Jock’s cause of death has never been publicly released.
Lauren will sit down with veteran reporter Liz Hayes for a 7NEWS Spotlight major TV event, Jock and Me, which will air this Sunday on Channel Seven at 8pm.
On Monday, Hayes joined Sunrise’s Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington to discuss the bombshell tell-all.
“For you, what stood out?” Shirvington asked Hayes.
“Look, I think that it was a really painful interview for Lauren to do. And I think that reliving the call, as you just saw, seeing Jock – she went and saw Jock’s body – telling the kids, coming to terms with why.
“All those things were really quite confronting for her to tell me. And frankly, it was confronting to listen to it. No matter how you look at it, this is a 46-year-old man who died suddenly, and Lauren is a 45-year-old or 44-year-old woman, and two little kids.
“It was really dreadful. Played out in the public.”
Barr: “That’s the key, isn’t it? Yes. Every death is tragic. For every family who goes through it would be. But this was controversial. People commented in the media. She has to deal with all that. You have done this for many years. How do you go into an interview like that?”
Hayes: “Like we all do, prepared. And I had spoken to Lauren beforehand. I had actually met Jock and Lauren beforehand. I had done a story with Jock before, gone outback with him, because he was working with Indigenous foods.
“So, I had spent some time with them. I did go to the funeral. So, I had a relationship of sorts. One of trust is ultimately how we approached it. One of understanding, that she wanted to tell this story. She’s written a book.
“I think I came from a place of, ‘this is her story’.”
Shirvington: ”The nature of Jock’s passing. I mean, it’s still a little bit of a mystery for us … For you, how did you broach that?”
Hayes: “Well, I said – look, it is a really difficult area, and one that she struggles with. She is of the opinion it is nobody’s business, frankly, but she accepts at least the public wants an answer of sorts.
“And she does deal with that and certainly accepts that it’s a tough one, because Jock was public. She doesn’t see him as a public person at all now.”
Hayes then pivoted to her role with 7NEWS Spotlight.
“Welcome to Channel Seven … Will you be doing more with us?” Barr asked.
“I would hope. Look, I’m a journalist. I love telling stories. If there is a story that fits for Spotlight, I would be over the moon. I will see how it goes.
“But at this point, I’m just really grateful to have this opportunity and I feel very privileged and very comfortable and supported. Thank you very much for that.”
Shirvington: “We feel very privileged to have your skillset and experience onboard with us.”
Jock and Me: A 7NEWS Spotlight major TV event this Sunday at 8pm on Seven and 7plus.
