ClaremontSerialKillings8


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Wikipedia 

A Tool Of The Ruling Elite-ON CONTACT



Wikipedia Exposed As Corrupt Tool of

The Establishment

OCTOBER 26, 2018

BY 21WIRE 

https://21stcenturywire.com/2018/10/26/wikipedia-exposed-as-corrupt-tool-of-the-establishment/ 

Big Business have turned Wikipedia into platform for propaganda into a platform for private propaganda for the ruling elite ..

RT America’s Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Chris Hedges, talks with investigative journalist Helen Buyniski who exposes an editing racket resembling a type of “pay to play” policy, along with a collapse in credibility of this highly-politicized organization. Despite the obvious signs, a wave of disinformation is still being allowed by Wikipedia’s aloof co-founder Jimmy Wales (pictured above) who has knowingly allowed his online portal to transition from an egalitarian knowledge base into yet another corrupt tool of the ruling elite.

“... its become more and more obvious that Wikipedia is a website that should have no credibility at all … it would be one thing if Wikipedia was considered to be just a bias source like a trash rag … the bathroom wall of the Internet I like to call such trash rage… but it’s not ,, Wikipedia is considered the holy oracle of truth ….. however Wikipedia is really anything by the holy oracle of truth …” ….  investigative journalist Helen Buyniski 

“..Wikipedia has become an online source of instant information about politics, people, countries, conflicts and an array of historical events that confine our culture …

But this online Wikipedia search is completely different from the old scholarly well researched encyclopedia or academic journals  that once graced library shelves … Wikipedia’s contributors and editors are largely anonymous and are not required to show or produce any expertise in the subjects they write about and edit .. they are often unpaid …there are those who bear grudges .. or … champion particular ideologies or conspiracy theories .. along with big business …that closely monitors and edits all that appears about its products and business dealings that has turned Wikipedia into a platform for private propaganda … nowhere is this more evident in the way Wikipedia treats left wing anti capitalist critics  …  along with journalists … Joining me is investigative journalist Helen Buyniski  to discuss Wikipedia and how it has become the tool to ]propagate the reining ideologies and biases for the ruling elite ….” …RT America’s Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Chris Hedges,

 

BBC

Masters of Money

Karl Marx HD

DarthMarston

Published on Jan 30, 2016

Stephanie Flanders examines one of the most revolutionary and controversial thinkers of all.

Karl Marx's ideas left an indelible stamp on the lives of billions of people and the world we live in today.

As the global financial crisis continues on its destructive path, some are starting to wonder if he was right.

Marx argued that capitalism is inherently unfair and therefore doomed to collapse, so it should be got rid of altogether.

Today as the gap between rich and poor continues to cause tension, his ideas are once again being taken seriously at the heart of global business.

Stephanie travels from Marx's birthplace to a former communist regime detention centre in Berlin and separates his economic analysis from what was carried out in his name.

She asks what answers does Marx provide to the mess we are all in today.

Category

Entertainment



What happened to Jane Rimmer from 12.30 am on Sunday the 9th of June, 1996 onwards ...
and
why did the Western Australian Police and the media deliberately lie 
to the Western Australian Public for 20 years about the last sighting of Jane Rimmer ...

which was at around 12.30 am on Sunday the 9th of June, 1996 hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street, Claremont, Western Australia...

was it because as witnesses have stated according to USA media investigators ....

that some members of the Western Australian Police Service were involved in picking up Jane Rimmer on Sunday Morning on Stirling Highway .....

 and these police officers have not come forward to say what they did with Jane Rimmer after they picked up Jane Rimmer on Sunday Morning on Stirling Highway ....  

One of the questions  which 
 is even more disturbing is ...
Why has the whole of the Australian and Western Australian main stream media outlets ...including main stream newspapers and television networks conspired with the Western Australian Police  to sell the false manufactured false story to the general public that the last known sighting of Jane Rimmer was in the below video footage 


 leaving Claremont’s Continental Hotel at 00.04am after a Saturday night out with friends


When 
 the true last sighting of Jane Rimmer was at around 12.30 am hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street,Claremont,
which is going towards Perth from where Jane Rimmer had been at the Continental Hotel in Bay View Terrace

The corner of Loch Street and Stirling Highway from the
Continental Hotel in Bay View Terrace is only about 10 to 15 minutes walk.
The Uni Students   were driving back to near the Nedlands Uni after attending a 21st birthday party at the Claremont Yatch Club,
which is near the bottom of Bay View Terrace, Claremont.
They would have driven up Bay View Terrace andf turned right on the Stirling Highway,
towards Nedlands w
here  they lived near the university of Western Australia
So Jane Rimmer was hitchhiking towards Nedlands/Perth on the left side of the road if one was driving to Perth

Jane Rimmer was 23 when she went missing in 1996 after a night out in Claremont
Jane Rimmer above

after the four twenty-one year old uni students saw Jane Rimmer Hitchhiking on Stirling Highway
near Lock Street at around 12.30 am staggering as though she was quite drunk.
TheyweregoingtopickupJaneRimmerbutforsomereasondidnotpickupJaneRimmer
even though they commented to each other
that it  was a dangerous place to be hitchhicking at that hour of the morning

Below is the false statement that the police and all the Western Australian media
have stated to the public for the last 20 years about the last sighting of Jane Rimmer at 4 minutes past midnight on Sunday June 9th 1996 

Sunday June 9, 1996: Childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23,

 was last seen leaving Claremont’s Continental Hotel at 00.04am after a Saturday night out with friends

Jame Rimmer was last seen standing outside Club Bay View after she declined a lift home with friends, with whom she had been drinking. Her parents had expected their bubbly daughter for lunch that Sunday at their Wembley home.

However,  the true last sighting of Jane Rimmer was at around 12.30 am hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street,Claremont,
which is going towards Perth from where Jane Rimmer had been at the Continental Hotel in Bay View Terrace

The corner of Loch Street and Stirling Highway from the
Continental Hotel in Bay View Terrace is only about 10 to 15 minutes walk.
The Uni Students   were driving back to near the Nedlands Uni after attending a 21st birthday party at the Claremont Yatch Club,
which is near the bottom of Bay View Terrace, Claremont.
They would have driven up Bay View Terrace and turned right on the Stirling Highway,
towards Nedlands w
here  they lived near the University of Western Australia
So Jane Rimmer was hitchhiking towards Nedlands/Perth on the left side of the road if one was driving to Perth




Continental Hotel

Bay View  Terrace, Claremont


http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?294704-Claremont-Serial-Killer-Media-Timelines-Photos-*NO-DISCUSSION*/page10
Title: We Saw Jane Rimmer Hitchhiking - Student
Author:Andrew Clennell
Date: 19 June 1996
Publisher: Community Times, News Chronical, Nedlands Edition.

Title: We Saw Jane Rimmer Hitching - Uni Student says
Author: Andrew Clennell Date: 19th June, 1996
Publisher: Community Times, News Chronical, Nedlands Edition

University student Emma Clayton and her friends almost picked up a blonde girl she is sure was Jane Rimmer early on the Sunday Morning Jane Rimmer disapeared.
Miss Clayton (21 years old uni student) said she saw the girl staggering along Stirling Highway, thumb out, hitching a lift at 12.30 am. Emma Clayton told police about the incident and her description of the cloths Jane was wearing matched that of a police description which had not been released to the media. Ms Clayton said she and her friends had been in Stirling Highway after leaving a 21st birthday party at Claremont Yacht Club. "Down near Lock Street we saw a girl Hitchhiking," she said. The Girl had her thumb out and we just slowed down and thought maybe we should pick her up but didn't." The conversation between the two couples in the car had been that she was a silly girl for trying to hitch in the area and they discussed whether they should pick the girl up. The decided at the last minute to move on. "we said of all placed for a girl to be hitchhiking alone, this was probably the worst," Miss Clayton said. She said initially, after she had heard of Jane Rimmer's disappearance, she felt guilty that that hadn't picked her up. "If we had picked her up things would have been a lot different, " Miss Clayton said. When she and her friends saw the girl there were no other cars on the Stirling Highway ...




Western Australian Police and Liberal Government so not deny the accusations by USA media investigators of presenting  false evidence to the public and Australian media in the Claremont Serial Killings investigation to falsely arrest Bradley Edwards for the Claremont Serial Killings for the main purpose of using the arrest of Bradley Edwards to help win the March state election in Western Australia.
SEE 
www.nyt.bz/missingmurdered_westaust

www.nyt.bz/claremontserialkillings

New book and film includes some of the information about the Claremont Serial Killings



Former Macro Taskforce bossInspector Paul Ferguson, who was suddenly removed from being the boss of the Macro Task Force, when Inspector Paul Ferguson was sent information about the possible involvement of the Western Australian Police, a taxi driver and a well connected powerful business in the Claremont Serial Killings..... after making a public statement and plea for all information and theories the public may have relating to the Claremont Serial Killings ...as well as making a public statement that it could be a police officer, a security person and/or a taxi driver and/or someone purporting to be a police officer, a security person and/or a taxi driver that was involved in convincing the the girls that were abducted into getting into their care.....

The wrongful excuse used to to remove the Former Macro Taskforce bossInspector Paul Ferguson, from the Macro Taskforce was false allegations of corrupt behaviour by  Inspector Paul Ferguson .. an early morning raid by Western Australian Police was made on the home of Inspector Paul Ferguson as part of corruption investigations into Inspector Paul Ferguson ... such corruption allegations turned out to be completely unfounded ........ 
The NYT.bz investigators into the Claremont Serial Killings in their explosive report, have come to the conclusion that Former Macro Taskforce bossInspector Paul 
Ferguson, was suddenly removed from being the boss of the Macro Task Force, because Inspector Paul Ferguson was sent information about the possible involvement of the Western Australian Police, a taxi driver and a well connected powerful business in the Claremont Serial Killings., and that powerful people inside and outside the Western Australian Police Force were deeply concerned that  the Former Macro Taskforce bossInspector Paul Ferguson, was getting to close to the real truth as to who was involved in the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings and who was involved in keeping the real truth covered up.
The NYT.bz investigators into the Claremont Serial Killings in their explosive report, have come to the conclusion that  the powerful people inside and outside the Western Australian Police Force who were deeply concerned that  the Former Macro Taskforce bossInspector Paul Ferguson, was getting to close to the real truth as to who was involved in the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings and who was involved in keeping the real truth covered up, chose former Assistant Western Australian Police Commissioner David John Caporn, as their man that they could rely on to stop Pandora's Box being publicly opened ... There is other explosive reasons that will be revealed as to why former Assistant Western Australian Police Commissioner David John Caporn was appointed as the new head of the Macro Task Force set up to investigate the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings .....  in a new film called "Devils Garden .... The Darkest Side of Perth..."
which will publicly expose that Police Corruption in Western Australia ran rife from  the 1950's to 2016 and continuing, with a corrupt section of police being involved in committing crimes, in condoning criminal activity and protecting certain people from being investigated and prosecuted for crimes that they committed... their were people like the late billionaire building magnate, Len Buckeridge who were given the green light to commit what ever crimes they wanted, including murder, assault, rape fraud, robbery etc.. these people were given what they called 
"the Green Light" by Police to commit whatever crimes they wanted without fear of investigation or prosecution ...


Prostitute claims missing woman was murdered

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/prostitute-claims-missing-woman-was-murdered-20121210-2b581.html

A prostitute who believed she was dying of a terminal illness has made conflicting new claims about what happened to

 Perth woman Sarah McMahon

 who disappeared from Claremont more than a decade ago, a Coronial Court has been told.

Ms McMahon was only 20-years-old when she was last seen driving away from her Claremont workplace while speaking on the phone on November 8, 2000.

Her car was found two weeks later at the Swan District Hospital.

She was never heard from again.

The last phone call Ms McMahon answered was from a man who has since been convicted of trying to strangle a prostitute to death, Donald Morey, the Coroner's Court of WA heard on Monday.

Ms McMahon was reported missing by her parents the following day after failing to pick her younger sister up from church on November 8.

The inquest into Ms McMahon's disappearance was told it is expected to hear how she was friends with Morey - who was 45-years-old at the time.

Although there was a 25-year age difference between the pair, the court was told witnesses were expected to claim Morey had strong feelings for the young woman.

Despite three extensive police investigations conducted in the years following her disappearance Ms McMahon's fate has remained a mystery and her body has never been discovered.

But a coronial inquest was launched in Perth this week after her case was reopened by cold case detectives who have reinterviewed several key witnesses.

One witness, whose identity has been suppressed, changed her statement in November 2011 believing she was suffering from a terminal illness, the Coroner's Court heard.

The woman decided to "tell the complete truth," about what she knew of events on November 8, 2000, counsel assisting the coroner Philip Urquhart said in his opening address on Monday.

In her most recent statement to police, the woman claims she was called to a house where Morey was living and was told "he's killed her," by the man who owned the house, the court heard.

"She says that when she walked into Mr Morey's bedroom she saw a naked girl on the bed and that she had a piece of robe about 1 cm think looped twice around her neck," Mr Urquhart said.

Philip Urquhart said the inquest is also expected to hear evidence from several witnesses about a bag Morey carried with him containing a reel of silver gaffer tape, rope, two knives and explicit pornographic material.

Morey has consistently denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's disappearance.

He is currently serving a 13-year term of imprisonment for the attempted strangulation murder of a female sex worker in December 2003.

The court also heard that less than nine months prior to the attack a friend and fellow sex worker of the woman disappeared from the same Highgate area Morey's victim was picked up from.

The inquest continues.

Sarah Anne McMahon inquest hears of grim bag contents

WOMAN tells inquest she regrets handing over a bag containing knives, rope and pornography that belonged to a person of interest in Perth girl's disappearance.

https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/mcmahon-inquest-hears-of-grim-bag-contents/news-story/bfd0e14f8f066e4dbd3aef91352b9a62

Rebecca Le May

AAPDECEMBER 11, 2012

A WOMAN has told an inquest into a young Perth woman's disappearance 12 years ago that she regretted relinquishing a bag containing knives, rope, gaffer tape and extreme pornography that belonged to a person of interest.

Sarah Anne McMahon has not been seen since she went missing after leaving her workplace in Claremont in November 2000, aged 20.

Three widespread police investigations since then have failed to discover her whereabouts.

WA coroner Alastair Hope was yesterday told that police had long suspected 57-year-old Donald Morey, an acquaintance, was involved in her disappearance.

Marta Margaret Allen, whose husband Gareth became friends with Morey in prison, told the inquest today she was shocked and concerned when she saw the contents of a bag belonging to Morey that he had left at their family home.

Morey, a former abattoir worker who is currently serving 13 years in prison for the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute in 2004, was staying part-time in the Marangaroo house after being employed by Mr Allen's trucking company.

Ms Allen described the pornographic magazines inside the bag as "horrific'', depicting bound, gagged and heavily lipsticked women who appeared to be dead.

It also contained dirty lengths of rope and two knives.

"Gareth was in shock - he had to leave the room - he was pretty disgusted,'' Ms Allen said.

Mr Allen had been looking for work documents sought by his employer when he found the bag while Morey was in hospital with heart problems.

Ms Allen said she immediately called police to tell them about the bag, but they took four days to respond.
In the meantime, she had given the bag to Lyn Bishop, Morey's partner at the time.

"I just wanted that bag out of my house,'' Ms Allen said.

"It's the one thing I regret - handing that bag over.''

She said she had an argument with Ms Bishop, asking her how she could be with someone like that.

She said Ms Bishop replied: "Don's done nothing and even if he has, you can't prove it.''

Giving evidence later, Ms Bishop said she could not recall the argument.

She did recall looking inside the bag and while she quickly closed the magazines after a peek, saying she "didn't like'' their contents, she didn't think there was anything unusual about the rope and gaffer tape.

"It didn't really compute with me,'' she said.

She said gaffer tape and rope were "everywhere'' around her Chidlow property, which Morey had helped her renovate and landscape.

Ms Bishop said she then gave the bag to Morey's friend Steven Taylor at the request of her then-boyfriend.

Ms Allen also told the hearing a statement by a friend, whose name has been suppressed, was incorrect and had been "fabricated'' by police.

In the statement taken only last week, a woman claimed she had seen Ms McMahon's naked body on Morey's bed with rope looped around her neck, and that Ms Allen had helped clean up after the murder.

"That statement is false,'' Ms Allen said.

The inquest continues.

Originally published as Regret over grim bag contents

 

Coroner says missing woman Sarah McMahon was murder victim

THE WA coroner has found that a woman missing for more than 12 years was murdered, but has not ruled on who the culprit is.

https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/coroner-says-missing-woman-sarah-mcmahon-was-murder-victim/news-story/d64ef5cdd62f86daf5f6034797190448

THE West Australian coroner has found that a 20-year-old woman missing for more than 12 years was a victim of a homicide, but has refused to rule on whether a suspect in the case was involved in the crime.

Sarah Anne McMahon disappeared on November 8, 2000 after telling a colleague she was meeting a friend at 5.30pm and then failing to pick up her sister at 8.30pm that evening.

Donald Victor Morey, 57, has long been considered a suspect in her disappearance and was the last person to speak to Ms McMahon before she disappeared.

After the initial police investigation drew a blank, a further investigation was launched after Morey was convicted of the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute in 2004 and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

He had also been a person of interest in the death of another prostitute the previous year.

However, police were again unable to substantiate enough evidence against Morey, who has consistently denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's disappearance.

A cold case review of both investigations was launched last year and Morey said he was still in contact with Ms McMahon, who he claimed was living in Canada with her two children.

Coroner Alastair Hope said on Thursday that because Ms McMahon had not contacted her loved ones in more than 12 years, he was confident she was dead.

"The circumstances in which Ms McMahon disappeared are sinister and I have confidently been able to exclude the possibility that she died by way of natural causes, accident or suicide,'' he said.

"In my view, the evidence points overwhelmingly to the proposition that she died by way of unlawful homicide.''

Mr Hope said there was no evidence that Ms McMahon left the country and there were no records held in Medicare, Centrelink, the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or her bank that would suggest that she was alive in Australia after that time.

A key piece of evidence examined at the inquest was a statement from Natasha Tracy-Ann Kendrick, dated November 11, 2011.

In her statement, Ms Kendrick said she walked into Morey's room and saw a bloodied naked girl on the bed with an "old fashioned rope'' around her neck.

Ms Kendrick claimed that she later saw Morey carrying ``something wrapped in a quilt over his left shoulder'' and said she knew it was McMahon's body.

However, Mr Hope noted that police were unable to find evidence to corroborate her account.

He said there was also evidence capable of supporting a conclusion that Morey lied to police about his movements on November 8, 2000 and falsified documents to support those lies.

"It is always possible that some further evidence may come to light which could result in criminal charges being laid at some later date,'' he said.

"In that context, I do not propose to make any finding in relation to Mr Morey's involvement.''

Originally published as Missing woman 'a murder victim'





Former Assistant Western Australian Police Commissioner David John Caporn, who was previously in charge of the Macro Task Force set up to  investigate the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings.

Former Assistant Western Australian Police Commissioner David John Caporn, had to resign from the Western Australian Police Force because of allegations he was involved in conspiring to pervert the course of justice in the prosecution of Andrew Mallard's wrongful murder conviction..

How the Mallard case unfolded
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/how-the-mallard-case-unfolded-20081007-4vhk.html
Andrew Mark Mallard was wrongfully convicted in 1995 of murdering jeweller Pamela Lawrence at her Mosman Park shop on May 23, 1994.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment but in 2006 walked free after 12 years in jail, when his conviction was quashed by the High Court of Australia.
It was later revealed that during the original trial, police withheld vital information from Mr Mallard's defence team.
After Mr Mallard's successful High Court appeal, a re-trial was ordered, but the charges against him were dropped and he was released.
At the time, Director of Public Prosecutions Robert Cock said Mr Mallard was still the prime suspect and that if further evidence emerged he could still be prosecuted.
In 2006 police reviewed the handling of the investigation, and also conducted a cold case review into the original murder. The two reviews uncovered sufficiently compelling evidence to charge Simon Rochford, who had previously been convicted of killing his girlfriend Brigitta Dickens, with murdering Ms Lawrence. The evidence was also enough to eliminate Mr Mallard as a suspect.
Before this was announced publicly, and after Rochford had been interviewed by police, he killed himself in his cell in Albany Prison.
A four-month Corruption and Crime Commission investigation headed by NSW Supreme Court judge John Dunford QC was launched last year. The high profile probe examined whether there was misconduct by any police, prosecutors or Members of Parliament associated with the prosecution and appeals of Mr Mallard.
The findings of that investigation were released today.
Mr Dunford considered 25 adverse findings against two of WA's top policemen for their roles in convicting Mr Mallard.
A total of 14 adverse findings were recommended against Assistant Police Commissioner Mal Shervill and 11 against fellow Assistant Commissioner David Caporn. The inquiry was told the pair had removed and changed facts in the statements of four witnesses to get rid of inconvenient material and to convict Mr Mallard.
Leading prosecutor in the Mallard case, Ken Bates, who is now Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, had 13 adverse findings levelled against him.
On May 12, 2006, five police officers were stood down by Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan over the original investigation into the murder. At the time, Mr O'Callaghan apologised to Mr Mallard for any part the police had played in his conviction.
Then-premier Alan Carpenter indicated his government would consider compensation, but then-attorney general Jim McGinty said no decision could be made until the CCC had completed its investigation.
On November 22 2006, it was reported that Mr Mallard had received $200,000 as partial compensation.


A new book is being published and a film of the same name is being produced in Australia entitled " Missing Abducted Murdered In Western Australia"
which exposes those named by witness statements as being involved with the carrying out and organising the Claremont Serial Killings and other serious crimes committed in Western Australia and how and why the Western Australian Police and Liberal Government covered up the truth from being exposed and those involved protected from investigation and arrest and how they used their powerful connections in the Western Australian media to help present false and misleading information about the Claremont Serial Killings and other serious crimes committed in Western Australia 
Western Australian Police issued a false statement to the media that a group of boys saw Ciara Glennon stop and lean over to talk to people or a person in a Holden Station Wagon when one of the boys have stated that all they saw was the back lights of a car and did not in anyway see Ciara Glennon or any girl leaning over with her hands on her knees talking to a person or people in any car on the Stirling Highway, Claremont.
The Western Australian Police Service helped by their powerful connections in the Western Australian media have for 20 odd years presented a false impression to the Western Australian public that the last time Jane Rimmer was seen alive was at around midnight outside the Continental Hotel in Claremont, when it was well known by the Western Australian Police and the Western Australian media and the Western Australian Liberal Government that the last known sighting of Jane Rimmer was by four 21 year old university students was at around 12.30 am when Jane Rimmer was hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street and was staggering and looking quite drunk.
The university students told the Western Australian Police about seeing Jane Rimmer hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street at around 12.30 am the mornings Jane Rimmer disappeared and this sighting of Jane Rimmer was publicly reported in a community newspaper thus the other main media outlets in Western Australia would have also known about the university students reporting their sighting of Jane Rimmer hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street at around 12.30 am the morning Jane Rimmer disappeared and eventually murdered with her body bring found in bushland.
There is evidence presented to USA media investigators that shows involvement of Western Australian Police and powerful well connected business people being involved with the Claremont Serial Killings and other serious crimes committed in Western Australia.
The Western Australian Police also failed to more closely look at and investigate the names and identities of the man and woman that travelled by taxi with Sarah Spiers to South Perth by taxi who the USA media investigators say were involved in picking up Sarah Spiers in a  taxi they already were in, when they convinced Sarah Spiers to get into their taxi  before the taxi Sarah Spiers had ordered that arrived only a few minutes later to find Sarah Spiers already gone.

www.nyt.bz/missingmurdered_westaust

www.nyt.bz/claremontserialkillings





Money, happiness and eternal life 

 Greed (director's cut)

DW Documentary


DW Documentary

Published on Jun 23, 2017

Can money and power ever make us happy? How much is enough?

Our constant desire for more is part of our human nature. Some call it a useful dowry of evolution, others a fault in the human genetic make-up:

The old mortal sin Greed seems to be more ubiquitous than ever. Why can't people ever get enough, where is this self-indulgence leading -

 and are there any ways out of this vicious circle of gratification?

"People like to have a lot of stuff because it makes them the feeling of living forever,"

says American social psychologist Sheldon Solomon, who believes today's materialism and consumerism will have disastrous consequences.

Anyone who fails to satisfy his or her desires in this age of the Ego is deemed a loser.

 But with more than 7 billion people on the Earth, the ramifications of this excessive consumption of resources are already clear.

Isn’t the deplorable state of our planet proof enough that "The Greed Program," which has made us crave possessions, status and power, is coming to an end?

Or is the frenzied search for more and more still an indispensable part of our nature? We set off to look for the essence of greed.

And we tell the stories of people who - whether as perpetrators or victims or even just as willing consumers - have become accomplices in a sea change in values.

Check out our web special: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/greed/s-32898 _______

Exciting, powerful and informative – DW Documentary is always close to current affairs and international events.

Our eclectic mix of award-winning films and reports take you straight to the heart of the story.

Dive into different cultures, journey across distant lands, and discover the inner workings of modern-day life.

Subscribe and explore the world around you – every day, one DW Documentary at a time.

Subscribe to DW Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW39... 

For more information visit: https://www.dw.com/documentaries 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dw.stories

Category

Education



Claremont serial killings: trial to be displayed on TV outside courtroom

January 31st, 2019

Written by Rachel Fenner Western Suburbs Weekly

https://www.communitynews.com.au/western-suburbs-weekly/news/claremont-serial-killings-trial-to-be-displayed-on-tv-outside-courtroom/

 Victims Ciara Glennon, Sarah Spiers and Jane Rimmer.

THE trial of Bradley Robert Edwards, the man accused of the Claremont serial killings, will be staged at the WA District Court because it has one of the largest court rooms in the state.

Such is the level of interest in the case that the public will be able to watch proceedings on a large screen, closed-circuit television set up outside the courtroom but inside the District Court building.

The families of the victims will be segregated in the jury room, with media to be placed in another room.

Mr Edwards’ family will be consulted on whether they would like a room to be set aside for them.

At a case management hearing today, Paul Yovich, Mr Edwards’ defence counsel, asked Justice Stephen Hall to bar the media from a February 14 directions hearing.

Media organisations have until February 13 to oppose that request.



Denis Glennon (centre, with white hair), the father of Ciara Glennon, leaves court today. Photo: Rachel Fenner.

It also emerged that some of the witnesses to be called by the prosecution are in ill health.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo has until the next hearing to decide whether those witnesses will film testimony.

Other witnesses will be flying from interstate or giving their testimony via videolink.

Ms Barbagallo said ChemCentre analysis of fibres should be completed by April and that it was “an examination and further analysis of the vehicle we say the accused was driving when Ciara Glennon went missing and the clothing he was wearing”.

Mr Edwards (50) has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

These include the murders of Sarah Spiers and Jane Rimmer in 1996, and Ciara Glennon in 1997.

Edwards is also accused of attacking an 18-year-old woman in her Huntingdale home in 1988 and raping a 17-year-old girl in Karrakatta in 1995.

The former Little Athletics coach appeared in the West Australian Supreme Court on Thursday via video link from Hakea Prison, where he has been held since his arrest in December 2016.

Mr Edwards wore Hakea Prison greens and glasses and remained calm throughout proceedings.


Claremont serial killings:

My ‘caring’ uncle Bradley Edwards is not a serial killer says nephew

Gabrielle KnowlesThe West Australian

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-my-caring-uncle-bradley-edwards-is-not-a-serial-killer-says-nephew-ng-b881132440z

The nephew of accused Claremont serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards says he believes the 50-year-old is innocent and describes him as a “caring and simple man” and not “evil”.

In a detailed social media post more than two years after the arrest of the former Telstra technician, Adam Edwards spoke out to defend him and asked the public to withhold judgment.

“He’s not a serial killer, he is a caring and simple man who doesn’t ask for anything in return, always has been and always will be,” he claimed in a post published on Facebook on Monday night.

“Everyone is very quick to judge but you don’t know him like I do, you didn’t grow up with him like I did and if he is denying all the allegations then I believe him.”

Mr Edwards is fighting accusations he attacked an 18-year-old in her Huntingdale home in 1988, raped a 17-year-old girl in Karrakatta Cemetery in 1995 and murdered Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon, who were abducted from Claremont between January 1996 and March 1997.

He was arrested in December 2016 after police allegedly identified him from forensic evidence.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo told the Supreme Court during a pre-trial directions hearing last month that during a six-hour interview with police after his arrest, Mr Edwards denied all allegations but could offer no explanation why traces of his DNA had been found on two of his alleged victims and a kimono left behind during the Huntingdale attack, or why his fingerprints were found on the door of another Huntingdale home after an attempted break-in.

The post by Adam Edwards came just days after the accused killer’s brother contacted The West Australian to say the Edwards family were united in their belief that Mr Edwards was innocent of the horrific crimes.

Adam Edwards claimed people were just “being shown the parts to make him the villain”.

“When real justice happens and he’s cleared of the charges, everyone who’s rained down on him I think should apologise,” he said.

Adam Edwards, who is living in Sydney, said it had taken him two years to decide to speak out but he felt it was necessary.

“I’ve got nothing to hide nor do I have anything to lose anymore and neither does my uncle,” he said.

Adam Edwards sent a private message between him and his uncle to help verify his identity.

Several of his friends reacted to the post, some messaging their support while others highlighted prosecution claims that DNA evidence had been found to link him to the crimes.

One friend wrote: “Sorry to hear you are going through this man. I can’t side with you on this issue ... it isn’t personal and I still respect you highly. I hope whatever happens you can find some closure.”

Adam responded that it did not hurt their friendship and he just wanted to express his “view and opinion”.



"Devils Garden ....The Darkest Side of Perth"



A new film is being produced called "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth", which will publicly expose that Police Corruption in Western Australia ran rife from  the 1950's to 2016 and continuing, with a corrupt section of police being involved in committing crimes, in condoning criminal activity and protecting certain people from being investigated and prosecuted for crimes that they committed... there were people like the late billionaire building magnate, Len Buckeridge who were given the green light to commit what ever crimes they wanted, including murder, assault, rape fraud, robbery etc.. these people were given what they called 
"the Green Light" by Police to commit whatever crimes they wanted without fear of investigation or prosecution ...

There is also a new books coming out this year  "Living Next Door To A Psychopath" and "The Darkest Side of Perth" and a previous book called "Devil's Garden"ISBN: 978174664669 published by Random House in 2007 by  well known Queensland Crime writer Debi Marshall with an in depth investigation into the Claremont Serial Killings and various miscarriages of justice in Western Australia policing and prosecution... and the controversial series of books  entitled "The Triumph of Truth ( Who Is Watching The Watchers?) written in the 1990's which were illegal and clandestinely removed from the Western Australia Alexander Resource Reference Library in about the year 2000, which the film "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth" takes material from .....
The 1960's American TV Police and Crime Series Called Dragnet used to say at the beginning of each episode ... " These are true stories from Police and FIB files, however the true names have been changed to protect the innocent..."
The film  being produced called "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth",  is a set of true stories about  police and prosecutors in Perth, Western Australia being involved in committing crimes and covering up for criminals who have committed serious crimes, and deliberately charging people who they know have not committed the crime they have been charged for ..... which  will leave all the true names  exposed and shame the guilty ....
One of the producers of the film "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth" stated .....

 "... there seems no doubt that the Western Australian Police are not going to properly investigate and charge the real Claremont Serial Killers and those that helped carry out these most serious  crimes and covering up those responsible for such serious crimes .... so the film will in effect bring the truth to light so at least the parents, families and friends of the victims and the general public can get to know the truth.... the problem is that a proper police investigation and inquiry would lead investigators too close to their own ranks and powerful business people and politicians who were either involved or know who are involved and are prepared to help cover the truth up..."

One of the producers of the film "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth" further stated .....

".... the NYT.bz investigation report into the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings which we are using as part of the information supporting the story presented in the our film shows clearly that the arrest and the $200 million plus cost of the prosecution of Bradley Robert Edwards as the alleged sole Claremont Serial Abductor and Killer, who, without any help or protection from others ....  is to satisfy the general public that the Claremont Serial Killer has been caught, and that there is no need to look any further for anyone involved in the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings ..... regardless of any possible alleged involvement of Bradley Robert Edwards  in the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings ....... which is extremely doubtful from the information we have seen so far..... they is no doubt that other more powerful  and well connected people in Perth, Western Australia .,. including Western Australian Police have been involved in  the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings and also the covering up of the the real truth behind  the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings ...... our film will attempt to set the public record straight ..... we are expecting threats on our lived#s for producing this provocative film .... and or legal action to try and stop it been shown to the public ... however ... regardless of these expected reactions the film has to be made and the truth has to be told to the public ..... it seems that not even the solicitors and barristers representing Bradley Robert Edwards are interested in knowing the truth that will help in defending their client Bradley Robert Edwards who has been charged and accused of the Claremont Serial Abductions and Murders  "

Waiting list for copies of the Collectors Edition of new book titled
"The Darkest Side of Perth, Western Australia"  is  currently in the process of being published:

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the Collectors Edition of the book..
"The Darkest Side of Perth, Western Australia" 
please email:
The AWN Publishing Manager
AWN News Group
Email: admin@awn.bz



https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/australia-claremont-serial-killer-1996-1997-perth-western-australia-6.318778/page-9

 

Crabstick said

Strangulation

Natasha Tracy-Ann Kendrick, whose name had been previously suppressed for legal reasons, said in a November 2011 statement to WA Police that she saw the bloodied and strangled body of Sarah McMahon, who has been missing since November 8, 2000.

Ms Kendrick originally told police she was called to a house in Marangaroo by her friend Gareth Allen, who said his trucking company co-worker and part-time housemate Donald Morey had killed a girl at the property and help was needed cleaning up.

She said in her statement that she and Mr Allen's wife, Marta Margaret Allen, had cleaned up after seeingMs McMahon's naked body on Morey's bed, with rope looped around her neck and congealed blood on her face, and also saw the body being removed from the house, wrapped in Morey's quilt and placed in Mr Allen's ute.

Crabstick said

One seat has been left vacant for their daughter, granddaughter, sister and aunty Sarah McMahon, who was 20 years old when she vanished while driving home from work 10 years ago today.

Sarah's mother Patricia McMahon believes her daughter is alive and hopes someone has information to help bring her home.

Sarah left her workplace, Hugall & Hoile in Claremont, about 5.20pm on November 8, 2000 after talking on the phone. Detectives believe she drove her 1986 white Ford Meteor, registration 7FO 731, to the Bassendean area for a prearranged meeting with someone.

There was an unconfirmed sighting of Sarah driving her car east on the Great Eastern Highway, towards her Parkerville home, and her car was found by her family in a carpark at Swan Health Service in Middle Swan days later.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/8276690/sarahs-family-keep-hope-alive/#page1
LUKE ELIOT CHIEF CRIME REPORTER - The West Australian on November 8, 2010, 6:15 am

Police would have Moreys DNA so its probably not him, if the police have tested. But it may be an accomplice DNA. Trucking companies, drugs, 

Was McMahon selling drugs through Hugall and Hoille on 213 Stirling highway Claremont? $10000 is a lot of customers. McMahon was in retail.

-------------------------
After her brother asked her who did it and she replied, "Don Morey'', she added, "He's a serial killer. He's done it over east''

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...ecants-statement/story-fnat7jnn-1226536350308

He had also been a person of interest in the death of another prostitute the previous year.

However, police were again unable to substantiate enough evidence against Morey, who has consistently denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's disappearance.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/la...as-murder-victim/story-fnat7jnn-1226556176197

There was also evidence to the effect that MsMcMahon had been obtaining amphetamines from Mr Morey Witness Christian Hilderbrandt claimed that about one week before page she went missing, Ms McMahon told him that she had obtained about $10,000 worth of drugs from Mr Morey which she had to sell. Mr Hilderbrandt also claimed that on 6 November 2000 he was present when Ms McMahon received a telephone call on her mobile telephone which she had said was from Mr Morey. 
He claimed that at the end of the conversation she said, ‘... that she’d broken the code of silence over the phone’. He said that the reference to breaking the code of silence referred to saying his name and mentioning the drugs.
http://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Mcmahon_finding.pdf

Ex military with calm calculation killing and trained in all the skills for murder and deception. Familiar with police procedure. Access to vehicles.

MrAllen contended in his evidence that on 8 November 2000 Mr Morey had not spent the night at his home, but had borrowed one of the trucks saying that he was planning to us it to see Ms McMahon.
http://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Mcmahon_finding.pdf

Ms Allen said Morey, who had lived with her husband during parts of the week in 2000, had claimed he had killed people and once asked if she was scared of him.

"He told me that he was in the SAS... that's where he was taught to kill people," she said. "He told me that he has killed before."

Ms Allen said Morey made an effort to charm women and had once offered to kill her husband Gareth Allen after eavesdropping on an argument while living at Mr Allen's home.

"He was not joking, he was deadly serious," she said.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/15606722/mcmahon-suspect-said-he-had-killed-before/#page1

She also described her shocked husband showing her a bag found in Morey's room that had contained ropes, knives, gaffer tape and pornography including images of bound and gagged naked women who "looked dead".

Ms Allen also described seeing Morey once cleaning the floor of his truck out with hot water.

She claimed that inside the bag there were two rolls of dirty grey, used tape four lengths of ropes with knots in the ends about two feet in length,two knives, one of which was Mr Allen’s pocket knife, two large rubber bands, one condom in a packet, two pornographic magazines, between five and seven key rings and a map.
She claimed that the porn books contained pictures of men with blood on their genitals and women
tied up who appeared to be dead.

Very abduction like with a fetish for raping dead people after strangulation

Did he have a buddy in east west trucking that knocked off Lorrin Whitehead? Pure speculation. Pamela Lawrence husband had east west trucking. Maybe Rochford was sent to kill her? Rochford had a drug debt? The crime was considered motiveless.

Selling amphetamine in $10000 sums
http://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Mcmahon_finding.pdf

In her first media interview since the December 2003 attack, the woman, who did not want her name published, described crawling through a swamp and scaling a 2.4m high concrete wall in a bid to escape.
"I know there are other girls who aren't as lucky as I was," the woman said.
In September 2005, career criminal Donald Victor Morey was convicted after trial of attempted murder.
In handing down a 13-year jail term, Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Miller accepted the prosecutor's submission that there was no sexual motive to Morey's crime as he was impotent at the time.
"This woman was a random target and . . . it was predatory conduct on your part," Justice Miller said. "It was a premeditated offence, that you planned to take her to a remote area and it was not the case that you voluntarily desisted from what you were doing."
http://missingandmurderedaustralia.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/sarah-anne-mcmahon.html

New member

Just curious as to the sudden flood of Sarah McMahon/Donald Morey posts.... Are you trying to suggest DM may be the CSK? or is there other reasons I am missing?

Crabstick

It would appear, he may be connected to our DNA guy. He has the skill sets, borrows cars, bags full of strangulation device, sells large sums of amphetamine, and serving prison for murder.

If he was SAS, then he would be trained in all the attributes needed in abduction and murder. One of his skills is mechanic, and he worked for an east west trucking company.

But whose DNA do the police have? An associate? Because we will presume a conviction means he has been DNA tested. Unless he is arrested on his way out of prison?

Just wondering who Christian might have been Morey was stating McMahon was going to the casino with? Our recent body in the suitcase lady from Mosman park went the casino, with possible money laundering activity, Maybe McMahon was going to casino laundering with someone, It does appear a manifested alias of Morey. Maybe it was a pseudonym for something else?

According to a key witness, McMahon was buying $10000 sums of amphetamine off Morey. McMahon was working only 700 metres from the Claremont abduction area. Where was she doing business? In 2000 and prior for that matter in Claremont?

If McMahon was in Claremont, Morey must of been in Claremont. It does state it in the inquest he was in Nedlands next door. We have an alleged highly trained serial killer in the area with the skills to build fake taxi, drive it through sand, and abduct, at the time.
http://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Mcmahon_finding.pdf [22]

DM

DM was convicted of attempted murder of a street prostitute. He is prime suspect for SM and also a suspect for the murder of another prostitute Darylyn Ugle. He's also possibly a suspect of the murder of another Perth prossie - Lisa Brown. DM's definitely SK material. If he's not one already he would have likely kept going and surpassed the typical consensus of 3 spread out kills to be defined as an SK.

The CSK has some sort of link to Claremont. DM doesn't. DM's world consists of low lifes - drug addicts and prostitutes. 

Lorrin Whitehead

The only link between murdered Lorrin Whitehead and the CSK victims is she went to the same school as two of the victims.

There's a poster on here who is very sure there's a link but has been unable to offer up any form of theory other than rebuffing everyone elses. I think it's a long shot but maybe this poster has some information they would like to share?

Mal Shervill resigns

 

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/mal-shervill-resigns-20090630-d3mw.html

 

Former assistant police commissioner Mal Shervill, who played a big role in the wrongful imprisonment of Andrew Mallard, has resigned.

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has this afternoon accepted a letter of resignation from Mr Shervill, which is effective immediately.

 

Mr Shervill had already been demoted to Superintendent from his previous post over the affair.

Mr O'Callaghan said that prior to receiving Mr Shervill's resignation, he had not made a final decision in relation to the embattled officer's future as he had not yet received a response from Mr Shervill to his most recent letter outlining his concerns.

 

Ironically, Karrakatta cemetery is not far from two military training facilities.
If someone was going to abduct girls on their own, they would need some pretty good training.
How do you get a full grown adult in a vehicle on your own in middle Claremont, 200 metres from Club Bay View then drive off?
Military trained might do it. Although Im wondering if Morey was actually SAS. I have a feeling he was impersonating his capacity to scare people. Plenty do it.
You try get a 25 year old girl in a taxi on your own via abduction. I feel at least Sarah entered a taxi under the premise she was entering a taxi then someone has lept out behind the station wagon (luggage bay) back seat and strangled her.
Im going to speculate there was not a single vehicle used in the abductions.
Potentially swapped vehicles in each case.
Police need to reinterview the Karrakatta to see what else.
Karrakatta victim had a bag put overhead?
Sounds military.
Wonder if DM borrowed a van from the truck yard for Karrakatta?
He obviously had all the tools.

crabstickOct 22, 2016

JBA512

If CSK is someone unknown to police then I've always suspected it being a military person for a few reasons.

SS & CG - get offered lifts from a trustworthy looking military person

JR - few people said in the past on here that JR was looking to score if that's the case then most girls would drop to their knees for a military person

Obvious one being the barracks close to the attack locations

The dump locations being inline to that accuracy shows that it was a fluke or someone can use maps and coordinates well

Are there any military areas near by to the dump sites? 

Access to or able to afford a new car.

At the time of the murders was there any military operations going on around the world that Australia was involved in?
Could of been a lull in action for the military person and needed to do some killing for satisfaction and girls were an easy target.

JBA512Oct 22, 2016

Its been discussed before, as has the Gerard case in this thread. If it is terrorism, someone is in jail without you knowing it.

1996 was the 80th anniversary of Easter rising. CG was 44.5km from GPO, JR is 35.5km from GPO = 80km
Jane Rimmer was left in Lily which macro have a pin to represent it. A Commodore might have been a military vehicle. Karrakatta sounds like a classic trained military abduction.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Manchester_bombing

Crabstick

I wonder if Moreys reference to Christian was Bret Christian of The Post?

Did Sarah McMahon know too much? Sarah McMahon buying $10000 worth amphetamine might know a few customers and what went on working 600 metres up the road from Bay View tce?

Where the hell is Morey getting enough amphetamine to sell $10000 lots at a time? Who has $10000 lots of amphetamine? That is not a small player.

Crabstick

It would appear, he may be connected to our DNA guy. He has the skill sets, borrows cars, bags full of strangulation device, sells large sums of amphetamine, and serving prison for murder.
If he was SAS, then he would be trained in all the attributes needed in abduction and murder. One of his skills is mechanic, and he worked for an east west trucking company.
But whose DNA do the police have? An associate? Because we will presume a conviction means he has been DNA tested. Unless he is arrested on his way out of prison?
Just wondering who Christian might have been Morey was stating McMahon was going to the casino with? Our recent body in the suitcase lady from Mosman park went the casino, with possible money laundering activity, Maybe McMahon was going to casino laundering with someone, It does appear a manifested alias of Morey. Maybe it was a pseudonym for something else?
According to a key witness, McMahon was buying $10000 sums of amphetamine off Morey. McMahon was working only 700 metres from the Claremont abduction area. Where was she doing business? In 2000 and prior for that matter in Claremont?
If McMahon was in Claremont, Morey must of been in Claremont. It does state it in the inquest he was in Nedlands next door. We have an alleged highly trained serial killer in the area with the skills to build fake taxi, drive it through sand, and abduct, at the time.
http://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/_files/Mcmahon_finding.pdf [22]

Early on in the investigation Mr Morey claimed that in the last conversation he had with Ms McMahon she told him that she was meeting a nurse or doctor called Christine or 
Christian and that they intended going to the casino that night. It was suggested by counsel assisting at the inquest, Mr Urquhart, that this account may have been fabricated by Mr Morey, based on incorrect information which it appears may have been conveyed to him by Patricia McMahon, Sarah McMahon’s mother, in the days after the disappearance. [p22]

CDK said

With Sarah McMahon, it is almost 100% certain that she was killed by Donald Morey, he has been all but proven guilty of killing her, he was an associate of hers, called her from the same area she went missing from within hours of her going missing, was nabbed for an attempted murder of another women some years later and at a coroners inquest into Sarah's disappearance swore black and blue that Sarah was still alive and that he knew where she was overseas but for her safety (or something along those lines) couldn't divulge this info to anyone. Sarah McMahon is not linked to the CSK whatsoever.

Kerry Turner is a different story altogether, I think she could make a great fit as an early CSK victim based on her having been out clubbing and being found dumped miles away, I'm not sure what police know that haven't had them ever publicly link the case in anyway but the circumstances do seem awfully familiar.

The CSK had 3 known victims in a space of about 20 months, this murder frequency is some what rare in a budding serial killer, I won't make up a stat but I know a good portion of serial killers have had their first kill 4 - 8 years prior to the murders picking up pace. Julie Cutler in 1988 would be a nice fit as a 'first kill' in terms of time frame, and if LW is in fact the CSK then that would almost be certain considering his links to her. 

I hadn't really paid any attention to the Kerry Turner case and certainly had no idea of the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, so thank you crabstick for bringing that to my attention, certainly gives me something to put a little further research into.

Elastic  said

Donald Morey is due for release this year, and he may have already been released. I don't think there will be any official announcement when he is released. But we will have another serial killer on the loose here in WA if the courts do let him out. I wonder who will be stupid enough to sign off Morey's release.

Keep an eye out for any missing woman once he is released, he will undoubtedly kill again, and given he is a seasoned hardened killer, he will probably get away with it.

elasticOct 22, 2016

Batholemeus says:

Upon thinking about it, maybe there's no gap between my 3 and 4. My initial thinking was if they had him on their list right near the top and couldn't rule him out they'd go public and try and find that smoking gun. But maybe he's further down the list because of an alibi and that alibi is a fake.

How high up on your list is CSK and GR being the same killer?

Have you looked into Noel Coward's claims against TT? Noel at one stage was claiming TT and his mates also did GR.

BartholemeusOct 22, 2016

Background on Donald Morey Aka Matusevich 

And Frankie the witness who was one of the boys at the bus stop who saw Ciara Glennon walk past the night she was abducted


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/australia-claremont-serial-killer-1996-1997-perth-western-australia-6.318778/page-18

Rankie 1972 said:

my mate said the car may of stop back in 1997. why do you think they waited so long to tell the public.

Bartholemeus said:

Could be for a number of reasons;

1. They felt they needed to keep the information private in case a POI turned up who drove a similar car. The ol' lead the suspect into a lie trick. Keep cards close to chest, wait for POI to lie and then shazam! Gotcha. Here's the proof you are lying! Only problem is they don't have a plate or something that would confirm such a person is lying.

2. Because a Commodore wagon doesn't match LW's car. It could potentially hard conviction chances. This makes sense up until say 2004. But what about pre-LW and post Schramm? Surely it should have been released?

3. It's not actually true. For one reason or other Macro felt the best way of progress was to fabricate this. Seems highly unlikely.

4. They weren't confident enough of it being true, and/or because the make and model were unclear, decided it's probably best to keep it private. This is mostly likely IMO. Bit of point 2 also thrown in maybe.

BartholemeusOct 29, 2016

Deleated member said;

I'd like to comment on Claremont/Western Suburbs being exclusive areas and the nightclubs there having a kind of closed group feeling. I live in the western suburbs and have done since about 1990 and I have to say it's a lot less exclusive that it used to come across as. The uni attracts more international students/staff than ever, and if you take a walk from say, Steve's all the way down Broadway to Hampden Rd near Charlie's, or up stirling highway to Claremont, it's not really an exclusive area anymore. I worked at MLC in the 90s and I believed my friends when they told me how exclusive the area was and how I wouldnt fit in. First month at MLC I got asked over and over by the school girls if I could get drugs for the big day out or for their parties and I was warned by male staff not to be seen talking to the girls. I overheard plenty of times MLC schoolgirls (and they were really only kids) talking about their weekend, how many drugs they took, how such and such had lesbian sex with such and such, how there were thressomes happening at parties and how some girls had made videos of their sex adventures. I couldnt believe my ears! Prior to working there I had heard how UWA and the western suburbs were very exclusive and it was all Dalkeith kids doing law degrees but having spent time in the area it was just as seedy as fremantle or northbridge at the time: just dressed in better clothes and driving nicer cars. I caught the train from Claremont station on weekends going into and back from town and I often saw groups of bogans and very non stereotypical western suburbs folks get off in Claremont heading out on the lash there. I laugh when I do my grocery shopping at Claremont now and see the western Suburbs tennis mums looking very pleased with themselves. I think the western suburbs used to have the image of being rich areas but apart from steves and captain stirling (and kk's at broadway back in the day) the only local place to go was Claremont where you'd get people filtering through on the way from Freo into Town. That was my experience anyway. Even in the 90s when the CSK was on the loose, I used to walk to the 24 hour supermarket where Bunnings is now in Claremont and at 3am I'd see drunk chicks staggering home down stirling highway, dressed like strippers, groups of pissed blokes shouting and carrying on near HJs and the same behaviour you'd typically see in Northbridge or Leederville on any Saturday night. Someone else mentioned a secret brothel at MLC. I certainly didnt hear about that one in my time there but about 10 years ago (roughly) there was a scandal at MLC where some of the school girls were busted recording sex tapes with each other and selling them for profit. I believe it was in the news but I cant seem to find a link to any media relating to it. I remember at the time thinking "well, that doesnt suprise me at all" given the nature of the conversations I'd overheard there.

Crabstick said:

I feel this is the very reason Julie Cutlers car ended up in the ocean. An attempt to destroy DNA in and around the vehicle. But DNA forensics was relatively new. UWA was just starting a course in DNA forensics. The mmmm Safe Community Fund I think it was actually paid for a DNA unit that was never used according Debi Marshall.
I would have thought your average crim wouldnt have known about DNA destruction at the time. I don't even think I knew about DNA at the time. But I didn't know much then. I was in a bubble.

Which begs the question. Someone must have had considerable training to be ahead of the game with future technology developing. What type of criminal knows this? Particular police units would have. Im not implying a cop. Someone would have some science education?

At that point, what level of education would have taught about DNA, how it would be destroyed and how to prevent its detection. That narrows down some POIs across the public

Police only have full DNA through a forensic link to the Karrakatta assault and that was an earlier crime. Notably the 2 discovered bodies didnt appear to shed any light on DNA but had a forensic link.

Some police investigators were not overly accepting of the new DNA technology. It was a game changer.

Our criminal has a university education? Maybe in science?

He left her for dead. It sounds like it was a violent sexual assault,not rape. Hard to tell with media artistic licence. But didn't he ponder his DNA would turn up? 1996 Spiers disappears.

Did he let her go deliberately? There was a forensic link. He must have been confident they wouldn't match his DNA unless they found him? He's regional or overseas?

Could it have been a brand new station wagon in 1995?

crabstickOct 31, 2016

Silver Tougue said:

JCs car which was dumped in the surf ,i wonder if it fully submerged if not the ashtray butts should have traces of DNA 
i think whoever did this wanted to get rid of dna and mu st be one hell of a risk taker why not burn it ,most crims do 
this was a clever ploy by the killer and has trained army written all over it oh yeah thanks crabsick

      


  Sarah Anne McMahon

https://www.mamamia.com.au/missing-australian-women/

 

Sarah was a “happy and healthy” 20-year-old when she left her workplace around 5:15pm in Grenmount, West Australia to meet someone.

It was Wednesday, November 8, 2000, and she hasn’t been seen since.


Sarah was last seen on November 8, 2000. Image via Missing Persons Australia.

Auburn-haired and green-eyed, Sarah - who would now be aged 37 - was last seen driving her vehicle, a 1986 White Ford Meteor Sedan, registration 7FO-731 east on the Great Eastern Highway, wearing dark jeans, a black turtle neck sweater and a black suede jacket.

Twelve days after she disappeared, her car was found at Swan District Hospital. Her mobile phone was later located on the nearby highway.

An inquest into her disappearance ruled she was murdered, but no killer has ever been named and her body has never been found.

"The circumstances in which Ms McMahon disappeared are sinister," the State Coroner who oversaw the inquest into her suspected death, Alistair Hope, said in 2015.

"I have confidently been able to exclude the possibility that she died by way of natural causes.

"The evidence points overwhelmingly to the proposition that she died by way of unlawful homicide."

Mobile telephone data found Sarah had received four calls the day she went missing,

Two were from a man named Donald Victor Morey. Despite being interviewed by police on several occasions, and providing evidence at the inquest into Sarah's disappearance, he has denied any involvement in the case.

He claimed she was alive, and even told police she had two children, but admitted most of what he had told police was "mumbo jumbo".


Julie Cutler

At 12:30am on June 20 1988, a 22-year-old Julie Cutler left the Parmelia Hilton Hotel in Perth after a staff function.

Two days later, her car was found upside-down in the ocean off Cottesloe Beach, according to WA Today.

Julie Cutler was just 22 when she was last seen in 1988. Image via Missing Persons Australia.

The front driver's side window was open, both front doors were unlocked and the rear doors were locked. Forensic tests determined the ignition and headlights of Julie's car had been on when the car entered the water.

Police ruled out the possibility that Julie had taken her own life, as her body would have washed ashore following her car entering the surf.

"Why didn't her shoes, handbag or some other item of property wash up?" Superintendent Ron Carey, who investigated the case, said in an interview for Channel Nine documentary To Catch a Killer.

"I believe she was never in the car... I believe that Julie was murdered and that the body was buried or secreted somewhere else before the car was dumped in the ocean."


               
              Sarah Ann McMahon
             Personal Details
La        Last seen: Wednesday, 8 November, 2000
            Height: 173 cm
            Build: Slim
            Eyes: Green
           Hair: Auburn
           Gender: Female
           Sarah McMahon has not attended work since Wednesday 8th November, 2000.#

          Sarah was last seen driving her vehicle, a 1986 Whitle Ford Meteor Sedan, registered number 7FO-731 in an eastery direction on Great Eastern Highwat, Greenmount. 
           Sarah was last seen wearing dark jeans, black turlte neck sweater and black suede jacket. Convern is heald for Sarah's safety and welfare.

Pe


               

Violent attacker is suspect in murders

LUKE ELIOT THE WEST NOV 8 2011

The West Australian

             Donald Victor Morey aka Matusevich
            

  Donald Morey, aka Matusevich

   http://missingandmurderedaustralia.blogspot.com/2011/06/sarah-anne-mcmahon.html

      A street prostitute who narrowly survived a brutal bashing at the hands of a sexual deviant who is suspected of being involved in two unsolved suspected murders says she is still haunted by the chilling attack and believes her assailant may have killed other women.

     In her first media interview since the December 2003 attack, the woman, who did not want her name publishedescribed crawling through a swamp and scaling a 2.4m high concrete wall in a bid to escape.

      "I know there are other girls who aren't as lucky as I was," the woman said.

      

     A street prostitute who narrowly survived a brutal bashing at the hands of a sexual deviant who is suspected of being involved in two unsolved suspected murders says she is still haunted by the chilling attack and believes her assailant may have killed other women.

     In her first media interview since the December 2003 attack, the woman, who did not want her name publishedescribed crawling through a swamp and scaling a 2.4m high concrete wall in a bid to escape.

    "I know there are other girls who aren't as lucky as I was," the woman said.

 In September 2005, career criminal Donald Victor Morey was convicted after trial of attempted murder.

   In handing down a 13-year jail term, Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Miller accepted the prosecutor's submission that there was no sexual motive to Morey's crime as he was impotent at the time.

   "This woman was a random target and . . . it was predatory conduct on your part," Justice Miller said. "It was premeditated offence, that you planned to take her to a remote area and it was not the case that you voluntarily desisted from what you were doing."

    Morey's appeals were dismissed and he remains behind bars.

    Donald Victor Morey aka, Matusevich is a suspect in the murder of Darylyn Meridith Ugle, a prostitute who was last seen alive while soliciting for sex in March 2003, and to the disappearance of Sarah McMahon, a 20-year-old Parkerville woman who has not been seen leaving her Claremont workplace exactly 11 years ago today. Her       vehicle was found at Swan District Hospital. Donald Victor Morey aka, Matusevich denies involvement in both cases but admits he knew Ms McMahon.

   Ms Ugle's body was found in April 2003 near Mundaring Weir - a short distance from Morey's Chidlow home and from the Helena Valley street where he took his December 2003 victim. The two prostitutes knew each other.

   "We don't think it is going to happen to us but I didn't put two and two together," the prostitute who escaped said.

 "I'm not a dumb girl. I have good instincts and he was good enough to make me go against my instincts."

   She said she felt uneasy getting into Morey's car that night in December 2003 but accepted $900 to have sex with him.

"I think he might have panicked because I realised he was going around in circles," she said.

   "He calmly pulled his car over to the side of the road and he already had rope wrapped around his hand when he turned his car off."

   Donald Victor Morey aka, Matusevich tried to place the rope over the woman's neck but she put her back against the passenger door and repeatedly kicked him.

   "I fell out backwards and hit the kerb with my back," she said.

    "He dived out over the top of me and I got him in the face with my feet. I think that dazed him a little bit. I crawled to the back of the car and he followed me.

   "He was punching into me for about 15 minutes and I was screaming. I climbed on to the back of his car . . . to try not to let him get me back into the car again."

    The woman managed to climb a high wall and stumble through a swampy area.

   "I was screaming," she said. Morey eventually got back in his car and drove off.

   The woman said the attack changed her life.

   "I couldn't walk out in the street at night," she said.

   "If I see someone who looks like him I jump a little, even though I know he is in jail."

   Man investigated for links to high profile murder cases

    Thu Mar 4, 2004  ABC

    Police have confirmed that a man, who has been charged over an attempted murder last December, is being investigated for possible links to two high profile cases.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Delamont says the man cannot be named, but is believed to have been the last person to have contact with Sarah McMahon who disappeared in November 2000.

    Sergeant Delamont says the man has become a "person of interest" in the murder in March last year of sex worker Darrylyn Ugle because of location similarities between her disappearance and the circumstances surrounding the man's latest charges.

    But he says investigations are continuing.

    "We're continuing avenues of inquiry in regard to forensic examinations etcetera and obviously asking for anyone who has any information about those two murders to come and talk to us," he said.

      Posted by James Brian at 7:30 PM 


           Labels:  2000Sarah Anne McMahonWA Missing Female

3       Coomments 

    AnonymousJanuary 8, 2012 at 6:21 PM

     This is the face of pure evil...http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/11461194/violent-sex-offender-is-suspect-in-murders/
     The man that is referred to in your last story is this man. You might want to include a link to this article 
      Thanks for correcting Sarah's name.

     AnonymousAugust 28, 2014 at 11:01 PM

    Could he also be responsible for the Claremont murders too?

    AnonymousFebruary 18, 2018 at 5:50 AM

      3 times over the years Ive rang crime stoppers with a sighting of a white ford metoer and have told them always from the beginning a tall dark haired man was driving a white ford (meeting the description) on the Saturday morning,

      and Ive told them where, ( I was living just outside the north coastal       metro area at the time) however they did search around the area I had sighted the suspect ford meteor, I remember the plate number very well, as I remarked to my husband.

       I still swear a tall dark haired man was driving. No one has ever got back to me for lie detector test, (which I would pass), a             description of the driver, or a memory retrieve.. I'm sure it was the same Ford meteor.

        And if it was,The man I saw driving that ford metoer looked nothing like the man above. They (the police)asked how do you know if the driver was tall, like his head was almost touching the roof lining,

       they asked me stupid questions like they didn't believe me, How I knew the plate number etc, which I answered all. (I got off the phone at the end of the conversation feeling as if I was some sort of joke or the criminal myself it was horrible) no wonder no one likes the cops,

       3 times Ive rang the police and been screaming at them over the last 10 or more years (on the crime stoppers number), it bothered me so much. The last time I called police was 2years ago with the same description and sighting, its still bothers me,

        I have a very good memory and now Wonder if the police found any tall, dark wavey headed suspects recently?



    



Can you help us catch a serial killer?

http://www.aww.com.au/latest-news/in-the-mag/can-you-help-us-catch-a-serial-killer-27052



He killed three women but has evaded justice for 20 years – can you help catch the Claremont serial killer?-May 11, 2016
There can be no doubt that the Mystery Man in the above photos pictured talking with the obvious quite excited Jane Rimmer, just before Jane Rimmer was abducted and murdered, looks very like the famous convicted murdered Mark Philip Dixie, who openly stated at his murder trial that he had sex with the deal body of Sally Ann Bowman ...there is also another man who uses the name John Roache who openly admitted that he often worked for corrupt elements of the Western Australian Police and the late billionsaire building magnate Leonard Walter Buckeridge and his re-facto wife Tootsy (whose real name Siok Pauk Koh, mother of Julian Ambrose a director of the BGC companies) to commit crimes for them including murder. .... this man using the name John Roache kidnapped the son of a lady in Perth in about 1988/89 hut he and the lady's son was found .... and John Roache was then given a swan off 22 rifle by the Western Australian Police that night after the kidnapping, and was told to murder the lady's husband .. in a well panned and calculated operation .. the Western Australian Police will have the kidnapping on file ... or should have the kidnapping on file, which the police tried to convince the lady was all a mistake and was not a real kidnapping, and gave the keys to the lady's car to the kidnapper, John Roache, along with the swan off 22 rifle and told the kidnapper John Roache to drive the lady back home...  

On June 9, 1996, childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, disappeared from an upmarket nightclub in the Perth suburb of Claremont.

Fifty-four days later, her decomposing body was found, dumped on a lonely roadside verge 40km south of the Western Australian capital.

Five months before her abduction, Sarah Spiers, 18, had also disappeared from the same area and in March the following year, lawyer Ciara Glennon, went missing too. Her body was found 18 days later hidden in bushland north of Perth. Sarah’s remains have never been found.

The murder investigation that followed has been the longest and most expensive in Australia’s history and this year marks its 20th year.

In the June 2016 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, FBI-trained profiler Kris Illingsworth believes she has the key to solving these horrific crimes – and it all revolves around some grainy CCTV footage she is certain someone out there will recognise.

It’s Jane’s last sighting and she is meeting an unidentified man,” Kris tells The Weekly. “Without a doubt, this footage of Jane Rimmer is the key to it all.

“The first we see of Jane is at 11.58pm, standing alone and facing the street. She is obviously waiting for someone. Then, right on midnight, a man walks straight up to her.

“We only see the back of him for a second, but that brief vision tells us volumes about him. He has straight, short, dark brown or black hair.

“He is taller than Jane, well dressed with a medium build and muscular upper torso, which suggest fitness. He probably presents similarly today, although perhaps now he has greying hair. He would be aged around 47 to 55 now.”

In the days after Jane’s disappearance, no one was able to identify this man. Can you help? Watch the footage above and call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have any information.

Read more of this story in the June issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?306032-Australia-Claremont-Serial-Killer-1996-1997-Perth-Western-Australia-5/page61

Australia Claremont Serial Killer, 1996 - 1997, Perth, Western Australia - #5

Tracycudd@aol.com

Tracy Cudd is interested in helping to solve the Claremont Serial Murders in Western Australia and pit her comment and email address of websleuths.com Forum page

06-06-2016


So the rape victim was that pissed she could not tell she had been shifted from one car to the other abducted. Can hardly do tests now to see if she had her drink spiked which amplifies the feeling of being pissed. Police need to reinterview her and friends to see how much she drank. She wouldn’t even know if her drink had been spiked. Just presumption she was pissed out her mind.

Historic rape attempt before serial killer struck by Bret Christian


Historic rape attempt before serial killer struck by Bret Christian

A teenage university student who was abducted and sexually assaulted un Claremont five years before the first known victim of the Claremont serial killer has told her story publicly for the first time. A man kidnapped her from a car in the car park opposite the Cottesloe Hotel

And drove her to the  abandoned Lakeway drive-in theatre in Swanborne, where he tried to rape her. She escaped but he stalked and recaptured her in Claremont and bundled her into the back of his station wagon. She came forward after friends read in the Subiaco Post that police investigating the three Claremont serial killings in the mid 1990’s have now positively linked a prior offence to the last of the known victims Ciara Glennon (Subiaco Post October the 17th)
She said she had been celebrating with friends at the Cottesloe Hotel in late 1989 when they took her to their car parked opposite the hotel because she  was expremely drunk. “ I couldn’t handle alcohol,: she said. “he must have been watching, I was dressed in a tight short skirt and a tight little top.@ She said she must have been moved from her griend’s car to the kidnapper’s car. The next thing I remember was waking up, being driven along Servetus Street (Swanborne) in his car while he was groping my boobs, :He stopped at the old drive-in at Swanborne and I came to pretty quickly. I had an adrenaline surge. I sobered up instantly and I can remember everything clearly to this day.” She said the man tried to kiss her while groping her. “He had hard whiskers. I had only been with boys up until then, so he much have been at least 30.”

The woman had never reported the abduction to police, believing it was useless because she did not have a description of the man or his vehicle.

Forensic tests have confirmed that the man who murdered Ms Glennon is the same man who abducted a 17-year-old in Gugeri Street, Claremont, bundled her into the back of his van and drove her to Karrakatta cemetery, raped her and left her for dead. She survived and rac to Hollywood Hospital.

The Special Crime Squad police are keen to investigate other Claremont abductions in the Claremont area before and after the Claremont series of killings.

                                                                                           

           "Devils Garden ....The Darkest Side of Perth"



A new film is being produced called "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth", which will publicly expose that Police Corruption in Western Australia ran rife from  the 1950's to 2016 and continuing, with a corrupt section of police being involved in committing crimes, in condoning criminal activity and protecting certain people from being investigated and prosecuted for crimes that they committed... there were people like the late billionaire building magnate, Len Buckeridge who were given the green light to commit what ever crimes they wanted, including murder, assault, rape fraud, robbery etc.. these people were given what they called 
"the Green Light" by Police to commit whatever crimes they wanted without fear of investigation or prosecution ...

There is also a new books coming out this year  "Living Next Door To A Psychopath" and "The Darkest Side of Perth" and a previous book called "Devil's Garden"ISBN: 978174664669 published by Random House in 2007 by  well known Queensland Crime writer Debi Marshall with an in depth investigation into the Claremont Serial Killings and various miscarriages of justice in Western Australia policing and prosecution... and the controversial series of books  entitled "The Triumph of Truth ( Who Is Watching The Watchers?) written in the 1990's which were illegal and clandestinely removed from the Western Australia Alexander Resource Reference Library in about the year 2000, which the film "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth" takes material from .....
The 1960's American TV Police and Crime Series Called Dragnet used to say at the beginning of each episode ... " These are true stories from Police and FIB files, however the true names have been changed to protect the innocent..."
The film  being produced called "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth",  is a set of true stories about  police and prosecutors in Perth, Western Australia being involved in committing crimes and covering up for criminals who have committed serious crimes, and deliberately charging people who they know have not committed the crime they have been charged for ..... which  will leave all the true names  exposed and shame the guilty ....
One of the producers of the film "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth" stated .....

 "... there seems no doubt that the Western Australian Police are not going to properly investigate and charge the real Claremont Serial Killers and those that helped carry out these most serious  crimes and covering up those responsible for such serious crimes .... so the film will in effect bring the truth to light so at least the parents, families and friends of the victims and the general public can get to know the truth.... the problem is that a proper police investigation and inquiry would lead investigators too close to their own ranks and powerful business people and politicians who were either involved or know who are involved and are prepared to help cover the truth up..."

One of the producers of the film "Devils Garden... The Darkest Side of Perth" further stated .....
".... the NYT.bz investigation report into the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings which we are using as part of the information supporting the story presented in the our film shows clearly that the arrest and the $200 million plus cost of the prosecution of Bradley Robert Edwards as the alleged sole Claremont Serial Abductor and Killer, who, without any help or protection from others ....  is to satisfy the general public that the Claremont Serial Killer has been caught, and that there is no need to look any further for anyone involved in the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings ..... regardless of any possible alleged involvement of Bradley Robert Edwards  in the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings ....... which is extremely doubtful from the information we have seen so far..... they is no doubt that other more powerful  and well connected people in Perth, Western Australia .,. including Western Australian Police have been involved in  the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings and also the covering up of the the real truth behind  the Claremont Serial Abductions and Killings ...... our film will attempt to set the public record straight ..... we are expecting threats on our lived for producing this provocative film ,.. and or legal action to try and stop it been shown to the public ... however ... regardless of these expected reactions the film has to be made and the truth has to be told to the public ..... "






                                                                 
                     Book published by Random House in 2007 by well known Queensland crime writer Debi Marshall called The Devil's Garden



 
Leonard Walter Bruckeridge, billionaire building magnate, whose BCG companies  were backed with billions from the Chinese Triads and Zionists Business Networks ....  who had till his death in March 2013 the Green Light by Western Australian Police to commit what ever crimes he wanted without ant fear of proper investigation and/or prosecution ... similar to the Green Light that members of the NSW Police gave the criminal Neddy Smith.... please see the ABC Underbelly TV Series for more information on Neddy Smith and NSW Police Officer Roger Rogerson....

                                 

 
Len Buckeridge with his friends and supporters  Colin Barnett, the Premier of Western Australia and Tony Abbott, a previous Prime Mister of Australia at an Australian Liberal Party Function held at the Hilton Hotel




Channel 7 Report presented this picture of what the boot look like of the car that police found when they searched a car in an undercover oeration of Nothbridge, Perth...
The former head of WA's prostitution taskforce Con Bayens thought that what was in this man's boot was all that is need for an abduction and the boot was lined with blue plastic,.
the reported started on the TV Investigation that the car looked like and unmarked police car...



Above: Retired police officer that passed on the information of what he found in a man's car as above in an undercover police opperatio, which made him feel this man could be the Calremont Serial Killer, however he was shocked to realise that the Macro Task Force that was in charge of Investigating the Claremont Serial Murders did not follow the information up that he gave them about this man and the fact that he found the following in the boot that was lines with blue plastic:
Pliers, tape and wore ties , which aere all items that could be used in an abduction


http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/claremont-serial-killings-police-piecing-together-the-life-of-bradley-robert-edwards/news-story/557f281e68cdf76d572843291ea9cef7

'Don't worry about it, we've got our man': Is this the moment police let the Claremont Killer

walk free because they were too focused on tying another man to the crime?

  • The Claremont Killer serial murders is a notorious Australian cold case
  • Three women were abducted in 1996 and 1997 from the Perth suburb
  • The cases were all strikingly similar, yet the killer has never been found
  • A former detective speaks out about a potential suspect who walked
  • Says investigators were fixed on one man, rejected all other possibilities
  • Con Bayens recalls a chilling incident which set off alarm bells
  • Case is Australia's longest running and most expensive investigation 

The Claremont killer, who abducted and murdered three young blonde women, was never captured and could still be walking the streets almost 20 years on – and it's suggested police may have let the culprit go.

Taskforce Macro have been investigaing the Perth serial murders in what has become Australia's longest running and most expensive active man hunt

The FBI, Nassar and a former Mossad agent have been called on to assist - yet the person or people responsible remain at large.

The bodies of Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, were found dumped in bushland in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

Scroll down for video 

Despite ongoing investigation Taskforce Macro the mass murderer who killed three women in affluent Perth suburb Claremont hasn't been found

Despite ongoing investigation Taskforce Macro the mass murderer who killed three women in affluent Perth suburb Claremont hasn't been found


Jane Rimmer's (left) body was found in 1996 two months after she disappared, Ciara Glennon's (right) was found just under three weeks after her 1997 disappearance



However, the body of the first victim, 18-year-old Sarah Spiers is yet to be found after she disappeared from a pub in the affluent Perth suburb of Claremont on Australia Day in 1996.

Police officers have now spoken out to allege the investigations were bungled, with potential suspects allowed to walk and key pieces of evidence disregarded.

A terrifying encounter with a sinister man in a car equipped with 'abduction tools' has been pinpointed as a potential moment the police allowed a prime suspect to walk away without inquiry, as they were too focused on a man they believed to be the killer.

'It seems to me the Macro taskforce was a situation where the cops really mucked up and now we've got a cover up. And that's the saddest part, that they've never said 'we made a mistake', said former West Australian officer Con Bayens.




Sarah Spiers and Jane Rimmer both disappeared after spending time at Bayview Terrace in Perth's Claremont (pictured). Ciara Glennon had been at another establishment in the precinct, just 200 metres away

The former head of WA's prostitution taskforce says police looking for the Claremont serial killer in the 1990s and 2000s were dismissive of a suspect because they were too focused on trying to tie another man to the crime.

In 2008 the man, public servant Lance Williams, was finally dismissed as a suspect after years of round-the-clock surveillance.

Mr Bayens fears investigators failed to adequately probe potential suspects he encountered while running his taskforce between July 2000 and August 2002.

One particularly harrowing night has 'haunted' him 'for years' and Mr Bayens is adamant the disturbing man he found was never properly investigated by the taskforce.

The former head of WA's prostitution taskforce Con Bayens believes the taskforce missed crucial opportunities to explore suspects - including a suspicious character he encountered in 2002

Mr Bayens recalls the chilling night he pulled over a man during an undercover operation in Highgate in 2002 - 11 kilometres away from Claremont.

The boot was lined with blue plastic and there was a pair of pliers and masking tape – disturbing equipment which he believed appeared to be for an abduction.

The driver was questioned but Mr Bayens does not know why he was cleared in inquiries by officers on Task Force Macro, which was set up to investigate the killings.

The boot was lined with blue plastic and there was a pair of pliers and masking tape – disturbing equipment which he believed appeared to be for an abduction

Mr Bayens said the head investigator into the killings had rejected his offer to pass on information from the undercover operation, which was uncovering people every night 'and every one of them had the potential to be the Claremont serial killer.'

However, his offer was rejected by the chief investigator, to his astonishment.

'He said, 'Don't worry about it, Con, we've got our man.' And those words will stick with me forever,' he said.

'That just hit about 10 on my weird s***-o-meter.'

WA Police insist they looked into the sinister man Mr Bayens encountered, but the former constable insists the enquiry never took place.

12 years after her disappearance, CCTV footage of Jane Rimmer outside Claremont's Continental Hotel was finally released. She ran into a man she seemed to recgonise just minutes before she disappeared

'What happened? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I'd love to see the proof,' he said.

Police still believe they will find the killer, who abducted and murdered the women after they partied at nightspots in the affluent suburb of Claremont.

The three disappearances were extremely similar – as former Ferguson puts it 'they each got into the wrong car and it cost them their lives.'

Investigators believe the women trusted the drivers of the vehicles so focussed their attention on taxi drivers –taking DNA samples from thousands of registered cab drivers in the city.

The three disappearances were extremely similar – as former Ferguson puts it 'they each got into the wrong car and it cost them their lives' (the taskforce pictured in the 1990s)

The three disappearances were extremely similar – as former Ferguson puts it 'they each got into the wrong car and it cost them their lives' (the taskforce pictured in the 1990s)

The women disappeared in 1996 and 1997 in the ritzy western Perth suburb, Claremont in an area that was a hub of activity.

Sarah Spiers was just 18 years old when she became the first victim in the Claremont serial murders.

She left a nightclub in Claremont, Club Bayview, on Australia Day 1996 and called for a cab from a payphone at 2.06. By the time the taxi arrived at 2.14am, she had disappeared. Her body has never been found.

On June 6 of that year childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, disappeared from the same Claremont pub – Club Bayview after declining a lift with friends.

Her body was found two months later August 3 in dense bushland south of Perth. She was found naked, partially decomposed and covered with leaves and twigs.

The third incident occurred early the following year on March 15, 1997. Ciara Glennon, a 27-year-old lawyer, disappeared from Claremont's Continental Hotel, just 200 metres from Club Bayview in the same party precinct.

She wandered out onto the Sterling Highway, potentially in search of a taxi. A witness told police they saw her talking to someone in a car. When the witness looked back a moment later, Ciara and the car were both gone.


Sarah Spiers was just 18 years old when she became the first victim in the Claremont serial murders

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3104708/Don-t-worry-ve-got-man-moment-police-charge-hunting-Claremont-Killer-let-prime-suspect-walk-free-focused-tying-man-crime.html

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

the police wil never and have never admitted that they make mistakes thats the main reson ppl dont trust them anymore they seem to think their infalable

I thought it was just Victoria Police that were useless!!!

The Police are bungling idiots. No wonder the culprit has never been caught. Caper Cops, I'd call it.

I lived in that area during that time and the cops really did stuff this whole thing up BIG TIME.

Typical police







The Claremont serial murders is the name given by the media to a case involving the murder of two young Australian women, aged 23 and 27 and the disappearance of a third, aged 18 in 1996 and 1997 in Claremont, a wealthy western suburb of Perth, Western Australia. All three women disappeared in similar circumstances after attending night spots in Claremont, leading police to suspect that an unidentified serial killer was the offender.

Background

The case began with the disappearance of Sarah Spiers, 18, on 26 January 1996, after she left a nightclub in the centre of Claremont. Her disappearance was described by her friends and family as out of character and attracted massive publicity. Spiers had apparently called a taxi from a phone booth but was not present when the responding vehicle arrived. Her fate remained uncertain.

Some months later, on 9 June 1996, Jane Rimmer, 23, disappeared from the same part of Claremont. Her body was found in bushland near Woolcoot Road, Wellard, in August 1996

On 14 March 1997, Ciara Glennon, a 27-year-old lawyer, disappeared from the Claremont area. Her body was found on 3 April, near a track in scrub off Pipidinny Road in Eglinton, a northern suburb of Perth. After this murder police confirmed that they were searching for a serial killer.

Each of the women had attended either a pub called The Continental (later renamed The Red Rock and now known as The Claremont Hotel) and/or the nightclub Club Bayview.

Possible related cases

It has also been suggested by Liam Bartlett, a journalist, that Sarah Spiers was not the first victim.[3] He wrote that police have told the father of a fourth missing woman, 22-year-old Julie Cutler, that his daughter was probably a victim of the Claremont killer.

Ms. Cutler, a university student, from Fremantle, vanished after leaving a staff function at the Parmelia Hilton Hotel in Perth at 9pm, one night in 1988. Her car was found in the surf near the groyne at Cottesloe Beach two days later. Her fate is also unknown.

Investigation and speculation

The Western Australian Police established a special task force to investigate the case. It was given the name "Macro". Several phases have elapsed in the course of the continuing work of the task force.

Initial suspicion focused on the taxi-drivers of Perth because of the women last seen in circumstances where they may have been seeking taxi service. There had also been a predisposition to this possibility because of reports from late 1995 of possible improper conduct by some drivers. A massive DNA-testing exercise was carried out to cover all of the taxi drivers licensed in Western Australia; a group of more than two thousand. A thorough review of the character/background standards for drivers was conducted and led to drivers with any significant criminal history being de-licensed. Training for drivers and examining standards for license eligibility were raised. Stricter standards were also applied to verifying that decommissioned taxi vehicles were stripped of any insignia and equipment that could be used to falsely purport that a vehicle was a taxi. While this had the beneficial side-effect of improving the quality of the taxi service and enhancing the confidence of the public in using it, the investigation itself does not appear to have progressed.

In the next major development, a junior officer of the Western Australian Public Service was targeted by police as the prime suspect, after he attracted their attention during a decoy operation.[3] The suspect made himself known to the media and asserted his innocence. He was subjected to a high level of overt surveillance, apparently with the purpose of prompting a confession. Although this continued for several years, the suspect maintained his innocence and appears to have intact alibis. The police declared late 2008 that he was "no longer a person of interest".

It was reported that police also investigated whether Bradley John Murdoch, the convicted killer of British tourist Peter Falconio may have been involved, although Murdoch was serving a custodial sentence from November 1995 until February 1997.

One of the tactics used by the Macro Task-force was the distribution of questionnaires to "persons of interest", including various confrontational enquiries such as "Are you the killer?" The utility of this approach was disputed and the choice of persons to whom they were sent was controversial. One was a prominent civil libertarian and local government figure, Peter Weygers. He was mayor of the Town of Claremont at the time of the women's disappearance/demise and was involved in some disputes with the victims' families concerning the duty of care of the local authority in securing the district. He also was leasing a premises to a taxi-driver who attracted police attention to himself by claiming to have transported Sarah Spiers in his taxi shortly before her disappearance. Weygers' premises were raided by the police and he and his tenant were obliged to give samples for DNA testing. 
As with other avenues of investigation, nothing was to come of it.

In October 2006, it was announced that Mark Dixie (AKA Shane Turner), who was convicted in the United Kingdom for the 2005 murder of 18-year-old model Sally Anne Bowman, was a prime suspect in the killings, and the WA Police's Macro Taskforce requested DNA samples from Dixie to test against evidence taken during the inquiry. However, WA Police Deputy Commissioner Murray Lampard was later quoted as saying "Dixie was closely investigated at the time and eventually ruled out as a suspect."

In a memoir titled The End of Innocence, published in 2007, Estelle Blackburn, a Western Australian journalist and author, speculated that her former partner, who had assaulted and threatened many times to kill her, may be the killer; claiming that he had performed maintenance on taxi vehicles and often had overnight access to them. This was further explored in a two-part episode of the ABC's television programme, Australian Story, in November 2007.[

Arrest

A man was arrested on 22 December 2016, in regard to the wilful murder of both Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.[12] According to a report by ABC News, the man is believed to have no previous link to the case. The man, Bradley Robert Edwards, was subsequently charged with both murders on 23 December 2016.[13] He has also been charged over two other alleged attacks, one against a 17-year-old girl in Claremont in 1995, and the other against an 18-year-old woman in Huntingdale in 1988.


'Don't worry about it, we've got our man': Is this the moment police let the Claremont Killer walk free because they were too focused on tying another man to the crime?

  • The Claremont Killer serial murders is a notorious Australian cold case
  • Three women were abducted in 1996 and 1997 from the Perth suburb
  • The cases were all strikingly similar, yet the killer has never been found
  • A former detective speaks out about a potential suspect who walked
  • Says investigators were fixed on one man, rejected all other possibilities
  • Con Bayens recalls a chilling incident which set off alarm bells
  • Case is Australia's longest running and most expensive investigation 

By Lucy Thackray for Daily Mail Australia

PUBLISHED: 17:41, 31 May 2015

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3104708/Don-t-worry-ve-got-man-moment-police-charge-hunting-Claremont-Killer-let-prime-suspect-walk-free-focused-tying-man-crime.html

The Claremont killer, who abducted and murdered three young blonde women, was never captured and could still be walking the streets almost 20 years on – and it's suggested police may have let the culprit go.

Taskforce Macro have been investigaing the Perth serial murders in what has become Australia's longest running and most expensive active man hunt

The FBI, Nassar and a former Mossad agent have been called on to assist - yet the person or people responsible remain at large.

The bodies of Jane Rimmer, 23, and Ciara Glennon, 27, were found dumped in bushland in 1996 and 1997 respectively.

Scroll down for video 

Despite ongoing investigation Taskforce Macro the mass murderer who killed three women in affluent Perth suburb Claremont hasn't been found


Jane Rimmer's (left) body was found in 1996 two months after she disappared, Ciara Glennon's (right) was found just under three weeks after her 1997 disappearance

However, the body of the first victim, 18-year-old Sarah Spiers is yet to be found after she disappeared from a pub in the affluent Perth suburb of Claremont on Australia Day in 1996.

Police officers have now spoken out to allege the investigations were bungled, with potential suspects allowed to walk and key pieces of evidence disregarded.

A terrifying encounter with a sinister man in a car equipped with 'abduction tools' has been pinpointed as a potential moment the police allowed a prime suspect to walk away without inquiry, as they were too focused on a man they believed to be the killer.

'It seems to me the Macro taskforce was a situation where the cops really mucked up and now we've got a cover up. And that's the saddest part, that they've never said 'we made a mistake', said former West Australian officer Con Bayens.

Sarah Spiers and Jane Rimmer both disappeared after spending time at Bayview Terrace in Perth's Claremont (pictured). Ciara Glennon had been at another establishment in the precinct, just 200 metres away

The former head of WA's prostitution taskforce says police looking for the Claremont serial killer in the 1990s and 2000s were dismissive of a suspect because they were too focused on trying to tie another man to the crime.

In 2008 the man, public servant Lance Williams, was finally dismissed as a suspect after years of round-the-clock surveillance.

Mr Bayens fears investigators failed to adequately probe potential suspects he encountered while running his taskforce between July 2000 and August 2002.

One particularly harrowing night has 'haunted' him 'for years' and Mr Bayens is adamant the disturbing man he found was never properly investigated by the taskforce.


The former head of Western Australia's Prostitution Task Force Con Bayens believes the Macro Task Force under the then head Assistant Commissioner David Caporn that has been in charge of the investigation into the Claremont Serial Abductions and killings, missed crucial opportunities to explore suspects including a suspicious character Con Bayens encountered in 2002.

The former head of WA's prostitution taskforce Con Bayens believes the taskforce missed crucial opportunities to explore suspects - including a suspicious character he encountered in 2002

Mr Bayens recalls the chilling night he pulled over a man during an undercover operation in Highgate in 2002 - 11 kilometres away from Claremont.

The boot was lined with blue plastic and there was a pair of pliers and masking tape – disturbing equipment which he believed appeared to be for an abduction.

The driver was questioned but Mr Bayens does not know why he was cleared in inquiries by officers on Task Force Macro, which was set up to investigate the killings.

The boot of the suspiciois man's car, that Chanel & reporter said looked like an undercover polic e car,  was lined with blue plastic and there was a pair of pliers and masking tape – disturbing equipment which he believed appeared to be for an abduction

Mr Bayens said the head investigator into the killings had rejected his offer to pass on information from the undercover operation, which was uncovering people every night 'and every one of them had the potential to be the Claremont serial killer.'

However, his offer was rejected by the chief investigator, to his astonishment.

'He said, 'Don't worry about it, Con, we've got our man.' And those words will stick with me forever,' he said.

'That just hit about 10 on my weird s***-o-meter.'

WA Police insist they looked into the sinister man Mr Bayens encountered, but the former constable insists the enquiry never took place.



Perth reacts to shock Claremont serial killer arrest
If Donald Morey (the murderer who was last seen with Sarah Anne McMahon) was in contact with Sarah all these years -- can't he provide proof she is alive? Like .. an address? Phone number? Something? And why would she speak him and him alone and not her family - for 12 years? How is this Donald Morey aka Matusevich
guy NOT charged with something in this case? Thank goodness he's inside, anyhow, and not roaming free.

Seven News reporter Alison Fan looks back at the many clues that until Friday had seemed to lead nowhere in the Claremont serial killer search.

 
Donald Morey, aka Matusevich


A serious question that needs to be answered by Karl O'Callaghan, the Western Australian Commissioner of Police is:
Why did it take over a week for the Western Australian Police for come and collect a bag belonging to career criminal and convicted attempted murderer Donald Morey which the two owners of the house in Marangaroo, Mr and Mrs Gareth Allen who were the bosses of Donald Morey say contained a real of silver, gaffer tape, two knives and explicit pornographic material of what looked like dead women in sexual positions...
which is similar to the items that Western Australia Police officer  Con Bayers, who was the former head of the prostitution task-force said he found in Donald Morey's Commodore Holden car boot driving through Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, that looked liked and unmarked police car 

 Sarah Anne McMahon

Name: Sarah Anne McMAHON, Age when missing: 20 years, Eyes: Green, Hair: Auburn, Height: 173cms, Build: Slim
Circumstances: Sarah McMahon has not attended work since Wednesday 8 November 2000. Sarah was last seen driving her vehicle, a 1986 White Ford Meteor Sedan, registered  number 7FO-731 in an easterly direction on Great Eastern Highway, Greenmount. 
Sarah Anne McMahon  was last seen wearing dark jeans, black turtle neck sweater and black suede jacket. Concern is held for her safety and welfare.
Fears for the safety of a 20-year-old woman missing for 13 days 
have increased following the discovery of the woman's car at a hospital carpark. 
Sarah McMahon was last seen leaving her workplace in suburban Claremont on November 8, although there have been a number of unconfirmed sightings of her since then. She has made no contact with her family. Ms McMahon's white Ford Meteor sedan was found last night in the emergency department car park of Swan District Hospital.  Police today refused to say who discovered the vehicle or whether anything of significance 
had been found inside.


Sarah McMahon was 20 when she disappeared after leaving work in the Perth suburb of Claremont on Wednesday, November 8, 2000. She lived with her parents Danny and Trish and younger sister Kate. Ten days later, her white Ford Meteor sedan was found in the car park of Swan Districts Hospital. A bag containing personal items was on the front seat, her empty wallet was in the boot and her mobile phone was on the ground nearby. Her mum Trish tells her story ... 
"We haven't seen or heard from Sarah since November 8, 2000, when she left for work in the morning. Apparently she received a call at work from a friend who was "suicidal" and intended to visit the mysterious caller. The police believe she's been murdered and we have all tried to accept this as a possibility, but in our hearts we know she is out there somewhere. At the time of Sarah's disappearance she was depressed ... a romance had soured, university had lost its appeal and she had a mobile phone bill for $800 she hadn't mentioned to us. Sarah felt as though she was in rough waters being tossed this way and that, and she had mentioned to a family friend that she wished she could just "go away and start again". We thought a visit to her older brother Paul and his family, who live near Melbourne, might break the cycle, but unfortunately that wasn't so. I visited Melbourne and Sydney putting up posters, giving out photos and talking to anyone who was willing to listen. Two years ago, a couple who had taken a photograph of Sarah rang to say they had distributed it at a youth seminar. The father of one of the children worked in security at Newcastle nightclubs, and he came across a young man who recognised her and confirmed her name when shown the photograph. But that was it. There have been no further sightings or news. We, Sarah's family, believe with all our hearts that our darling daughter, sister and granddaughter is out there. We will never believe otherwise. We love you, Sarah, please let us know you're all right. May the sun shine warm on your face, and until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of His hand." 
If you have any information, call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

 Kate McMahon, Sarah McMahon's sister, 
who just is waiting for the day that her sister simply walks through the door 
and says "hi sis..." as though nothing out of the ordinary has happened ...

Man (Donald Morey) was 'too interested' in missing girl (Sarah McMahon: 
sister speaks out... 

 

Rania Spooner

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/man-was-too-interested-in-missing-girl-sister-20121210-2b5rg.html

Man was 'too interested' in missing girl: sister 

  Rania Spooner

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/man-was-too-interested-in-missing-girl-sister-20121210-2b5rg.html

                  

Amanda Smith, Sarah McMcMahon's sister 
outside Western Australia's Coroner's Court. 




Sarah McMahon was 20 when she was last seen in November, 2000. 


Sunday Times article with Sarah McMahon's younger sister Kate asking for her sister Sarah to just come home..


The sister of a Perth girl who vanished more than ten years ago after developing a friendship with an older man who has since been convicted of attempting to murder a prostitute has told the inquest into her sister's suspected death she always found the man "creepy".
Sarah Anne McMahon was 20 years old when she disappeared on October 8, 2000.

The last phone call Ms McMahon answered was from Donald Morey, then 45, who has since been convicted of attempting to murder a prostitute in 2003.

Counsel assisting the coroner at the inquest into the suspected death of Ms McMahon told the court Morey's attempt to strangle the woman to death came days after a fellow sex worker from the same Highgate strip had gone missing.

Ms McMahon's sister Amanda Smith giving evidence to the Coroner's Court on Monday said Morey met her sister at her house a couple of years before her disappearance.

When Ms Smith returned from living in regional Western Australia after a period of months she discovered "Don" and her sister were speaking on the phone "all the time", something that worried her, she said

"He was very interested in her – too interested," Ms Smith said.

"He was always trying to charm her."

Ms Smith said she found Morey "creepy".

Morey has never been ruled out as a suspect in the suspected death of Ms McMahon, Detective Darryl Cox told the Coroner's Court.

A special police unit that manages WA's cold cases reopened the case of Ms McMahon's disappearance last year and reinterviewed several witnesses.

One witness – a prostitute whose name has been protected – changed her original statement to make shocking claims that she saw the naked body of a woman she believed to be Ms McMahon in Morey's bedroom with a robe looped around her neck, counsel assisting the coroner Philip Urquhart told the inquest in his opening submissions.

The inquest is expected to hear the woman claimed she helped clean up the house after something wrapped in a quilt was removed from the bedroom.

The woman told police she wanted to "tell the whole truth" about what happened to Ms McMahon last year because she believed she was suffering from a terminal illness, Mr Urquhart told the inquest.


 
Sarah Anne McMahon and her little sister  Kate McMahon just before Sarah McMahon disappeared on the 8th of November, 2000.
JANE CUNNINGHAM: 15-year-old Kate McMahon has spent the past two years without her sister Sarah. Like the families of more than 30,000 Australians who go missing every year, she faces the agony of waiting and hoping
KATE McMAHON, SARAH McMAHON'S SISTER: It happens to everyone else's family but not yours. And I think the reality of it happening to your own family, it's - it's quite a bit of a shock.
JANE CUNNINGHAM: There were no warning signs. One typically sunny November day in Perth, Sarah McMahon simply didn't come home. Suddenly, and very traumatically, that special bond between Kate and her sister was severed.
KATE: It's left a huge gap. I miss her so much. I just, um, I just think of how good friends we were just becoming then and how good friends we could be - how much good friends we could be now. 13 years with someone else in a - in a, um, house - everything was together. And now that suddenly was just cut short. My childhood, sort - sort of has been, um, marred, I guess you could say, by this whole situation. And, um, it's - it's hard. There's some days you don't want to get out of bed or go to school, but I think you have to make yourself do these things, um, for, um, yourself and just to, um, get Preoccupied.
JANE CUNNINGHAM: The year before she disappeared, Sarah's mum Trish, a school drama teacher, wrote a play about the devastated family of a missing girl. In a strange twist of fate, it was Sarah's sister Kate who played the missing girl, rehearsing the role and then comforting a family grieving from the same scenario. Do you visualise her coming home?
KATE: Yes. A lot.
JANE CUNNINGHAM: Do you?
KATE: Every day, you wake up, you think, "This could be the day. It could be the day she might come strolling through." I just think she's gonna come just wandering down the driveway, walking through the door, acting like nothing's happened. I just think that's how she'll do it.
JANE CUNNINGHAM: Kate's play does have a happy ending. The missing girl comes home. In reality, though, her turmoil continues.

Perth woman Sarah Anne McMahon has been missing for 15 years

PHIL HICKEYPerthNow

November 9, 2015

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/perth-woman-sarah-mcmahon-has-been-missing-for-15-years-ng-0cba6a9d8011f9c30b57a8fb54ee5ade

FIFTEEN years ago Sarah McMahon, then 20, who was by all accounts happy and healthy, left her workplace to meet someone in Bassendean and was never seen again.

An inquest into her disappearance on November 8, 2000 found she had fallen victim to a homicide.

Despite two police investigations, a special crime squad review of the case file in 2011 and a 2012 inquest, her killer has not been held to account and her body has not been found.

As far as her younger sister Kate is concerned, time does not heal all wounds.

“It never gets any easier and time does not heal or lessen the heartache that we have,” Kate McMahon told The Sunday Times.

“This time of year, coming up to Christmas, is especially hard for us, as a precious member of our family won’t be joining us for the 15th year.”

Kate McMahon’s message to those who hold vital information about what happened to her big sister is simple.

“If anyone has any information regarding Sarah’s disappearance, please don’t let us go on for a 16th year without knowing what happened to our Sarah,” she said.

What exactly happened to Sarah McMahon on the day she disappeared remains a mystery.

The only thing found belonging to her in the days after she vanished was her phone and car. Twelve days after she went missing, her Ford meteor sedan was found at Swan District Hospital.

Her mobile phone was later found on the Great Northern Highway, near the hospital.

The State Coroner who oversaw the inquest into her suspected death was Alistair Hope.

“The circumstances in which Ms McMahon disappeared are sinister and I have confidently been able to exclude the possibility that she died by way of natural causes,” Mr Hope said in his findings.

“In my view, the evidence points overwhelmingly to the proposition that she died by way of unlawful homicide.”

Shortly before her disappearance, Sarah McMahon began working part time at an irrigation company in Claremont.

She was last seen leaving the business about 5.15pm on November 8.

Her colleagues at the time remember her saying she had to be somewhere about 5.30pm. They believed she was heading to the Bassendean area.

Mobile telephone data, revealed at the inquest, found Sarah McMahon received four calls on her mobile on the day she went missing.

Coverage of Sarah’s disappearance in The Sunday Times in December, 2000.Picture: Supplied

The Sunday Times December 10, 2000 edition featured Sarah's disappearance on the front page.Picture: Supplied

One was from a friend, another was from her sister and two were from a man called Donald Victor Morey.

He has been interviewed by police on several occasions and was among those to give evidence at the inquest.

In 2005, he was convicted of the attempted murder of a sex worker and jailed for 13 years.

Morey, now aged 60, has always denied involvement in Sarah McMahon’s disappearance.

During the inquest, he claimed she was alive.

In interviews with police he has claimed she has two children.

But during the inquest, he also admitted most of the information he’d given police was “mumbo jumbo.”

“Quite a lot of things that I said to the police were obviously mumbo jumbo. But as far as Sarah being alive, she is alive,” Mr Morey said at the inquest.

Mr Hope did not make any adverse finding in relation to Morey’s involvement in the case.

“In this case, the evidence is complex and there are many credibility issues which would need to be resolved in making any such determination,” he said.

The special crime squad said this week it was still keen to hear from anyone who had new information about Sarah McMahon’s disappearance.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rohan Ingles said: “This matter remains under investigation at the special crime squad and anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.”

The Crime Stoppers number is 1800 333 000.

Callers can remain anonymous.


 
Donald Morey, aka Matusevich

In Matusevich v The Queen,[16] Matusevich and his co-accused Thompson were prisoners

Pentridge Jail and were jointly charged with the murder of a third prisoner in their ward. The

deceased had been killed with an axe and Matusevich and his co-accused were the only people

present at the time of the killing. Matusevich was alleged to have admitted that he and his

co-accused killed the deceased but he gave evidence denying the truth of those statements and that

he had no recollection of what he said at the police interview. Matusevich claimed that his

co-accused was a madman who not only killed the deceased but threatened to kill him if he called

for assistance; he was only able to press the alarm button some time after the killing. He said he

had no convictions for offences of violence. Matusevich was wrongly cross-examined in his

murder trial as to his prior convictions for previously escaping from custody, house breaking and

stealing, which the prosecutor suggested were offences of a violent nature.[17] During

cross-examination Matusevich admitted that he wrecked and tried to set fire to premises he broke

into when he was drunk and that he now had no memory of his actions on those occasions. Aickin

J, with whom Gibbs, Stephen and Mason JJ agreed, rejected the Victorian Court of Criminal

Appeal's finding of no substantial miscarriage of justice because evidence of these prior

convictions was "just the kind of prejudicial material that might in this very unusual case have

tipped the balance against him.".[18]

 

R v Salmon

Matusevich v R - [1977] HCA 30 - Matusevich v R (22 June 1977) - [1977] HCA 30 (22 June 1977) (Gibbs, Stephen, Mason, Murphy and Aickin JJ.) - 137 CLR ...


The scary and shocking criminal history and the powerful well connected criminal networks, organisations and associations of Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch
Re: Some of the reasons why the State of Western Australia should never release Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch from maximum security prison and make sure that he does not again use his strong powerful well connected corrupt networks of Western Australian Police and Prison Officers as he has done in the past to quietly let him out of prison over night to be able to abduct, rape and/ or murder a girl and have satanic rituals and depraved sexual experiences with dead naked woman's body's with his defacto partner Lynne Rochelle Bishop/Morey whom was running a wedding photography and arrangement business from their property in Chidlow which is very near Mundaring where other dead bodies have been located and near Helena Valley where Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch too his victims to murder by strangulation with a rope and cutting their throat and raping them when they are dead or nearly dead,..and be back in prison before morning role call and muster with no one the wiser other than the corrupted prison officers who helped him escape from prison and let him back into prison six to 10 ten hours later all in the dead or night.
Points to note:
1. Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch started his violent and criminal like at the age of around 14 when he committed violent crimes, robberies, brought and sold illegal drugs and stole cars.
2. Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was put in juvenile detention centres for some of his crimes and ended up in Pentridge Prison which is the hardest maximum security prison in Victoria used for the most hardened, dangerous and violent criminals one could find in Australia.
3. Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was born in 1955
4. In November 1974 when Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was just 19 years old and was in Pentridge Prison applying for parole was originallly covicted of murdereding a prisoner in his cell with another prisoner helping with an axe which was provided to Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor by a corrupt prison officer.
5. The prisoner was arranged to be murdered because the prisoner had broken the code of silence by warning the authorities that a prison escape was planned from Arrarat Prison in Victoria.
6. The prisoner that was murdered with an axe had been transferred from Arrarat Prison to Pentridge Prison for his own protection because if fears that he would be murdered in Arrarat Prison for breaking the code of silence for informing the authorities that a prison escape was planned.
7. However because of the corrupt network of prison officers that worked for and with  other criminal networks and gangland organizations ... the prisoner who broke the code of silence was transferred to his arranged and certain death by being placed into a prison cell with Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch.
8. The other prisoner who held down and murdered with an axe.  Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was orginally given a life sentence in prison as punishment, however later had his conviction quashed by the High Court on a legal technality. A retrial was ordered by the High Court. However, because the only witness to the murder was ound dead in his prison cell, before the retrial, Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was not reconvicted at his retial.
9. Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch appealed against his conviction with the financial backing of  criminal networks and organizations Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch worked for and with, had the best solicitors and barristers money can buy to spend whatever money was needed for Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor to eventually have his murder conviction quashed, and was eventually in around 1981 released from prison with his murder conviction quashed and was again a free man to roam around society anywhere in Australia to commit whatever crimes he wanted, and what ever crimes he was instructed and paid to commit for and with his criminal networks and organizations and other gangland organizations and networks.
10. You will notice the small tear drops tattoos under eye eye on the face of Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch. One tear  drop means that Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch has murdered at least one person for his gangland organizations that he works for and with. Two tear drops that Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch has under his eyes means that he has murdered more than two people for his gangland organizations and networks and in that respect is what the Mafia and the Triads and other criminal gangland organizations and Networks call and "Made Man". Becoming a made man means that Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch  became one a highly respected and protected level within these gangland criminal networks and organizations and they knew they could call and can call upon Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch at anytime to murder anyone again for any number of reasons  as he has done so on many occasions.
11. The reason why Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was not re-tried after having his murder conviction quashed by the High Court on a technicality over what the court decided was inadmissible evidence was that the only witness to the murder by Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was found dead in his prison cell about a week or so before the date of Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch's murderer retrial
12. In around 1980/81 Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was released from Pentridge jail having completed his earlier sentences and having had his murdar charge for murdering a follow prisoner with an axe quashed because the retrial could not go ahead with the only witness found déad in his prison cell before the retráil could begin.
13. Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch then headed to Queensland, where he carried out  a few armed robberies. At all times Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch is carring out these criminal offences in partnership and  with his criminal gangland networks which includes not only hardened criminals but, also corrupt police and prison officers, as well as a few magistartes and judges which will be helpful if they can when needed. Thus it make not real difference is Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch gets caught and land in prison again because could be allowed to quietly be let out for the night or the weekend, with out there be any official records that he ever was out of the prison grounds. He will always have plenty of the best quality drugs in prison and be given special privledges others prisonsers would not get.
14. Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch, then is conveniently allowed by the prison officers to escape from the Queensland prison he is held in, and travels to Western Australia.
15. While in Western Australia Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch, committs a number of armed robberies, and adbuctions and murders,  and in understood to have hided out at 4 Weld Street, Gingin for while while things cool off. 
16. Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was taken to 4 Weld Street Gingin, Western Australia by another criminal associate who used  over 30 different names. 
17.  Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch works with and for corrupt police and prison officers and various criminal networks and organizations as well as an official undercover agents for the police. As many police, prison officers and government workers do ... they work in their official capacity for the government but at the same time work with and for criminal networks and organizations and that way they make a lot of money on the side on top of their official salaries. They cover their tracks with the government and their bosses (who are often corrupt as well) as to why they are associating with criminals and criminal networks and organizations they work with and for and even supplying them with the use of unmarked police cars, guns, money and illegal drugs belonging and supplied for by the police and the government authorities by saying their actions are necessary in order to investigate criminals and criminal networks and organizations. However, they carry their roles and actions in this regard  too far and many of their actions and motives are wrongful, corrupt, illegal and immoral. They all the undercover police informants and operatives such as Donald Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevucht and others to commit crimes such as rape, abductions, various types of sexual and violent assaults, supply. grow, import, manufacture and sell illegal drugs and murder people and do not charge them for any or only some of the crimes they commit. They inform them about information that only the police should know so that helps them get away with many of the crimes they have committed. 
16  It is noted that in Western Australia Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch, had formed a relationship with a female prison officer and had too children with her, and thus wants to end back in Western Australia, whether he is in or out prison, it does not matter that much, even though naturally he would prefer to be out of prison, so he can commit armed robberies. Abductions, rapes and murders.
17. When the time is right Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch travels back to Victoria where is is finally arrested and taken back to Queensland.
18. In 1991 Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch was sentenced in Western Australia for seven years jail for two armed robberies but he actually committed around.  Another person who only committed one robbery as part of a deal with corrupt police in Western Australia, admitted to doing another 3 armed robberies that he actually did not do, so that the corrupt police and prison officers that Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch work with and for, who share the proceeds of the armed robberies comitted by Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch and profits form drug sales, payments for doing contract murders, and other crimes such as selling illegal drugs and dealing with other stolen property, could show on their solved crimes records that these armed robberies were solved. At the same time they made sure that Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch  did not receive too long a jail sentence,  and would be out on parole within around 5 years. Thus Victor Morey aka Donald Victor Matusevuch would have been released form the WA Prison System on parole by around 1995.


  Donald Victor Morey, aka Matusevich,Australia Claremont Serial Killer, 1996 - 1997, Perth, Western Australia - #6

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?318778-Australia-Claremont-Serial-Killer-1996-1997-Perth-Western-Australia-6&p=12898398&styleid=21

      Donald Victor Morey, aka Matusevich crabstick said:10-28-2016

         There is enough reports to suggest he is ex army. Im not sure how old he is. Yes, there is a few guys around that use the Im ex SAS as a shield            when they fear someone might give them a clobber. He might have been a mechanic? selling $10,000 bundles
           of amphetamine is organised   crime connections.
    ' the was selling Sarah McMahon $10000 blocks of amphetamine,
              its not like he wouldn't have the cash for access to new vehicles, and cut and shut rebuild vehicles he could set up himself. 
              Built fake taxis even. Because a fake taxi didn't have to buy a taxi plate, fake taxis were a cash cow.

If             Morey is SAS or ex-military, he may have been trained in all the above. 
              Mechanic being one of the core subjects for SAS. (SAS barracks are a stones throw from Stirling road, Claremont.) 
                 Being SAS with a station wagon set up with a LSD diff, Morey could have driven any the back dirt tracks off the main roads up 
               and down to the dump points with an element of ease. Police have said, it is someone who polishes their car a lot, with care to detail.
                   
                       Career Criminal  and self confessed SAS killer of many people, Donald Morey .. 
                         and has admitted he was the last person to see or talk to 

      Sarah Anne McMahan alive ... and according to his phone records was in the area of Bassendean the night Sarah Anne McMahon 
      was talking to Donald Morey on her telephone and saying she was heading to see a friend in Bassendean and there was 
      strong evidence that Donald Morey aka Matusevich
          lied to the coroner about being at his boss Mr Allen's truck yard on the night the 
      Sarah Anne McMahon Disappeared ... and a witness said she saw a bloodied dead body, with a rope around her neck that 
       looked like Sarah Anne McMahon is his room at his boss Mr Allen's home ... 
         and that evening and saw him carrying what looked liked a dead body over his shoulder wrapped up out of the house 
        that evening and said she helped clean up Donald's Morey's room at Mr Allen's home ... and Donald Morey aka Matusevich
         with Mr Allen's wife and Mr Allan saying that Donald Morey aka Matusevich

             had a bag with all the things needed to kill someone  that Donald Morey aka  always 
         carried around with him .... but the police after been told about this bag being at Mr and Mrs Allan's home waited for a about a week to go               and collect this important evidence ... giving plenty of time of Donald Morey's female partner he spent the weekends with in a house in                   Chidlow ....to come and collect the black bag ... which gives the strong impression that as a witness has said .. 
         that Donald Morey worked as a killer and a illegal drug dealer for corrupt police and other powerful politicians,
         powerful business people and the Chinese Triads and was protected by these corrupt police .,..
         who rang Donald Morey's female partner to inform her she better quickly collect Donald Morey's damming black bag which 
         help all the tools of trade to abduct and quickly and silently murder someone ..... 
        and Donald Morey says he has constant contact with Sarah Anne McMahon since November, 2000 ... 
         and Sarah Anne McMahon has not even contacted her own family ... and not contacted anyone else buy career criminal and
          self confessed killer .... yet will not tell anyone where Sarah Anne McMahon is .... other that saying she is living in Canada 
          under another name and has two children......
              then with all that evidence  why haven't the Western Australian Police arrested Donald Morey on some charge associated with 
           the disappearance of Saran Anne McMahon before Donald Morey is released from prison sometime in 2017 when his
        13 year prison sentence ends .. so that Donald Morey can be refused bail while he goes to court over the new charge or charges
            associated with the disappearance of Sarah Ann McMahon on about the 8th of November, 2000.... 
          and at the same time further investigate the connection of Donald Morey with the abduction/murder of 
          Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Lisa Brown and other missing girls ... 


 Sarah Anne McMahon 
 who was last known to be talking to Donald Morey and under Donald Morey's own admission is the only person who knows the where abouts Sarah Anne McMahon ... whether Sarah McMahon is dead of alive .... everyone is praying that Donald Morey was telling the truth ...that Sarah McMcMahon is living in Canada and is happy with two children and asked Donald Morey's help to disappear because Saran Anne McMahon's life was in extreme danger ..... there is one thing that is definite and true about Donald Morey's statement to the coroner .. that is Sarah Ann McMahon's life was in extreme danger becaause of what she knew about what is known as the Claremont Serial Killings and who was involved .. this is because Sarah Anne McMahon opened up and gave a written and taped statement about her knowledge of who wad involved in the Claremont Serial Killings of Sarah Speirs, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon ... this was done in 1999 before Sarah Anne McMahon disppared on the 8th of November, 2000..... Sarah Anne McMahon stated that the written and taped statement of her knowleldge of who was involved in the 
Claremont Serial Killings of Sarah Speirs, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon  was not to be used unless she disappeared and/or or was thought to be murdered ...... Sarah Anne McMahon was asked why doesn't she bring the information she knows about 

the Claremont Serial Killings of Sarah Speirs, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon to the authorities so these people involved can be arrested .... Sarah McMahon was in hysterical tears saying if she tells what she knows the authorities she will be dead in a day ..... so as a safely measure and in a way some insurance Sarah provided a sworn written statement and a tape recording of what she knows about the Claremont Serial Killings .... Since the arrest of Bradley Robert Edwards there has been many attempts to contact the Western Australian Police, the Western Australian Director of Public Prosecutions, the Western Australian Liberal Premier Colin Barnett, the Western Australian Liberal Party Attorney General Michael Minschin, the Western Australian Liberal Party Minister for Police Liza Harvey to provide important information on the Claremont Serial Killings and other serious crimes committed in Western Australian over the last 50 odd years form  the www.nyt.bz investigation files .. however none of these people and organisations have shown any interest in having any extra information about the Claremont Serial Killings other than information that could help them take Bradley Robert Edwards to trial for the murder of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon and will help convince the court and the Western Australian public and the Australian Public and the world that Bradley Robert Edwards is the lone Claremont serial killer that all by himself abducted Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon and murdered these the girls without any help form anyone else and planned and executed that abductions, murders and  dumping of the bodies all by himself ....

Career Criminal  and self confessed SAS killer of many people, Donald Morey .. and has admitted he was the last person to see or talk to Sarah Anne McMahon alive ... and was in the area of Bassendean the night Sarah Anne McMahon was talking to Donald Morey on her telephone and saying she was heading to see a friend in Bassendean and there was strong evidence that Donald Morey lied to the coroner about being at his boss Mr Allen's truck yard on the night the Sarah Anne Disappeared ... and a witness said she saw a bloodied dead body, with a rope around he neck that looked like Sarah Anne McMahon is his room at his boss Mr Allen's home ... and that evening and saw him carrying what looked liked a dead body over his shoulder wrapped up out of the house that evening and said she helped clean up Donald's Morey's room at Mr Allen's home ... and Donald Morey ..with Mr Allan's wife and Mr Allan saying that Donald Morey had a bag with all the things needed to kill someone  that he always carried around with him .... but the police after been told about this bag being at Mr and Mrs Allan's home waited for a about a week to go and collect theis important evidence ... giving plenty of time of Donald Morey's female partner he spent the weekends with in a house in Chidlow ....to come and collect the black bag ... which gives the strong impression that as a witness has said .. that Donald Morey worked as a killer and a illegal drug dealer for corrupt police and other powerful politicians, powerful business people and the Chinese Triads and was protected by these corrupt police .,..who rang Donald Morey's female partner to inform her she better quickly collect Donald Morey's damming black bag which help all the tools of trade to abduct and quickly and silently murder someone ..... and Donald Morey says he has constant contact with Sarah Anne McMahon since November, 2000 ... and Sarah Anne McMahon has not even contacted her own family ... and not contacted anyone else buy career criminal and self confessed killer .... yet will not tell anyone where Sarah Anne McMahon is .... other that saying she is living in Canada under another name and has two children......
then with all that evidence  why haven't the Western Australian Police arrested Donald Morey on some charge associated with the disappearance of Saran Anne McMahon before Donald Morey is released from prison sometime in 2017 when his 13 year prison sentence ends .. so that Donald Morey can be refused bail while he goes to court over the new charge or charges associated with the disappearance of Sarah Ann McMahon on about the 8th of November, 2000.... and at the same time further investigate the connection of Donald Morey with the abduction/murder of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Lisa Brown and other missing girls ... 

https://au.news.yahoo.com/video/watch/33647879/perth-reacts-to-shock-claremont-serial-killer-arrest/#page1

Seven News reporter Alison Fan looks back at the many clues that until Friday had seemed to lead nowhere in the Claremont serial killer search.

A serious question that needs to be answered by Karl O'Callaghan, the Western Australian Commissioner of Police is:
Why did it take over a week for the Western Australian Police for come and collect a bag belonging to career criminal and convicted attempted murderer Donald Morey which the two owners of the house in Marangaroo, Mr and Mrs Gareth Allen who were the bosses of Donald Morey say contained a real of silver, gaffer tape, two knives and explicit pornographic material of what looked like dead women in sexual positions...
which is similar to the items that Western Australia Police officer  Con Bayers, who was the former head of the prostitution task-force said he found in Donald Morey's Commodore Holden car boot driving through Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, that looked liked and unmarked police car 

Australia - Sarah McMahon, 20, Perth, WA, 8 Nov 2000

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?196444-Australia-Sarah-McMahon-20-Perth-WA-8-Nov-2000

26-07-2016  Ausgirl  Enough Is Enough!

Australia - Sarah McMahon, 20, Perth, WA, 8 Nov 2000

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law...-1226556176197

A cold case review of both investigations was launched last year and Morey said he was still in contact with Ms McMahon, who he claimed was living in Canada with her two children.

Coroner Alastair Hope said on Thursday that because Ms McMahon had not contacted her loved ones in more than 12 years, he was confident she was dead.

"The circumstances in which Ms McMahon disappeared are sinister and I have confidently been able to exclude the possibility that she died by way of natural causes, accident or suicide,'' he said.

If Morey (the murderer who was last seen with her) was in contact with Sarah all these years -- can't he provide proof she is alive? Like .. an address? Phone number? Something? And why would she speak him and him alone and not her family - for 12 years?

How is this Morey guy NOT charged with something in this case? Thank goodness he's inside, anyhow, and not roaming free.


Donald Morey, aka Matusevich



Part of Donald Morey's abduction and murder kit is similar to the items that Western Australia Police officer  Con Bayers, who was the former head of the prostitution taskforce said he found in Donald Morey's Commodore Holden car boot driving through Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, that looked liked and unmarked police car . Mr and Mrs Gareth Allen say that Donald Morey always carried around a black bag they found in Donald Morey's room which contained a real of silver, gaffer tape, two knives and explicit pornograpghic material of what looked like dead women in sexual positions...


A serious question that needs to be answered by Karl O'Callaghan, the Western Australian Commissioner of Police is:
Why did it take over a week for the Western Australian Police for come and collect a bag belonging to career criminal and convicted attempted murderer Donald Morey which the two owners of the house in Marangaroo, Mr and Mrs Gareth Allen who were the bosses of Donald Morey say contained a real of silver, gaffer tape, two knives and explicit pornograpghic material of what looked like dead women in sexual positions...
which is similar to the items that Western Australia Police officer  Con Bayers, who was the former head of the prostitution taskforce said he found in Donald Morey's Commodore Holden car boot driving through Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, that looked liked and unmarked police car 


Prostitute claims missing woman was murdered

Rania Spooner

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/prostitute-claims-missing-woman-was-murdered-20121210-2b581.html

The woman decided to "tell the complete truth," about what she knew of events on November 8, 2000, counsel assisting the coroner Philip Urquhart said in his opening address on Monday.

In her most recent statement to police, the woman claims she was called to a house where Morey was living and was told "he's killed her," by the man who owned the house, the court heard.

"She says that when she walked into Mr Morey's bedroom she saw a naked girl on the bed and that she had a piece of robe about 1 cm think looped twice around her neck," Mr Urquhart said.

Philip Urquhart said the inquest is also expected to hear evidence from several witnesses about a bag Morey carried with him containing a reel of silver gaffer tape, rope, two knives and explicit pornographic material.






Sarah McMahon's life was in serious danger as she knew too much and could bring the truth out,
but before Sarah McMahon disappeared she gave a sworn statement exposing all those involved.


There seems no doubt that if Donald Morey is released from prison in 2017 he will rape, abduct and murder again in Western Australia or somewhere else in Australia

Donald Morey, aka Matusevich


Above the photo of Convicted attempted murdered Donald Morey, who in 2005 received 13 year jail for a conviction of trying to murder a street prostitute in Perth, Western Australia. Donald Morey was also the prime suspect of the murder of another prostitute in that used to work on the streets the girl that Donald Morey was found guilty of attempting to murder.

The coroner investigating and reviewing the disappearance of Sarah McMahon and the police named career criminal Donald Morey as the prime suspect of what the coroner felt was the unlawful death of Sarah McMahon, rather than just a disappearance of Sarah McMahon on the 8th of November, 2000.

Morey claimed he never saw Ms McMahon the day she vanished, but had helped her formulate a plan to flee the country illegally.

"She's overseas, she's alive and she has two children," he said.

"I have been in contact with Sarah basically ever since."

If you want to put her life in danger you f..king wear it.

But he refused to say where Ms McMahon was living, claiming he was protecting her and her children from danger by not revealing her whereabouts.

Morey would also not say how he has been communicating with Ms McMahon after he was imprisoned in 2005, for fear of being "locked up in maximum security indefinitely".

"Do not put her life in danger," he told Mr Urquhart when questioned about where Ms McMahon was and how she left the country.

Morey also maintained his innocence in relation to the attempted murder conviction, which he suggested he'd been set up for because of Ms McMahon's "disappearance".

"It was Sarah's decision to leave - not mine," he said.

Sarah's family have not heard from her in 12 years.

Morey met Ms McMahon at her older sister's house months before she disappeared and maintained there was never a sexual relationship between the pair.

"She could confide in me," he said. "We just talked".

Ms McMahon had intended to call her mother before she left, but had lost her phone, Morey told the inquest.

He said he was unable to contact her for more than a month after she left but sent her text messages and repeatedly tried to call.

"All I can tell you is I sent a hell of a lot of text messages," he said.

But Mr Urquhart told the Coroner there were no records of Morey trying to contact Ms McMahon by phone after November 8, 2000.

Morey then refused to answer any further questions and accused Mr Urquhart of "winding" him up when he had a "crook heart".

"Mr Morey it seems to me you just don't want to answer the hard questions," Mr Urquhart said.

Morey requested a medic and was taken back into lockup.

"If you want to put her life in danger you f..king wear it," he said.

Ms McMahon's sister Amanda Smith giving evidence earlier in the week described Morey as "creepy" and "too interested" in her younger sister.

The inquest has also heard evidence of a black bag found in Morey's bedroom after Ms McMahon's disappearance, which according to three witnesses contained gaffer tape, rope, knives and graphic pornographic magazines which involved fake corpses in compromising positions.

Morey accepted he had a black bag he used to carry his lunch in for work, but rejected ever buying the pornographic material.

A serious question that needs to be answered by Karl O'Callaghan, the Western Australian Commissioner of Police is:
Why did it take over a week for the Western Australian Police for come and collect a bag belonging to career criminal and convicted attempted murderer Donald Morey which the two owners of the house in Marangaroo, Mr and Mrs Gareth Allen who were the bosses of Donald Morey say contained a real of silver, gaffer tape, two knives and explicit pornograpghic material of what looked like dead women in sexual positions...
which is similar to the items that Western Australia Police officer  Con Bayers, who was the former head of the prostitution taskforce said he found in Donald Morey's Commodore Holden car boot driving through Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, that looked liked and unmarked police car 


Coroner says missing woman Sarah McMahon was murder victim

http://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/coroner-says-missing-woman-sarah-mcmahon-was-murder-victim/news-story/d64ef5cdd62f86daf5f6034797190448 JANUARY 18, 2013


Angie Raphael AAP

THE West Australian coroner has found that a 20-year-old woman missing for more than 12 years was a victim of a homicide, but has refused to rule on whether a suspect in the case was involved in the crime.

Sarah Anne McMahon disappeared on November 8, 2000 after telling a colleague she was meeting a friend at 5.30pm and then failing to pick up her sister at 8.30pm that evening.

Donald Victor Morey, 57, has long been considered a suspect in her disappearance and was the last person to speak to Ms McMahon before she disappeared.

After the initial police investigation drew a blank, a further investigation was launched after Morey was convicted of the attempted murder of a Perth prostitute in 2004 and sentenced to 13 years in prison.

He had also been a person of interest in the death of another prostitute the previous year.

However, police were again unable to substantiate enough evidence against Morey, who has consistently denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's disappearance.

A cold case review of both investigations was launched last year and Morey said he was still in contact with Ms McMahon, who he claimed was living in Canada with her two children.

Coroner Alastair Hope said on Thursday that because Ms McMahon had not contacted her loved ones in more than 12 years, he was confident she was dead.

"The circumstances in which Ms McMahon disappeared are sinister and I have confidently been able to exclude the possibility that she died by way of natural causes, accident or suicide,'' he said.

"In my view, the evidence points overwhelmingly to the proposition that she died by way of unlawful homicide.''

Mr Hope said there was no evidence that Ms McMahon left the country and there were no records held in Medicare, Centrelink, the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or her bank that would suggest that she was alive in Australia after that time.

A key piece of evidence examined at the inquest was a statement from Natasha Tracy-Ann Kendrick, dated November 11, 2011.

In her statement, Ms Kendrick said she walked into Morey's room and saw a bloodied naked girl on the bed with an "old fashioned rope'' around her neck.

Ms Kendrick claimed that she later saw Morey carrying ``something wrapped in a quilt over his left shoulder'' and said she knew it was McMahon's body.

However, Mr Hope noted that police were unable to find evidence to corroborate her account.

He said there was also evidence capable of supporting a conclusion that Morey lied to police about his movements on November 8, 2000 and falsified documents to support those lies.

"It is always possible that some further evidence may come to light which could result in criminal charges being laid at some later date,'' he said.

"In that context, I do not propose to make any finding in relation to Mr Morey's involvement.''

Originally published as

Missing woman 'a murder victim'



The last know known calls that Sarah McMahon had on her mobile phone at around 5.30 pm Friday the 8th of November, 2000 was two phone calls from Donald Morey. Sarah McMahon told a friend that she was going to see a freind in Bassendean.
Donald Morey's phone shows that when he rang Sarah McMahon at around 5.30 pm that Donald Moran was in the Bassendean area.
There are witnesses that say that Donald Morey has bragged about murdering people and said that he learnt hoqw to murder people quickly and silently in the SAS using a rope and/or a knife, be strangling them and/or cutting their throat.
Witnesses had stated that Donald Morey has murdered Sarah McMahon and that Sarah McMcMahon's dead bloodied body  

'Sarah's still alive, living overseas'

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/sarahs-still-alive-living-overseas-morey-20121214-2beir.html

 

Rania Spooner DECEMBER 14 2012

Sarah McMahon was 20 when she was last seen in November, 2000. 

A convicted prisoner told an inquest into the disappearance of Perth woman Sarah McMahon more than a decade ago she's still alive and living overseas with two children.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms McMahon, then 20 years old, was on November 8, 2000.

She was seen driving away from her Claremont workplace while talking on the telephone, the inquest into her suspected death heard in Perth this week.

Before leaving work she had mentioned she was going to "see a bloke" in the Bassendean area that afternoon, the Coroner's Court heard.

The last person she took a call from was Donald Morey, a man 25 years her senior, who has since been convicted of trying to strangle a prostitute to death in 2003.

Currently serving 13 years' jail for the attempted murder, Morey, now 57 and in poor health due to a heart condition, appeared at the Perth inquest into Ms McMahon's suspected death on Friday.

According to a work log he kept for his job with a trucking company at the time, Morey had been cleaning and refuelling trucks at his workplace when Ms McMahon "disappeared".

But Counsel Assisting the Coroner Philip Urquhart accused Morey of fabricating the entry.

Mr Urquhart said there was no record of him using his fuel card, while phone tower records placed his mobile near the Bassendean area that afternoon.

Morey claimed he never saw Ms McMahon the day she vanished, but had helped her formulate a plan to flee the country illegally.

"She's overseas, she's alive and she has two children," he said.

"I have been in contact with Sarah basically ever since."

If you want to put her life in danger you f..king wear it.

But he refused to say where Ms McMahon was living, claiming he was protecting her and her children from danger by not revealing her whereabouts.

Morey would also not say how he has been communicating with Ms McMahon after he was imprisoned in 2005, for fear of being "locked up in maximum security indefinitely".

"Do not put her life in danger," he told Mr Urquhart when questioned about where Ms McMahon was and how she left the country.

Morey also maintained his innocence in relation to the attempted murder conviction, which he suggested he'd been set up for because of Ms McMahon's "disappearance".

"It was Sarah's decision to leave - not mine," he said.

Sarah's family have not heard from her in 12 years.

Morey met Ms McMahon at her older sister's house months before she disappeared and maintained there was never a sexual relationship between the pair.

"She could confide in me," he said. "We just talked".

Ms McMahon had intended to call her mother before she left, but had lost her phone, Morey told the inquest.

He said he was unable to contact her for more than a month after she left but sent her text messages and repeatedly tried to call.

"All I can tell you is I sent a hell of a lot of text messages," he said.

But Mr Urquhart told the Coroner there were no records of Morey trying to contact Ms McMahon by phone after November 8, 2000.

Morey then refused to answer any further questions and accused Mr Urquhart of "winding" him up when he had a "crook heart".

"Mr Morey it seems to me you just don't want to answer the hard questions," Mr Urquhart said.

Morey requested a medic and was taken back into lockup.

"If you want to put her life in danger you f..king wear it," he said.

Ms McMahon's sister Amanda Smith giving evidence earlier in the week described Morey as "creepy" and "too interested" in her younger sister.

The inquest has also heard evidence of a black bag found in Morey's bedroom after Ms McMahon's disappearance, which according to three witnesses contained gaffer tape, rope, knives and graphic pornographic magazines which involved fake corpses in compromising positions.

Morey accepted he had a black bag he used to carry his lunch in for work, but rejected ever buying the pornographic material.

"Common sense tells you I'm not into that sort of garbage for starters," he said.

"Man, if I'm supposed to be this mad serial killer running around, why would I be carrying this bag around with me."

The state coroner Alastair Hope will hand down his findings on January 17. It is not known whether they would involve recommendations to the DPP.






   Please help find Sarah Spiers ... Sarah Speirs is still missing and needs to be found ...



Please help find Sarah Spiers ... Sarah Speirs is still missing and needs to be found ...





Please click her for Important Vital clues missed in hunt for Claremont Serial Killer/s

West Australian Newspaper

With Important Vital clues missed in hunt for Claremont Serial Killer/s

NYT.bz Investigator’s notes attached

Vital clues missed in hunt for Claremont serial killer

http://www.inlnews.com/ClaremontSerialMurdersWA.html

http://www.inlnews.com/ClaremontSerialKillings2.html

http://www.nyt.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings.html


http://www.nyt.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings2.html

http://www.nyt.bz/MissingMurdered_WestAust.html

http://www.awn.bz/ClaremontSerialMurdersP1.html

http://www.awn.bz/LenBuckeridge_SPKoh_BGC.html

http://www.awn.bz/ClaremontSerialKillerCSK.html

http://www.awn.bz/CSK_websleuths.html

http://www.awn.bz/CSK_websleuths_2.html


http://www.awn.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings2.html

http://www.awn.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings3.html


http://www.awn.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings4.html

http://www.awn.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings5.html

http://awn.bz/DavidCaporn_MallardCase1.html


http://awn.bz/PoliceRoyalCommissionWA1.html

http://awn.bz/WAPoliceCSK_Incompetance.html


http://awn.bz/ClaremontSerialKillings5.html



Witness to Donald Morey murder of Sarah Mcmahon N
atasha Tracey-Ann Kendrick leaves court. 

In the statement Ms Kendrick, she had claimed she helped clean up Mr Allen's house after seeing a woman's body in Morey's room the night of Ms McMahon's disappearance.

The special crime squad of the WA Police force, tasked with investigating unsolved cases, finally appeared to have unearthed new information in November 2011.A former prostitute,Natasha Tracey-Ann Kendrick, now 50, who had already been interviewed twice over the disappearance, Natasha Tracey-Ann Kendrick, now 50,  allegedly told police she had been called to a friend's house the night Ms McMahon disappeared in November 2000 and saw the body of a woman she believed was Ms McMahon.
 
The pair had met some weeks earlier at the same house where her friend - the homeowner - had taken on a lodger who would later be convicted of attempted murder over an unrelated case, the Coroner's Court heard Ms McMahon who lived with her family in Parkerville in Perth's Hills, was last seen leaving her Claremont workplace on November 8, 2000.

Sarah McMahon had enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts at Murdoch University that year but by September had suspended her studies as she battled with depression and drug use, her sister Amanda Smith told the inquest.

She was also dealing with a difficult break-up, according to her sister.

Through the church where her parents were long-standing members Ms McMahon had secured a part-time job working in administration - she disappeared after finishing her second shift.

As Sarah McMahon  drove away from work, the last phone call Ms McMahon ever answered was from Donald Morey - a man 25 years older her senior who has since been convicted of attempting to strangle a prostitute to death, the inquest heard.

At the time, Morey was living with his boss Gareth Allen in Marangaroo - although he had a home in Chidlow he shared with this de facto partner on the weekends, the Coroner's Court heard.

In the statement Ms Kendrick, she had claimed she helped clean up Mr Allen's house after seeing a woman's body in Morey's room the night of Ms McMahon's disappearance.


Man was 'too interested' in missing girl: sister 
  by Rania Spooner


Amanda Smith outside WA's Coroner's Court.
Amanda Smith outside WA's Coroner's Court. 

Sarah McMahon was 20 when she was last seen in November, 2000.
Sarah McMahon was 20 when she was last seen in November, 2000. 

he sister of a Perth girl who vanished more than ten years ago after developing a friendship with an older man who has since been convicted of attempting to murder a prostitute has told the inquest into her sister's suspected death she always found the man "creepy".
Sarah Anne McMahon was 20 years old when she disappeared on October 8, 2000.

The last phone call Ms McMahon answered was from Donald Morey, then 45, who has since been convicted of attempting to murder a prostitute in 2003.

Counsel assisting the coroner at the inquest into the suspected death of Ms McMahon told the court Morey's attempt to strangle the woman to death came days after a fellow sex worker from the same Highgate strip had gone missing.

Ms McMahon's sister Amanda Smith giving evidence to the Coroner's Court on Monday said Morey met her sister at her house a couple of years before her disappearance.

When Ms Smith returned from living in regional Western Australia after a period of months she discovered "Don" and her sister were speaking on the phone "all the time", something that worried her, she said

"He was very interested in her – too interested," Ms Smith said.

"He was always trying to charm her."

Ms Smith said she found Morey "creepy".

Morey has never been ruled out as a suspect in the suspected death of Ms McMahon, Detective Darryl Cox told the Coroner's Court.

A special police unit that manages WA's cold cases reopened the case of Ms McMahon's disappearance last year and reinterviewed several witnesses.

One witness – a prostitute whose name has been protected –made  shocking claims that she saw the naked body of a woman she believed to be Ms McMahon in Morey's bedroom with a robe looped around her neck, counsel assisting the coroner Philip Urquhart told the inquest in his opening submissions.

The inquest is expected to hear the woman claimed she helped clean up the house after something wrapped in a quilt was removed from the bedroom.

The woman told police she wanted to "tell the whole truth" about what happened to Ms McMahon last year because she believed she was suffering from a terminal illness, Mr Urquhart told the inquest.


       McMahon suspect 'said he had killed before'

               CHRISTIANA JONES rthe West Australian Newspaper - Tuesday, 11 December 2012 

https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/mcmahon-suspect-said-he-had-killed-before-ng-ya-285803

                 

                      McMahon suspect Donald Morey 'said he had killed before'

A man once suspected by police of being involved in the disappearance of Sarah McMahon told a friend he had killed before and offered to do the same again, an inquest has been told.

Marta Allen gave evidence at a coronial investigation into the disappearance of Sarah McMahon, 20, who was last seen leaving her Claremont workplace on November 8, 2000.

The inquest has heard that police carried out two investigations and a case review over the last 12 years, one of which had focussed on the possible involvement of career criminal Donald Victor Morey - a man 25 years older than the missing woman who formed a close friendship with her and allegedly supplied her with drugs.

The investigations had raised suspicions of his involvement but no evidence that could substantiate a charge, the inquest heard, with police hoping an inquest would yield further information.

Today, Ms Allen described Morey as a "strange man" and said she had immediately wondered if he was linked to Ms McMahon's disappearance when she saw the young woman's image in missing persons reports.

"I thought then and there I wonder if Don had something to do with her disappearance," she said.

Morey - who had worked for her husband and is now in jail after being convicted in 2005 of an attempted murder of a sex worker - has denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's suspected death and is expected to give evidence in the inquest.

Ms Allen said Morey, who had lived with her husband during parts of the week in 2000, had claimed he had killed people and once asked if she was scared of him.

"He told me that he was in the SAS... that's where he was taught to kill people," she said. "He told me that he has killed before."

Ms Allen said Morey made an effort to charm women and had once offered to kill her husband Gareth Allen after eavesdropping on an argument while living at Mr Allen's home.

"He was not joking, he was deadly serious," she said.

Ms Allen said she had once been in a vehicle with Morey when he left her "petrified" and "shocked" after saying to her: "It's just you and me now, are you scared?"

She also described her shocked husband showing her a bag found in Morey's room that had contained ropes, knives, gaffer tape and pornography including images of bound and gagged naked women who "looked dead".

Ms Allen said she called the police but that Morey's partner had collected the bag before they arrived.

Ms Allen also described seeing Morey once cleaning the floor of his truck out with hot water.

"This would have been just after (Ms McMahon) appeared on TV," she said.

The inquest has heard that a person known as "witness A" told police they had been called by a frantic Mr Allen to the home he shared with Morey and was shown Miss McMahon's naked body in Morey's bedroom.

The witness claimed that Ms Allen had helped clean the home afterwards but today Ms Allen vehemently denied the claim and labelled the allegation a fabrication.

The inquest continues


'Sarah's still alive, living overseas'

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/sarahs-still-alive-living-overseas-morey-20121214-2beir.html

 

Rania Spooner DECEMBER 14 2012

                      

     Sarah McMahon was 20 when she was last seen in November, 2000. 

A convicted prisoner told an inquest into the disappearance of Perth woman Sarah McMahon more than a decade ago she's still alive and living overseas with two children.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms McMahon, then 20 years old, was on November 8, 2000.

She was seen driving away from her Claremont workplace while talking on the telephone, the inquest into her suspected death heard in Perth this week.

Before leaving work she had mentioned she was going to "see a bloke" in the Bassendean area that afternoon, the Coroner's Court heard.

The last person she took a call from was Donald Morey, a man 25 years her senior, who has since been convicted of trying to strangle a prostitute to death in 2003.

Currently serving 13 years' jail for the attempted murder, Morey, now 57 and in poor health due to a heart condition, appeared at the Perth inquest into Ms McMahon's suspected death on Friday.

According to a work log he kept for his job with a trucking company at the time, Morey had been cleaning and refuelling trucks at his workplace when Ms McMahon "disappeared".

But Counsel Assisting the Coroner Philip Urquhart accused Morey of fabricating the entry.

Mr Urquhart said there was no record of him using his fuel card, while phone tower records placed his mobile near the Bassendean area that afternoon.

Morey claimed he never saw Ms McMahon the day she vanished, but had helped her formulate a plan to flee the country illegally.

"She's overseas, she's alive and she has two children," he said.

"I have been in contact with Sarah basically ever since."

If you want to put her life in danger you f..king wear it.

But he refused to say where Ms McMahon was living, claiming he was protecting her and her children from danger by not revealing her whereabouts.

Morey would also not say how he has been communicating with Ms McMahon after he was imprisoned in 2005, for fear of being "locked up in maximum security indefinitely".

"Do not put her life in danger," he told Mr Urquhart when questioned about where Ms McMahon was and how she left the country.

Morey also maintained his innocence in relation to the attempted murder conviction, which he suggested he'd been set up for because of Ms McMahon's "disappearance".

"It was Sarah's decision to leave - not mine," he said.

Sarah's family have not heard from her in 12 years.

Morey met Ms McMahon at her older sister's house months before she disappeared and maintained there was never a sexual relationship between the pair.

"She could confide in me," he said. "We just talked".

Ms McMahon had intended to call her mother before she left, but had lost her phone, Morey told the inquest.

He said he was unable to contact her for more than a month after she left but sent her text messages and repeatedly tried to call.

"All I can tell you is I sent a hell of a lot of text messages," he said.

But Mr Urquhart told the Coroner there were no records of Morey trying to contact Ms McMahon by phone after November 8, 2000.

Morey then refused to answer any further questions and accused Mr Urquhart of "winding" him up when he had a "crook heart".

"Mr Morey it seems to me you just don't want to answer the hard questions," Mr Urquhart said.

Morey requested a medic and was taken back into lockup.

"If you want to put her life in danger you f..king wear it," he said.

Ms McMahon's sister Amanda Smith giving evidence earlier in the week described Morey as "creepy" and "too interested" in her younger sister.

The inquest has also heard evidence of a black bag found in Morey's bedroom after Ms McMahon's disappearance, which according to three witnesses contained gaffer tape, rope, knives and graphic pornographic magazines which involved fake corpses in compromising positions.

Morey accepted he had a black bag he used to carry his lunch in for work, but rejected ever buying the pornographic material.

"Common sense tells you I'm not into that sort of garbage for starters," he said.

"Man, if I'm supposed to be this mad serial killer running around, why would I be carrying this bag around with me."

The state coroner Alastair Hope will hand down his findings on January 17. It is not known whether they would involve recommendations to the DPP.



Career Criminal Donald Morey
The court also heard that less than nine months prior to the attack a friend and fellow sex worker of the woman disappeared from the same Highgate area where Donald Morey's victim was picked up from.


     Prostitute claims missing woman was murdered

Rania Spooner

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/prostitute-claims-missing-woman-was-murdered-20121210-2b581.html

      

Sarah McMahon was 20 when she was last seen in November, 2000. 

A prostitute who believed she was dying of a terminal illness has made  new claims about what happened to Perth woman Sarah McMahon who disappeared from Claremont more than a decade ago, a Coronial Court has been told.
Ms McMahon was only 20-years-old when she was last seen driving away from her Claremont workplace while speaking on the phone on November 8, 2000.
Sarah McMahon'scar was found two weeks later at the Swan District Hospital.

Sarah McMahon was never heard from again.

The last phone call Ms McMahon answered was from a man who has since been convicted of trying to strangle a prostitute to death, Donald Morey, the Coroner's Court of WA heard on Monday.
Ms McMahon was reported missing by her parents the following day after failing to pick her younger sister up from church on November 8.
The inquest into Ms McMahon's disappearance was told it is expected to hear how she was friends with Morey - who was 45-years-old at the time.
Although there was a 25-year age difference between the pair, the court was told witnesses were expected to claim Morey had strong feelings for the young woman.
Despite three extensive police investigations conducted in the years following her disappearance Ms McMahon's fate has remained a mystery and her body has never been discovered.
But a coronial inquest was launched in Perth this week after her case was reopened by cold case detectives who have reinterviewed several key witnesses.
One witness, whose identity has been suppressed, changed her statement in November 2011 believing she was suffering from a terminal illness, the Coroner's Court heard.
The woman decided to "tell the complete truth," about what she knew of events on November 8, 2000, counsel assisting the coroner Philip Urquhart said in his opening address on Monday.
In her most recent statement to police, the woman claims she was called to a house where Donald Morey was living and was told "he's killed her," by the man who owned the house, the court heard.
"She says that when she walked into Mr Morey's bedroom she saw a naked girl on the bed and that she had a piece of robe about 1 cm think looped twice around her neck," Mr Urquhart said.
Philip Urquhart said the inquest is also expected to hear evidence from several witnesses about a bag Donald Morey carried with him containing a reel of silver gaffer tape, rope, two knives and explicit pornographic material.
Donald Morey has consistently denied any involvement in Ms McMahon's disappearance.
He is currently serving a 13-year term of imprisonment for the attempted strangulation murder of a female sex worker in December 2003.
The court also heard that less than nine months prior to the attack a friend and fellow sex worker of the woman disappeared from the same Highgate area where Donald Morey's victim was picked up from.
The inquest continues.


Perth woman Sarah McMahon has been missing for 15 years 
PHIL HICKEY, PerthNow November 9, 2015

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/perth-woman-sarah-mcmahon-has-been-missing-for-15-years/news-story/0cba6a9d8011f9c30b57a8fb54ee5ade

Sarah Anne McMahon 20 holds little sister Kate, then 13, in 1999 before Sarah went missing.

Perth woman Sarah McMahon has been missing for 15 years

FIFTEEN years ago Sarah McMahon, then 20, who was by all accounts happy and healthy, left her workplace to meet someone in Bassendean and was never seen again.

An inquest into her disappearance on November 8, 2000 found she had fallen victim to a homicide.

Despite two police investigations, a special crime squad review of the case file in 2011 and a 2012 inquest, her killer has not been held to account and her body has not been found.

As far as her younger sister Kate is concerned, time does not heal all wounds.

“It never gets any easier and time does not heal or lessen the heartache that we have,” Kate McMahon told The Sunday Times.

“This time of year, coming up to Christmas, is especially hard for us, as a precious member of our family won’t be joining us for the 15th year.”

Kate McMahon’s message to those who hold vital information about what happened to her big sister is simple.

“If anyone has any information regarding Sarah’s disappearance, please don’t let us go on for a 16th year without knowing what happened to our Sarah,” she said.

What exactly happened to Sarah McMahon on the day she disappeared remains a mystery.

The only thing found belonging to her in the days after she vanished was her phone and car. Twelve days after she went missing, her Ford meteor sedan was found at Swan District Hospital.

Her mobile phone was later found on the Great Northern Highway, near the hospital.

The State Coroner who oversaw the inquest into her suspected death was Alistair Hope.

“The circumstances in which Ms McMahon disappeared are sinister and I have confidently been able to exclude the possibility that she died by way of natural causes,” Mr Hope said in his findings.

“In my view, the evidence points overwhelmingly to the proposition that she died by way of unlawful homicide.”

Shortly before her disappearance, Sarah McMahon began working part time at an irrigation company in Claremont.

She was last seen leaving the business about 5.15pm on November 8.

Her colleagues at the time remember her saying she had to be somewhere about 5.30pm. They believed she was heading to the Bassendean area.

Mobile telephone data, revealed at the inquest, found Sarah McMahon received four calls on her mobile on the day she went missing.


coverage of Sarah’s disappearance in The Sunday Times in December, 2000.

The Sunday Times December 10, 2000 edition featured Sarah's disappearance on the front page.

One was from a friend, another was from her sister and two were from a man called Donald Victor Morey.

He has been interviewed by police on several occasions and was among those to give evidence at the inquest.

In 2005, he was convicted of the attempted murder of a sex worker and jailed for 13 years.

Morey, now aged 60, has always denied involvement in Sarah McMahon’s disappearance.

During the inquest, he claimed she was alive.

In interviews with police he has claimed she has two children.

But during the inquest, he also admitted most of the information he’d given police was “mumbo jumbo.”

“Quite a lot of things that I said to the police were obviously mumbo jumbo. But as far as Sarah being alive, she is alive,” Mr Morey said at the inquest.

Mr Hope did not make any adverse finding in relation to Morey’s involvement in the case.

“In this case, the evidence is complex and there are many credibility issues which would need to be resolved in making any such determination,” he said.

The special crime squad said this week it was still keen to hear from anyone who had new information about Sarah McMahon’s disappearance.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rohan Ingles said: “This matter remains under investigation at the special crime squad and anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.”

The Crime Stoppers number is 1800 333 000.

Callers can remain anonymous.

Important Vital clues missed in hunt for Claremont Serial Killer/s

West Australian Newspaper

With Important Vital clues missed in hunt for Claremont Serial Killer/s

NYT.bz Investigator’s notes attached


Vital clues missed in hunt for Claremont serial killer

Sunday, 1 January 2017

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/vital-clues-missed-in-hunt-for-claremont-serial-killer-ng-b88342709z


                           

                    The scene at the Continental Hotel in Claremont the Saturday night

This is a most important article detailing what the new set of police in charge of the Macro Task Force say are the three main clues that those previously in charge of the Macro Task Force missed when investigating the Claremont Serial Killings over the last 20 years.


1.  Drivers License of Karakatta Cemetery Victim is alledged to have been handled by the rapist and found by a local gira year or so later.
Note: This alleged clue seems extremely suspect because a driver's license found a year later could have been handled by anyone over that year. It would be easy for the police ot plant someone’s DNA on this drivers license.

2. Fibres from a car seat allegedly found on the body of Jane Rimmer that matches a certain type of model car such as a Holden Commodore station wagons or sedan could have come from hundreds of actual cars, including an unmarked police car.

Police used Holden Commodores all the time in the 1990's as unmarked police cars.


It is doubted that any fibres from a Holden Commodore car found on the body of Jane Rimmer could to be easily be used as proof beyond reasonable doubt that the Holden Commodore station wagon that Bradley Edwards used in 1996 and 1997 came from Bradley Robert Edwards particular car.

It could have been one of hundreds of Commodore cars including an unmarked police car driven by a policeman on or off duty, or driven by a friend of the policeman who borrowed the car such as a girl friend.

In fact a witness has made a sworn statement that she was the girlfriend of a particular Western Australian Police officer …. and that the particular police officer used to supply her illegal drugs such as crystal meth, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and alcohol … this girlfriend of this particular Western Australian Police Officer  was allowed by the Western Australian Police and the particular police officer to drive the particular police officer's unmarked police car at any time of the day or night …. speeding while drunk and high on illegal drugs without fear of being charged with any criminal offences.

In fact when the girlfriend of this particular police officer was picked up by police speeding …  way over the legal blood alcohol limit and high on illegal drugs ... as soon as the police realised that the car was an unmarked police car normally used by this particular police officer, the police would immediately let the girlfriend of the particular police officer go …. and allowed her to drive away drunk and with on illegal drugs uncharged with any criminal offences.

3. The police allege that there is some sort of DNA evidence that was originally missed or overlooked that were found on the body of Ciara Glennon.

Any alleged DNA evidence that has now been claimed to have been found on the body of Ciara Glennon after twenty years could well have been planted and falsified by the police.

DNA of a person found on an item that is on the body of a deceased murdered person some twenty years later usually by itself is not sufficient to convict a person of a murder of that person.

There are all sorts of possible explanations as to why a person's DNA has been found on an item that was attached to or on the body of the deceased murdered person.

A lot depends on what type of item that the DNA was found on or if the DNA was found on the skin or under the finger nails of the deceased murdered person …. such as showing the DNA of a person under the finger nails of the deceased murdered person … which would strongly suggest that the deceased murdered person scratched the attacker at the time of the attack.

Such DNA evidence would be a lot stronger against an accused person whose DNA matched DNA found under the finger nails of the deceased murdered person.


It is noted that the police indicated that there was no DNA evidence found on the bodies of Ciara Glennon or Jane Rimmer which maybe be because the murderer or muderers or original abductors were careful not to leave any DNA evidence on the body of the deceased murdered person or on any items of clothing or other items left on the bodies of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon,
Or
it could have been because of the amount of time between the time of the abduction and murder and the time the bodies were found was long enough for the weather and elements to have destroyed any possible DNA evidence..


One would find it extremely difficult to believe that the person or people involved in the abduction and murder of Ciara Glennon, who committed this horrendous crime, were not clever and calculating enough to have worn gloves and other DNA leaving protection at all times when touching Ciara Glennonor any of Ciara Glenons belongings, jewlery, rings, watch, clothes etc., before or after Ciara Glennon disappeared and eventually murdered.

The person or people involved in the abduction and murder of Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer was or were very clever …. cunning … well planned  ….and obviously had a good knowledge of the way police investigate crimes …  athe person or person seemed amazingly confident about being able to commit these horrendous serious crimes and not be discovered and arrested  …

…..  either because the person or people involved made sure no possible clues were left for the police investigators to find or discover and there are no witnesses left alive that could talk or if still alive would be game to talk ... for fear of their family or themselves also being murdered as well..
.. or  …. the person or people involved in committing these horrendous serious crimes or ordering these crimes to be carried out ... knew that they were protected by the Western Australian Police from being investigated and prosecuted for criminal behaviour ... either because the person or people were Western Australian Police or the person or people knew that they were extremely confident of never being investigated or charged with any criminal offences because of some specific control, influence, or power they had and have in the police, courts, legal, business, media, finance and/or political systems of Western Australia.

 

The scene at the Continental Hotel in Claremont the Saturday night

Detectives missed three early opportunities that could have led them to the Claremont serial killer in the 1990s, according to The Post newspaper.

The western suburbs paper, which has followed the case closely for 20 years, yesterday reported that the missed leads included clues left on the driver’s licence of a 17-year-old girl who was abducted and raped in 1995, a crime which police now believe was committed by the same offender.

They also included car upholstery samples recovered from the body of second murder victim Jane Rimmer sent to the wrong Chemistry Centre department in 1996 and lost, and a “critical item” overlooked from the body of third victim Ciara Glennon.

The 17-year-old was abducted from Rowe Park opposite the Claremont Showground subway in February 1995, and raped at Karrakatta Cemetery.

Post editor Bret Christian wrote that her attacker handled the victim’s driver’s licence, which was later found discarded by a young local girl.

He reported that detectives investigating the sex assault did not doorknock in the area. It was not until more than a year later when Macro task force investigators looking for the killer of Sarah Spiers and Ms Rimmer did, and obtained the licence.

The second reported missed opportunity was when car upholstery samples recovered from the body of Ms Rimmer were lost. They were found when the Chem Centre moved to Bentley in 2011. When tested, the samples revealed crucial clues.

The third reported missed opportunity was when a critical forensic item from the body of Ms Glennon, murdered in 1997, was overlooked. It was tested in Britain well after 2004 and revealed “the breakthrough clue”.

A WA Police spokeswoman said: “As this matter is now before the courts and there remains an ongoing investigation WA Police will not be making any further comment”.

Further Comment by an investigator for the NTY.bz Claremont Seial Killers Investigation Team (NYT_CSKIT)


A photo of the Hungry Jacks sign were boys were sitting justr after 12pm eating  Hungry Jacks Burgers when they saw Giara Glennon walk past on Sirling Highway on early Sunday morning the 15th of March, 1997.

1.The Western Australian Police Macro Task force deliberately mispresented the truth the the Western Australian Public and the Western Australian and Australian newspapers and TV Networks by always for the last 20 odd years saying that the last known sighting of Jane Rimmer was on the video footage taken just after midnight on the 9th of June, 1996 on the famous video footage talking to a man outside the Continenal Hotel in Bay View Terrace, Claremont, Western Australia ... when as per the report given to the Western Australian Police by four 21 year old university students ... they saw Jame Rimmer hitchhiking on Stirling Highway at about 12.30 am on the 9th of June, 1996 near the corner of Stirling Highway and Lock Street, Claremont, and was heading towards Nedlads of Perth and not heading towards Mosmand Park of Wembley where Jame Rimmer lived ...

2. The Western Australian Police Macro Task force deliberately mispresented the truth the the Western Australian Public and the Western Australian and Australian newspapers and TV Networks by always for the last 20 odd years saying that the circumstances of the last known sighting of CIiara Gllenon was that the boys sitting ont he busstop opposite Hungry Jacks actually saw Ciara Glennon leaning ove ron her knees talking to the drive of alight colourted vehicle on Stirling Highway, Claremont, when the boys has stated that they never saw any vehicle after seeing Ciara Glennon walk past them, and that they only say tha back lights of a car that looked like the can may be be putting its breaks on ...but never actually saw Ciara Glennon standing taking to anyone in the car ..... this the re-inactment on the TV program of the last sighting of Ciara Glennon was deliberately false .....
The question remains if why did the Macro Task Force alie about the about last sightings of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon?
This is a question that the Commissioner of Police for Western Australian should answer to the Western Australian People and the new Labor Western Australian Government and to the people of Australai as well.
]The other very dispurbing thing is that there was so much evidence offered by the public over the last 20 odd years to the Macro Task Force appointed by the Commissioner of the Western Australian Police Service to investigate the Claremont Serial Killings ..that the Mcacro Task Force have not bothered to properly investigate and when they bothered ot investigated it was a long time after the crimes have been committed ... making it harder to collect the important evidence needed to apprehend the person to people involved in the Claremont Seriasl Killings..
For example there person who saw a taxi driver early in the morning without lights near were the body of Ciara Glennon was found aboit tyhe time Ciara Glennon went missing ... who said there was  aperson sitting ont he back of the taxi.... this is important independent evidence that fairly well proved beyoond reaosnable doublt that there was a taxi involved, a person who had access to a taxi involved and that there was at least two people involved in the uabduction and murder of Ciara Gennon....which fairly proves that the police are wrong in saying that Bradley Rober Edwards committed the abdiction and murder of Jane Rimer and Ciara Glennon all by himself .... the evidence that a taxi was seem with a person int he back about where the body of Ciara Glennon was found about the time that Ciara Glennon was abducted .... fits in with the statement by Noel Geoffrey Coward who said that there was this guy called Tony who was a taxit driver and a woman involved who sat in the back of the taxit where the bodies were dumped...





World Exclusive on Claremont Serial Killings Investigation

A police insider in the Western Australian Police Force has stated that the Western Australian Liberal Government run by Premier Colin Barnet and Attorney General and Minister  of Commerce Michael Mischin MLC-LLB(Hons)-BJuris(Hons) and the Western Australian Commissioner of Police Karl O'Callaghan have organised and arranged the arrest of Bradley Robert Edwards  
on the Claremont Serial Killings as a way of helping them win the March, 2017 Western Australian State Election so that they could convince
the Western Australian Public that they have done a good job in solving crime in Western Australia. The fear is that they will now have 
  Bradley Robert Edwards murdered in prison and make it look like a suicide to cover the fact that they may not have enough real evidence to bring Bradley Robert Edwards to trial and  obtain a conviction. They have known for  a long time that the Western Australian Police have covered up for powerful people involved in the Claremont Serial Killings and desperately needed to convince the public that they have solved the Claremont Serial Killings. There is a new book being  published and film being made called "Missing Abducted Murdered In Western Australia" which exposes information that leads to those powerful people involved in the Claremont Serial Killings and how the Western Australian Government and Western Australian Police have constantly refused to accept any of the information that has been presented to them that would help solve the Claremont Serial Killings and other serious crimes committed in Western Australia over the last over 40 years.

The late Leonard Walter "Len" Buckeridge (15 June 1936 – 11 March 2014) was a Multi Billionaire Australian businessman known for founding the Buckeridge Group of Companies (BGC)  who was a well known Liberal Party Funder, backer and close friend of all liberal party Western Australian Premiers and Liberal Party Australian Premiers, who is with his close friend and associate Colin Barnett, the Western Australian Premier from 2008 to February 2017, and the Tony Abbott, the former Liberal Party Prime Minister of Australia at the Hyatt Hotel in 2003.

  

Colin James Barnett - The Western Australian Liberal Party Premier of Western Australia from 2008 onwards who is trying to be re-elected in March 2017 and well respected Red Lodge Freemason
Colin James Barnett (born 15 July 1950) is an Australian politician who is the 29th and the Premier of Western Australia at at February, 2017. He is also the leader of the Western Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. 
Colin James Barnett had previously served as the state's Leader of Opposition and Treasurer, as well as holding various other portfolios in Western Australia's Cabinet.
Colin Barnett was born in Nedlands, Perth. He graduated from the University of Western Australia with an economics degree. Having lectured in economics at the Western Australian Institute of Technology and served as an executive director of the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Cottesloe at a by-election in 1990. Barnett served as a minister in the Court–Cowan Ministrybfrom 1993 until its defeat at the 2001 election, after which he was made leader of the Liberal Party, replacing the outgoing premier, Richard Court. Colin Barnet resigned as leader after the unsuccessful 2005 election, but regained the position prior to the 2008 election, where he was elected premier. Colin Barnett was sworn into office on 23 September 2008 by Ken Michael, the Governor of Western Australia at the time. At the 2013 election  Colin 
 

Barnett and his Liberal Government were re-elected to a second term.

 




Hon. Michael Mischin MLC LLB (Hons), BJuris (Hons) Attorney General _Minister for Commerce for Western Australia who is trying to re-elected in March 2017 and well respected Red Lodge Freemason



Former Director Mr John Roderick McKechnie-Director of Public Prosecutions at the time of the Claremont Serial Murders and then was appointed a Supreme Court Judge of Western Australia as a reward for not prosecuting certain powerful people in Western Australia and wrongly prosecuting others that were not guilty of any crime  and as a further reward has now been appointed at the new head of the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia ..... and well respected Red Lodge Freemason

 
Alistair Castairs Borg, 
ex-Deputy Western Australian Pubic Trustee and well respected Red Lodge Freemason

Alistair Castairs Borg, ex-Deputy Western Australian Pubic Trustee committed many serious crimes as a favour for powerful people in  the Western Australian Public Trustee, Len Buckeridge and those in charge of  the Western Austyralian Liberal Government,  who signed many false and fraudulent affidavits in the Supreme Court prepared by barrister David Lancelot Jones, barrister Dr John James Hockley and other lawyers and barristers … and instructed barrister David Lancelot Jones, barrister Dr John James Hockley and other lawyers and barristers to tell lies in the Supreme Court and other courts on his own behalf, and also on behalf of, the WA Public Trustee’s and the WA Government’s, who was rewarded in 2005 by being appointed the Executive Officer of the State Administrative Tribunal for Western Australia, in charge of $16 million running costs ..Alistair Castairs Borg, ex-Deputy Western Australian Pubic Trustee was one of the powerful people that John Roderick McKecknie, the former first Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia protected from criminal prosecution of any kind ... Len Buckeridge was another ...


        

Follow Oliver Peterson @oliverpeterson

CLAREMONT UPDATE: I will not confirm or disconfirm the media statements. 
Karl O'Callaghan, the Western Australian Police Commissioner and well respected Red Lodge Freemason

Robert Falconer the Police Commissioner for Western Australia and well respected Red Lodge Freemason, who was the Western Australian Police Commissioner for Western Australia at the time of the Claremont Serial Killings
 
Richard Fairfax Court and well respected Red Lodge Freemason
was the Western Australian Liberal Party Premier during the time of the Claremont Serial Killings 

Richard Fairfax Court AC (born 27 September 1947 in Nedlands), is a former Western Australian politician, serving as Premier of Western Australia from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Liberal Party of Australia, he represented the Perth-area electorate of Nedlands in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1983 to 2001.
Richard Court was born into a political family. His father, Sir Charles Court, was the previous member for Nedlands (1953–1982) and served as Premier from 1974 to 1982. His older brother Barry Court was president of the Pastoralists' and Graziers' Association, married Margaret Court, and became President of the Liberal Party of Western Australia in March 2008


Sir Charles Court Australian politician, Premier of Western Australia and father of Richard Fairfax Court.  Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, AK KCMG OBE (29 September 1911 – 22 December 2007) was a Western Australian politician, and the 21st Premier of Western Australia from 1974 to 1982. He was a member of the Liberal Party.

 Len Buckeridge and his de-facto wife Siok Puay Koh known as Tootsie at the Australian Liberal Party Function held at the Hyatt Hotel in 2003, where the wined and dining with all the top Australian Liberal Party Politicians. It was common knowledge in Perth, Western Australian political, legal, police, and business circles that Len Buckeridge and his defacto Siok Puay Koh were more powerful than the Premier of Western Australia, the Commissioner for Police for Western Australia and the Australian Liberal Prime Ministers for Australia .... one of Len Buckeridge's staff proudly explained that his boss Len Buckeridge was so powerful that Len Buckeridge could ring the Police Commissioner, the Premier or the Prime Minister of Australia at 3 am in the morning and tell them to jump in any direction Len Buckeridge wanted .... and the reply from either the the Police Commissioner, the Premier or the Prime Minister of Australia who be to ask ... " ... Len ... how high do you want me to jump and is what direction? "
It became well known and stated in the media, books and various publications with the facts never disputed by Len Buckeridge at ant time that Len Buckeridge form the 1970's onwards had the "Green Light" from the Freemason controlled police  to be able commit or order any criminal action and know that he would not be investigated or prosecuted or charged for any criminal offence.. which is similar to what Roger Rogerson and the the N.S.W Police gave to career criminal Neddy Smiih ....
Len Buckeridge was accused of many serious criminal offences in books and publications and on the Internet and at no time did Len Buckeridge ever dispute these serious accusations and at no time did he ever threaten to sue the people or organisations that made these serious allegations against Len Buckeridge .....thus there can be no doubt these allegations were fact ... the amazing thing is that senior Liberal Party politicians including the Colin Barnett the Premier of Western Australia and former Liberal Party Australian Prime Minusters such as John Winston Howard and Tony Abbott were always proud to have their photo taken by the Australia Media in company with career criminal the late Len Buckeridge


 




Above are photos  the later Len Buckeridge's memorial held at the Civic Centre in Cottesloe in arch, 2014 where the who's who of the Western Australia business, legal, political and social circles attended to worship the late Len Buckeridge is what looks like a state memorial where the head of state such as a king is remembered with great joy for what he did for the state and country ... Len Buckeridge and his silent Trial families partners that pumped billions of dollars into Len Buckeridge's BGC companies from the 1970's onward certainly did make people and the economy rich over those around 50 years, but at what cost one has to ask ... when you ended up with a silent criminal group effectively from behind the scenes running and owning  the largest group of companies in Western Australia .... and employing over 6,000 people  in legal jobs and many in illegal jobs also running the criminal world of Perth, Western Australia that can not  be challenged too easily for the selling of illegal drugs, running prostitution and committing murders at their will and desire for what ever reason ... sometimes in the line of their profit making business and sometime for pure pleasure ...




Sarah McMahon's life was in serious danger as she knew too much and could bring the truth out,
but before Sarah McMahon disappeared she gave a sworn statement exposing all those involved


 


 

 

 
 

 



Jane Rimmer was 23 when she went missing in 1996 after a night out in Claremont

Jane Rimmer was 23 when she went missing in 1996 after a night out in Claremont
Ms Rimmer, 23, was abducted from Claremont in June 1996 and her body found in bushland south of Perth that August.

Students say they saw Jane Rimmer hitchhiking on Stirling Highway, Claremont near Loch Street at around 12.30 am, the description of what Jane Rimmer was wearing matched the unreleased description the police had so it seems quite certain that it was Jane Rimmer hitchhiking on Stirling Highway near Loch Street. The students had been to an event at the Claremont Yatch Club.
12.30 am would have been about the time it would have taken for Jane Rimmer to walk from Bay View Terrace to around Loch Street on Stirling Highway.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?294704-Claremont-Serial-Killer-Media-Timelines-Photos-*NO-DISCUSSION*/page10
Title: We Saw Jane Rimmer Hitchhiking - Student
Author:Andrew Clennell
Date: 19 June 1996
Publisher: Community Times, News Chronical, Nedlands Edition.


Title: We Saw Jane Rimmer Hitching - Uni Student says
Author: Andrew Clennell Date: 19th June, 1996
Publisher: Community Times, News Chronical, Nedlands Edition
University student Emma Clayton and her friends almost picked up a blonde girl she is sure was Jane Rimmer early on the Sunday Morning Jane Rimmer disapeared.
Miss Clayton (21 years old uni student) said she saw the girl staggering along Stirling Highway, thumb out, hitching a lift at 12.30 am. Emma Clayton told police about the incident and her description of the cloths Jane was wearing matched that of a police description which had not been released to the media. Mis Clayton said she and her friends had been in Stirling Highway after leaving a 21st birthday party at Claremont Yacht Club. "Down near Lock Street we saw a girl Hitchhiking," she said. The Girl had her thumb out and we just slowed down and thought maybe we should pick her up but didn't." The conversation between the two couples in the car had been that she was a silly girl for trying to hitch in the area and they discussed whether they should pick the girl up. The decided at the last minute to move on. "we said of all placed for a girl to be hitchhiking alone, this was probably the worst," Miss Clayton said. She said initially, after she had heard of Jane Rimmer's disappearance, she felt guilty that that hadn't picked her up. "If we had picked her up things would have been a lot different, " Miss Clayton said. When she and her friends saw the girl there were no other cars on the Stirling Highway ...




 

Nightmare begins for third family

Grant TaylorThe West Australian

Thursday, 22 December 2016

 

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/nightmare-begins-for-third-family-ng-b88337795z

 

This story was first published in January 2016, 20 years after Sarah Spiers went missing from Claremont.

It was the phone call former homicide squad boss Insp. Paul Ferguson had been dreading, but also expecting.

With two unsolved murders already on his plate, his quiet Saturday afternoon would be shattered by the news that the Claremont serial killer had struck again.

“It was the worst possible thing, the worst possible thing ... you can’t help but feel guilty, ” Mr Ferguson, now retired, said.

“I knew we (investigators) had done everything possible. But we had been unable to prevent it from happening again.”

I knew we had done everything possible

Former Macro boss Paul Ferguson

Police tonight were refusing to confirm reports the search was linked to the Macro investigation into the Claremont serial killings.

Like the first two victims, lawyer Ciara Glennon was young, blonde, smart and attractive.

The similarities between all three were overwhelming and police would finally be forced to say the words that until then they had not dared to say in public.

“I think it’s fair to say that we certainly have fears that there is a serial killer at loose in Perth, ” State crime commander Bob Ibbotson told a press conference two days after Ciara vanished.



photo montage of Jane Rimmer, Sarah Spiers and Ciara Glennon - Claremont Seral killings.

After an extended holiday in Ireland, the 27-year-old had only recently returned to Perth to attend her sister Denise’s wedding.

On Friday, March 14, 1997, she had been having drinks at the Continental Hotel with colleagues from the law firm where she had worked before going overseas.

It was about midnight when Ciara told them she was tired, before setting off to presumably catch a taxi back to her parents’ house in nearby Mosman Park.

Her mother had warned her daughter when she had returned from Ireland about the two earlier disappearances from Claremont.

But streetwise Ciara did not think twice about walking off alone down Bay View Terrace towards Stirling Highway.



Former macro taskforce boss, Inspector Paul Ferguson spoke to The West Australian on the 20th anniversary of Sarah Spiers' disappearance.Picture: Ian Munro/The West Australian.

A group of young men who had been sitting at a bus stop on the highway told police they had seen her walking south, looking for a lift.

The men went back to talking among themselves and a short time later one noticed that Ciara was now much further down the road, leaning in through the passenger side window of a light-coloured car that had pulled up alongside her.

When the men looked again a few moments later, she and the car were gone.

The nightmare was about to begin for a third Perth family who would soon discover their beloved daughter was missing.

Alarm bells began ringing for Denis and Una Glennon the next morning when their daughter missed a hairdresser’s appointment and then failed to show up at her sister’s hens’ party that was organised for that afternoon.

At 4.30pm, Mr Glennon would telephone police to share his concerns.

Within hours, the Macro task force’s members had been recalled to duty and were beginning the hunt for clues all over again.

Although bitterly disappointed at having failed to prevent another murder, Mr Ferguson said his investigators also understood that a fresh case presented them with fresh investigative opportunities.



 Ciara Glennon.

Had the killer finally made a mistake? No expense would be spared to try to find out.

Within days, Richard Court’s government announced a $250,000 reward for information to help catch the killer — the biggest ever offered at that time.

Mr Glennon would also appear before a packed press conference to reveal the depth of his family’s despair.

“Only now do I even begin to understand the terrible trauma that the parents of Jane (Rimmer) and Sarah (Spiers) went through, ” he said.

“No parent who loves their child ... can even begin to comprehend the devastating thing that this is.”

Mr Glennon was also confident that his daughter would be found alive.

But it would not take long before his family’s worst fears were realised.

Almost three weeks after Ciara vanished, a bushwalker stumbled across her body near Pipidinny Road in Eglinton on what was then Perth’s far northern fringes.


Sarah Spiers has never been found

The location of the body made sense to police. Eglinton was north of where the Mitchell Freeway ended.

Jane Rimmer had been dumped near the end of the Kwinana Freeway.

No attempt had been made to bury either of the bodies. Though Jane Rimmer was naked, Ciara was reportedly fully clothed.

The details of how they died have never been released, but police did confirm that the women’s gravesites had given them a valuable insight into the mind of the killer.

The public were keen to do their bit and more than 15,000 calls to the Crime Stoppers hotline were logged in the first month after Ciara disappeared. But still there was no breakthrough.

To help, Mr Glennon appealed to his network of business contacts who dug deep and established a fund to give police additional resources.

The Secure Communities Foundation raised more than $750,000 , which would help pay for international experts to join the investigation as well as funding new technologies.

One of those technologies was lie-detector testing, or polygraphs. More than 50 people of interest would sit those tests, but one man in particular would fail it.

That man was firming as the prime suspect.

WHAT WE KNOW

Friday March 14, 1997: Ciara Glennon catches up with former work colleagues at Claremont’s Continental Hotel.

Midnight: The 27-year-old lawyer says she is tired and leaves the pub to find a lift home to Mosman Park.

Minutes later a group of young men see her on Stirling Highway talking to someone in a light coloured vehicle.

When they look again, both the vehicle and Ciara were gone.

Her worried family report her missing at 4.30pm the next day after she fails to keep a series of appointments.

April 3, 1997: Ciara’s body is found in bush in the far northern suburb of Eglinton.


Claremont serial killer case: A pencil, porn and a past conviction

Malcolm QuekettThe West Australian

Saturday, 23 February 2019 

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killer-case-a-pencil-porn-and-a-past-conviction-ng-b881113921z

Pornography, sexual fetishes, assault, abduction, rape, murder. Words that disgust and horrify. And this week they have been used in conjunction with three other words which have for 23 years been seared into the soul of the State.

Claremont serial killer.

Nobody who lived in WA in 1996 and 1997 will ever forget that time — when the phrase was first heard, leaving the city on edge.

It came after three innocent, carefree young women disappeared between between late January 1996 and mid- March 1997 from the streets of a previously safe and genteel western suburb, Claremont.



Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.
The three vivtims of the Claremont Serial Killer or Killers

Their names, too, remain unforgettable: Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

The women’s deaths were, of course, completely shattering for their families and friends.

But the impact flowed wider and deeper.

With a killer on the loose, how to stay safe became a topic on everybody’s lips.

Anxious mums and dads lectured their kids about the dangers said to exist not just in Claremont but all around the western suburbs, and even beyond.




The accused Claremont serial killer Bradley Edwards.Picture: Supplied

Terrified young women made sure they never went out alone.

And police began long but fruitless investigations into finding the Claremont killer.

And with each police review, revamped investigation and updated appeal for help, feelings of helplessness and frustration grew that nobody had been brought to face their day in court over the killings.

And then in December 2016, Bradley Robert Edwards, then 48, was charged with the murders of Ms Rimmer and Ms Glennon, and in December last year he was also charged with the murder of Ms Spiers.

A court sketch of Bradley Edwards

This week, the pre-trial hearing of Mr Edwards got under way in the Supreme Court — but only after a stunning twist on Monday morning.

As prosecutors, led by the State’s deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Carmel Barbagallo, readied themselves, Mr Edwards was found injured and bleeding from the ear in a shower block at Hakea Prison.

A pencil was found on the floor nearby. He was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Justice Stephen Hall told the court the accused had a “health issue” and would not be appearing.

The cause of the injury was still unclear yesterday.

But Mr Edwards was declared fit to attend court on Tuesday — and entered the dock with a wad of cotton wool visible in his right ear.

Bradley Edwards was injured in a prison shower block

Ms Barbagallo then opened the lid of the prosecution’s trunk of allegations as she argued why she should be able to use so-called “propensity evidence” in the case against Mr Edwards. Propensity evidence involves similar facts or acts to those that an accused is on trial for but has not been charged with. It can go to the accused’s conduct or character.

And under WA law, it is allowed if it is of “significant probative value” to the case. But first, it has to be agreed to by the judge.

Ms Barbagallo said that she wanted to allege that in 1998 Mr Edwards prowled an area around his family’s home in Huntingdale, wearing — and stealing — women’s clothing.

Spotted wearing kimonos, satin night gowns — and in one case underwear on his head — he was said to be building up to an attack on a young woman in her house.

On February 15, 1988, the teenage girl was accosted in her bedroom, subdued and gagged, the prosecution alleged.

No one was ever caught but the court was told that a kimono, which was found dumped at the scene, became crucial nearly 30 years later when it was tested — and Mr Edwards’ DNA was allegedly found on it.

Bradley Robert Edwards' is under 24-hour watch at the maximum-security Casuarina prison after he is believed to have self-harmed in a prison shower block on Monday.

Latent prints from one of the break-ins were also matched to Mr Edwards and foot impressions from the time did not rule him out.

Ms Barbagallo revealed that in 1990, Mr Edwards went to work at Hollywood Hospital and grabbed a social worker from behind before trying to drag her away. She fought him off. He was arrested, charged and convicted of common assault.

But Mr Edwards did not lose his job. And by the mid-1990s Mr Edwards was alleged to have been the man who was driving around the Claremont area in his Telstra work vehicle offering lifts to a series of lone women.

On one of the occasions in question, the woman was followed, grabbed and kissed.

Mr Edwards was also accused of the brutal abduction and rape of a teenage girl who was tied up and dumped in Karrakatta Cemetery in 1995.

DNA from the attack had been matched to Mr Edwards, the court was told.

Less than a year later, the first Claremont murders began.

Ms Barbagallo said prosecutors alleged that Ms Spiers, 18, had disappeared after a night out in Claremont.

About 3am, in Mosman Park, “a series of blood-curdling screams” were heard by a resident.

Accused Claremont serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards' defence team had a chance to argue against evidence in court today.

When they looked, they saw the back of a car with distinctive curved brake lights, and a glaring registration plate, the court was told. Ms Barbagallo said that, at the time, Mr Edwards had access to a 1992 Toyota Camry that shared those distinctive features.

A few months later, Ms Rimmer also vanished from Claremont after a night out with friends, Ms Barbagallo, pictured below, told the court.

Later that night, the court was told, two witnesses living near Woolcoot Road, Wellard, heard a “loud, high-pitched female scream which stopped abruptly and was followed by silence”.

A watch was found later that day, on the same road.

Ms Rimmer’s decomposed body was found near that road, partially covered in branches, 55 days later.

Ms Barbagallo said that two months later, a knife similar to those that were standard-issue to Telstra workers at the time was found on the same road.

Two more of the same knives were found when police raided Mr Edwards’ Kewdale home in late 2016, the court was told.

Ms Rimmer’s body, while not giving up a specific cause of death, still showed a “prominent defect” to her neck, Ms Barbagallo told the court.

Also revelatory were 20 fibres allegedly found in Ms Rimmer’s hair and matched to the seat insert and seat bolster of a 1996 VF series I Holden Commodore — the same car Mr Edwards had been issued by his work at the time.

Ms Glennon went missing after some late-night revellers saw her walking near Hungry Jack’s on Stirling Highway and then talking to the occupant of a late-model, white Holden Commodore, the court was told.

When her body was found 18 days later, the method of covering it bore a “strikingly similar” resemblance to how Ms Rimmer’s body was covered.

Prosecutors involved in what will be WA's trial of the century revealed what will be part of their case against Bradley Robert Edwards'.

Fibres on Ms Glennon’s body also matched the same make of Commodore which had apparently shed clues about Ms Rimmer’s death, the court was told.

And when police examined Ms Glennon’s body they found a mixed DNA profile under her fingernail and thumb which matched her DNA and, much later, allegedly that of another person — Mr Edwards, it was alleged.

The court was also told that pornographic material found on Mr Edwards’ electronic devices more than two decades later allegedly showed that he had an “obsessive sexual interest in the abduction and rape of women”.

The court was told that stories that he was editing up until two weeks before his arrest were about the abduction of women or about having non-consensual sex with women.

One story, about “Chloe”, allegedly bore a striking similarity to the 1995 attack, it was alleged.

Faced with the deluge of claims Justice Hall made it clear they were all allegations.

“There is no evidence at all before the court at this stage and all of this, of course, is yet to be proven,” he told the court on Tuesday.

Over the two days of hearings Mr Edwards’ lawyer Paul Yovich argued against the admissability of many of the allegations.

He questioned what relevance a prowler on foot in 1988 had to a mystery man in a car offering women lifts almost 10 years later.

Mr Yovich said while there were some common features between the Chloe story and the Karrakatta abduction and rape, many other features were “generic”.

He also questioned the relevance of the pornography. “What we are talking about is conduct taking place, on the evidence, a minimum of 19-plus years after the last of the offences was committed,” Mr Yovich said.

Mr Yovich said the Huntingdale allegations should be heard at a separate trial because there was a risk, even before a judge alone, that aspects of evidence relevant to one set of offences but not others could be “blurred”.

It is now up to Justice Hall to decide what can and what cannot be used, ahead of Mr Edwards’ trial proper, due to start in July.



Claremont serial killings: 3am, Mosman Park, a series of blood curdling screams

Tim ClarkeThe West Australian

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-3am-mosman-park-a-series-of-blood-curdling-screams-ng-b881110666z



Forensic police at the site where Jane Rimmer’s body was found.

They are the three most written-about murders in WA history.

January 27, 1996 — Sarah Spiers. June 9, 1996 — Jane Rimmer. March 15, 1997 — Ciara Glennon. The details are burned into the State’s psyche.

Yesterday, more details of allegations surrounding the murders emerged, never heard before, which will reawaken fears from then, and the horror that remains.

WA’s deputy director of public prosecutions, Carmel Barbagallo, who was a young lawyer when the abductions occurred, told WA’s Supreme Court how first Ms Spiers, then Ms Rimmer and finally Ms Glennon went missing.

All three, she says, were taken off the street, late at night, by Bradley Robert Edwards and brutally killed.

SARAH SPIERS

Sarah Spiers

Ms Spiers was 18. About 2am, after a night out in Claremont, she was leaning against a Telstra bollard waiting for a taxi she had just called.

A nearby cab was duly dispatched, but when it rolled up, there was no sign of her.

The driver continued along Stirling Highway, and picked up three other women.

One of the taxi passengers actually knew Ms Spiers.

But no one saw her then, or ever again.

But Ms Barbagallo says someone might have heard her.

About 3am, in Mosman Park, “a series of blood-curdling screams” were heard by a resident.

When they looked, they saw the back of a car with distinctive curved brake lights, and a glaring registration plate, the court was told.

Ms Barbagallo said that, at the time, Mr Edwards had access to a 1992 Toyota Camry, which shared those distinctive features.

Ms Spiers’ body has never been found.

JANE RIMMER

Jane Rimmer.Picture: Supplied

Jump forward just a few months, and Ms Rimmer is last seen standing next to a pole outside the Continental Hotel in Claremont, after a night out with friends.

Later that night, the court was told, two witnesses living near Woolcoot Road, Wellard, hear a “loud, high-pitched female scream which stopped abruptly and was followed by silence”.

A watch was found later that day, on the same road.

But it was another 55 days until Ms Rimmer’s decomposed body was found near that road, partially covered in branches, but with no personal effects nearby.

Ms Barbagallo revealed that two months later, a knife similar to those that were standard issue to Telstra workers at the time was found on the same road.

No Telstra work had been done in that area at the time.

And two more of the same knives were found when police raided Mr Edwards’ Kewdale home in late 2016.

Ms Rimmer’s body, while not giving up a specific cause of death, still showed a “prominent defect” to her neck.

Even more revelatory were 20 fibres allegedly found in Ms Rimmer’s hair and matched to the seat insert and seat bolster of a 1996 VF series I Holden Commodore — the same car Mr Edwards had been issued by his work at the time.

That car was remarkably found by police in December 2016, and a comparison of fibres was carried out.

Ms Barbagallo said the fibres found on Ms Rimmer could not be linked directly to that car but they were from the same make and model.

CIARA GLENNON

Ciara Glennon.Picture: Supplied

Ms Glennon went missing after some late-night revellers saw her walking near Hungry Jack’s on Stirling Highway and then talking to the occupant of a late-model, white Holden Commodore.

On that same night, Mr Edwards was supposed to spend the night in Dawesville with friends. But he didn’t show up until the next morning, telling his friends he was trying to reconcile with his wife that night. That was a lie, the court was told.

Rather, Mr Edwards was allegedly snatching Ms Glennon, slitting her throat and dumping her body in Eglinton.

When her body was found 18 days later, the method of covering it bore a “strikingly similar” resemblance to how Ms Rimmer’s body was covered.

Fibres on Ms Glennon’s body also matched the same make of Commodore which had apparently shed clues about Ms Rimmer’s death.

And when police examined Ms Glennon’s body they found a mixed DNA profile under her fingernail and thumb which matched her DNA and, much later, allegedly that of another person — Mr Edwards.


Claremont serial killings: Prowler in a night dress ‘first steps’

Tim ClarkeThe West Australian

Tuesday, 19 February 2019 

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-prowler-in-a-night-dress-first-steps-ng-b881110333z

Prosecutors involved in what will be WA's trial of the century revealed what will be part of their case against Bradley Robert Edwards'.

It was the escalation which prosecutors say peaked at serial killing.

The Supreme Court was told yesterday of a tightly packed, bizarre series of thefts and break-ins at addresses around Huntingdale in 1988. They involved a young man wearing a night dress, or a kimono, or both, stealing more women’s clothing, from outside or inside houses.

The incidents culminated in a horrifying attack on a young woman sleeping in her home.

But the court has been asked to find that they link directly to the murders of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon because they were committed by the same man, with the same fetishes and the same obsessions.

The Huntingdale prowler was Bradley Edwards, prosecutors claim. And so is, they say, the Claremont serial killer.

Nine times from January to October 1988, people at several premises within walking distance of the Edwards family home reported a man creeping around houses, looking to steal women’s clothing or underwear.

In January 1988, in Harpenden Street, a kimono was among several items stolen. It became crucial weeks later, and then even more crucial decades later.

On January 21, on Huntingdale Road, a prowler was spotted wearing a wraparound garment, or a sarong. On the same night, just down the road, a woman found a man standing in her spare room searching through a drawer, wearing a blue satin silk dressing-gown.

Two nights later, at the same house, there was a similar attempted break-in. On January 28, the same male was seen again.

Around this time, on Bullfinch Street, another kimono was stolen. On February 11, on the same street, a female occupant found a man in her home, who fled when he was spotted, wearing a “flowing garment”.

The prosecution alleges that all these incidents involved Mr Edwards. Ninety minutes later, on the Huntingdale Road home, the prowler tried to open the door again.

And in December 2016, latent prints taken at that house were allegedly matched to Mr Edwards.

But that was not the only match. Then came the attack in Huntingdale, which make up the first two allegations Mr Edwards faces today.

Entering through an unlocked rear door, the attacker was said to have closed the parents’ bedroom door, unplugged the phone and attacked the girl as she slept.

After sitting on her, the man straddled her, pushed a cloth in her mouth and then attacked her.

The victim said the man was wearing a white nightie — and left behind a kimono and a pair of black knotted stockings.

That kimono — the one stolen from Harpenden Street in January — was alleged to have later been found to contain DNA which has now been matched to Mr Edwards.

And later that same year, in October, another woman was set upon and assaulted, unprovoked, by a barefoot man wearing a nightdress and wearing women’s underwear on his head.

Foot impressions taken from the scene could not rule out Mr Edwards, the court was told.

The court has confirmed it would hear the prowler evidence in connection with the Huntingdale incident.

But whether it would become part of the murder case was yet to be decided.

Prosecutor paints a picture of evil

Trigger factors — inside the mind of Bradley Edwards

Self-harm pencil blow prompts 24-hour watch

3am, Mosman Park, a series of blood curdling screams

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Claremont serial killings: Bradley Robert Edwards’ pre-trial hearing day 2

Elle FarcicThe West Australian

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-bradley-robert-edwards-pre-trial-hearing-day-2-ng-b881110094z

  • ‘High-pitched screams that stopped abruptly’
  • Huntingdale prowler, silk kimono and Hollywood Hospital
  • The alleged Telstra connection
  • Accused ‘wrote unusual and depraved abduction stories’
  • Claremont accused ‘evolved into a serial killer’

It has been a day of explosive allegations as the pre-trial hearing of the accused of the Claremont serial killings finally got underway today.

Allegations were aired for the first time by the prosecution on whether propensity evidence can be used in the case against Bradley Robert Edwards.

Read a recap of today’s proceedings below. We will return tomorrow at 10am for more live coverage.

Adjourned

elle.farcic

The hearing has been adjourned until 10am tomorrow

19/02/2019 07:43

Coincidence

elle.farcic

The fact Hollywood Hospital is close to Karrakatta is "coincidental", according to the defence.

They say the assailant was at Karrakatta at 2am and the inescapable inference is that they were out to attack.

The accused was at Hollywood Hospital for a legitimate purpose

19/02/2019 07:38

Gag or cloth

elle.farcic

The defence says the attacks in Huntingdale, Karrakatta and Hollywood Hospital each have "different, distinctive, distinguishing features" as well as "one distinctive common feature and a series of other features".

The common feature is the use of a gag or cloth

Affair

 david.baker

Defence: In one version of events, in early 1996 Mr Edwards walked in on his wife and another man kissing.

19/02/2019 07:33

Differences in situations

 elle.farcic

Defence: The women in Huntingdale, Karrakatta and Hollywood Hospital were in quite different situations.

One was in her bed in her house with her parents, another was alone on the street in the early hours of the morning and another was wide awake at her desk, working in a hospital.

 


Claremont serial killings: Prowler in a night dress ‘first steps’

Tim ClarkeThe West Australian

Tuesday, 19 February 2019 

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-prowler-in-a-night-dress-first-steps-ng-b881110333z

Prosecutors involved in what will be WA's trial of the century revealed what will be part of their case against Bradley Robert Edwards'.

It was the escalation which prosecutors say peaked at serial killing.

The Supreme Court was told yesterday of a tightly packed, bizarre series of thefts and break-ins at addresses around Huntingdale in 1988. They involved a young man wearing a night dress, or a kimono, or both, stealing more women’s clothing, from outside or inside houses.

The incidents culminated in a horrifying attack on a young woman sleeping in her home.

But the court has been asked to find that they link directly to the murders of Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon because they were committed by the same man, with the same fetishes and the same obsessions.

The Huntingdale prowler was Bradley Edwards, prosecutors claim. And so is, they say, the Claremont serial killer.

Nine times from January to October 1988, people at several premises within walking distance of the Edwards family home reported a man creeping around houses, looking to steal women’s clothing or underwear.

In January 1988, in Harpenden Street, a kimono was among several items stolen. It became crucial weeks later, and then even more crucial decades later.

On January 21, on Huntingdale Road, a prowler was spotted wearing a wraparound garment, or a sarong. On the same night, just down the road, a woman found a man standing in her spare room searching through a drawer, wearing a blue satin silk dressing-gown.

Two nights later, at the same house, there was a similar attempted break-in. On January 28, the same male was seen again.

Around this time, on Bullfinch Street, another kimono was stolen. On February 11, on the same street, a female occupant found a man in her home, who fled when he was spotted, wearing a “flowing garment”.

The prosecution alleges that all these incidents involved Mr Edwards. Ninety minutes later, on the Huntingdale Road home, the prowler tried to open the door again.

And in December 2016, latent prints taken at that house were allegedly matched to Mr Edwards.

But that was not the only match. Then came the attack in Huntingdale, which make up the first two allegations Mr Edwards faces today.

Entering through an unlocked rear door, the attacker was said to have closed the parents’ bedroom door, unplugged the phone and attacked the girl as she slept.

After sitting on her, the man straddled her, pushed a cloth in her mouth and then attacked her.

The victim said the man was wearing a white nightie — and left behind a kimono and a pair of black knotted stockings.

That kimono — the one stolen from Harpenden Street in January — was alleged to have later been found to contain DNA which has now been matched to Mr Edwards.

And later that same year, in October, another woman was set upon and assaulted, unprovoked, by a barefoot man wearing a nightdress and wearing women’s underwear on his head.

Foot impressions taken from the scene could not rule out Mr Edwards, the court was told.

The court has confirmed it would hear the prowler evidence in connection with the Huntingdale incident.

But whether it would become part of the murder case was yet to be decided.

Prosecutor paints a picture of evil

Trigger factors — inside the mind of Bradley Edwards

Self-harm pencil blow prompts 24-hour watch

3am, Mosman Park, a series of blood curdling screams

Sign up to our online newsletter to keep up-to-date with the Claremont serial killings case


Claremont serial killings:

Bradley Edwards trigger factors —

inside the mind of an accused man

Gabrielle Knowles and Kate CampbellThe West Australian

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-bradley-edwards-trigger-factors-inside-the-mind-of-an-accused-man-ng-b881110747z




Bradley Edwards in the dock.Picture: Supplied

A socially awkward teenager with a fetish for wearing — and stealing — women’s underwear became a man with an “obsessive sexual interest in the abduction, imprisonment and forcible rape of women”, the WA Supreme Court was told yesterday.

The picture painted of Bradley Robert Edwards by prosecutors yesterday was of a man who started as a night-time prowler in his home suburb of Huntingdale as a 19-year-old and evolved into a violent rapist and triple murderer by his 20s.

Prosecutors say that each of those later violent crimes — as well as an attack on a social worker at Hollywood Hospital in 1990 — came when Mr Edwards was experiencing emotional upheaval in his life, including his first wife leaving him for another man and becoming pregnant to him.

Carmel Barbagallo said she was not alleging the immense personal stress was “causative” of his offending but argued he had a tendency to take out his frustrations on women who were strangers, not those he was involved with.

When Sarah Spiers disappeared in January 1996, the marriage was over and Mr Edwards’ wife had moved out of the marital home, Ms Barbagallo said, adding that during the time line covering all three alleged murders Mr Edwards was living alone in his former marital home.

In May 1996, Ms Barbagallo said, Mr Edwards’ first wife told him she was pregnant to the man she left him for.

Jane Rimmer was abducted and killed the following month.

During October to December 1996 Mr Edwards had a sexual relationship with a woman 20 years his senior but ended the relationship when she wanted more from him.

Ms Barbagallo told the court Mr Edwards met his second wife in 1997 — in the weeks after he allegedly murdered Ciara Glennon.

She said Mr Edwards was not alleged to have committed any crimes since then.

His lawyer Paul Yovich said it was a big jump to go from Mr Edwards’ supposed “emotional upset” to killing three women, and Justice Stephen Hall also quizzed prosecutors about how they intended to rely on his alleged state of mind.

Details also emerged yesterday about Mr Edwards’ alleged tendency to masturbate into sandwich bags and then tie them up with women’s hair ties.

Ms Barbagallo said that when police searched Mr Edwards’ home after his arrest in December 2016, they found a box containing homemade sex toys and women’s undergarments that had holes cut out for male genitalia, with DNA on those items matching Mr Edwards.

She said this demonstrated that his fetish for women’s clothing was “entrenched and longstanding”, stretching back to at least when he was a teen.

Ms Barbagallo also said Mr Edwards was a man “who has evolved” from his days as a Huntingdale prowler. At the time he allegedly stalked the streets and homes of nearby strangers, he lived with his parents and was described in court as a socially awkward teenager. Mr Yovich told the court that a relative had walked in on him in their room when he was 14 and there might have been some suggestion of him going through drawers and that some of his peers indicated he had a collection of women’s clothing. But he disagreed that it pointed to the start of a longstanding fetish.

Depraved first-person stories about women being abducted and sexually assaulted also found on devices in Mr Edwards’ home bore striking similarities to his alleged offending, Ms Barbagallo told the court.

The prosecutor mentioned certain “violent erotica” documents, called “Chloe’s story”, “Sophie’s story” and “Nicola’s story”, that Mr Edwards is alleged to have possessed, authored or contributed to.

“Chloe’s story”, Ms Barbagallo says, depicts a man abducting a woman, stripping her of her clothes, binding her and sexually assaulting her. The prosecutor said this story had “marked similarities” to the 1995 Karrakatta abduction and rape of which Mr Edwards is accused.

She also said “Nicola’s story” had a male narrator who was portrayed as “driving around 2am and abducting a visibly drunk 19-year-old”.

“The content of (these stories) is unusual and depraved, that the idea that somebody that’s arrested and charged in respect of these matters is ultimately found to have stories that are similar ... to some of the activities that we say he has engaged in is quite striking,” Ms Barbagallo said.

She could not confirm with Justice Stephen Hall when the stories were first created or downloaded but said modifications were made to them between July 17, 2014 and December 11, 2016 — the latter just 11 days before he was arrested at his Kewdale home.

Justice Hall noted the details set out by Ms Barbagallo were “all allegations” and that no evidence had been put before the court at this stage.


Claremont serial killings:

Painting a picture of evil with a torrent of allegations

Tim ClarkeThe West Australian

Tuesday, 19 February 2019

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-painting-a-picture-of-evil-with-a-torrent-of-allegations-ng-b881109806z

 

Prosecutors involved in what will be WA's trial of the century revealed what will be part of their case against Bradley Robert Edwards'.

Finally, after 23 years, a million pieces of paper and almost as many theories, rumours and anecdotes, what could be the case against the Claremont serial killer was finally revealed yesterday.

Following two false starts, the pre-trial directions for the trial of the accused, Bradley Robert Edwards, brought forth a torrent of allegations from lead prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo.

They alleged a picture of Mr Edwards, 50, as evolving from an awkward, socially isolated boy with a fetish for women’s underwear to a prowler, then rapist and finally a killer.

It also revealed that in 1990, Mr Edwards was caught and admitted attacking a woman as she worked in Hollywood Hospital but kept his job at Telstra — which the State says will help prove WA Police have caught the man who killed Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

Finally, after 23 years, a million pieces of paper and almost as many theories, rumours and anecdotes, what could be the case against the Claremont serial killer was finally revealed yesterday.

Following two false starts, the pre-trial directions for the trial of the accused, Bradley Robert Edwards, brought forth a torrent of allegations from lead prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo.

They alleged a picture of Mr Edwards, 50, as evolving from an awkward, socially isolated boy with a fetish for women’s underwear to a prowler, then rapist and finally a killer.

It also revealed that in 1990, Mr Edwards was caught and admitted attacking a woman as she worked in Hollywood Hospital but kept his job at Telstra — which the State says will help prove WA Police have caught the man who killed Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

  • Prowler in a night dress ‘first steps’
  • Trigger factors — inside the mind of Bradley Edwards
  • Self-harm pencil blow prompts 24-hour watch
  • 3am, Mosman Park, a series of blood curdling screams
  • Sign up to our online newsletter to keep up-to-date with the Claremont serial killings case

With Ms Glennon’s parents and sister in the public gallery for a day they must have thought may never come, the string of allegations — which may or may not make up part of the evidence heard at trial — were read out.

It was, by any measure, a momentous few moments.

Beginning in 1988, Ms Barbagallo said that she wanted to allege that Mr Edwards prowled an area a kilometre around his family’s home in Huntingdale, wearing — and stealing — women’s clothing.

Spotted wearing kimonos, satin night gowns — and in one case underwear on his head — the then teenager was said to be building up to an attack on a young woman in her house, while her parents slept nearby.

On February 15, 1988, the teenage girl — who was aware of Mr Edwards through her brother but did not know him — was accosted in her bedroom, subdued and gagged, the prosecution alleges.

No one was ever caught but the court was told that a kimono, which was found dumped at the scene, became crucial nearly 30 years later when it was tested — and Mr Edwards’ DNA was allegedly found on it.

Latent prints from one of the break-ins were also matched to Mr Edwards and foot impressions from the time did not rule him out.

Ms Barbagallo said Mr Edwards was the prowler and the attacker, with a “fetish” for collecting women’s underwear.

In 1990, it emerged that he also had developed a taste for grabbing lone, vulnerable women.

A day after being told by his then wife that she had been unfaithful to him early in their relationship, Mr Edwards went to work at Hollywood Hospital and grabbed a social worker from behind before trying to drag her away. She fought him off. He was arrested, charged and convicted of common assault.

But Mr Edwards did not lose his job. And by the mid-1990s, it is alleged he was prowling again — this time in his car.

“We say this is the manner in which he goes about identifying his victims in Claremont ... he prowls in Huntingdale and he prowls in Claremont,” Ms Barbagallo said.

Mr Edwards is said to be the man who was driving around the Claremont area in his Telstra work vehicle offering a series of lone women lifts.

The court was told that he allegedly told one woman that “he was looking for damsels in distress like her”.

On five occasions between 1995 and 1996, a man in a Telstra van — or who said he worked for the telco — made such offers to women, the prosecution claimed.

On one of the occasions in question, the woman was followed, grabbed and kissed. Another said she got into the vehicle believing it to be a taxi.

In the same time span, Mr Edwards is also accused of the brutal abduction and rape of a teenage girl who was tied up and dumped in Karrakatta Cemetery.

DNA from the attack has been matched to Mr Edwards, the court was told.

Less than a year later, the first Claremont murder happened, followed by two more.

Prosecutors said the DNA linked Mr Edwards to Ms Glennon’s body and fibres from his work car also connected him to her.

Pornographic material found on Mr Edwards’ electronic devices more than two decades later allegedly showed that he had an “obsessive sexual interest in the abduction and rape of women”.

The court was told that stories that he was editing up until two weeks before his arrest were about the abduction of women or about having non-consensual sex with women.

When police searched Mr Edwards’ Kewdale home, they allegedly found homemade sex toys and stockings with holes cut in them.

Allegations of a peccadillo of wearing stockings and masturbating into sandwich bags while wearing women’s undergarments was revealed.

The break-up of Mr Edwards’ tumultuous first marriage was also revealed.

Ms Barbagallo said that in January 1996, Mr Edwards’ first wife told him that she was having an affair, that their marriage was over and she was leaving.

In May 1996, Mr Edwards learnt that his wife was pregnant to her new partner.

“We are not saying it was causative but it is significant to the timing of things,” Ms Barbagallo said.

Justice Stephen Hall pointed out that all of the allegations were just assertions with no evidence presented to the court from the prosecution, which will spend two more days trying to convince him that it all fits together, that it all relates to each other and that it should all be considered when the matter comes to trial.

Mr Edwards’ lawyer Paul Yovich believes otherwise. In his opening salvo in what will be a year’s worth of legal to-and-fro, he started by questioning what relevance a creepy prowler on foot in 1988 had to a mystery man in a car offering women lifts almost 10 years later.

“Stealing women’s underwear in 1988 does not have any relevance to murdering women,” Mr Yovich said. He also queried the prosecutor’s assertion that Mr Edwards had a close affinity to Claremont at the time of the murders, saying they would need a lot more evidence than an ATM receipt and a few drinks at the OBH.

How the evidence cross matches will be argued this week. How those arguments are settled by Justice Hall will be a significant step toward the eventual start of the trial in July

Prowler in a night dress ‘first steps’

Trigger factors — inside the mind of Bradley Edwards

Self-harm pencil blow prompts 24-hour watch

3am, Mosman Park, a series of blood curdling screams

Sign up to our online newsletter to keep up-to-date with the Claremont serial killings case


Claremont serial murders: 

‘Stories of interest’ found on murder accused Bradley Edwards’ computer

Elle FarcicPerthNow

December 18, 2018 

https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-murders-stories-of-interest-found-on-murder-accused-bradley-edwards-computer-ng-b881054116z

Police investigating the Claremont serial killings found “stories of interest” that had been written or downloaded by accused man Bradley Robert Edwards when they searched his computers, a court has been told.

Mr Edwards, 50, was charged with murdering Ciara Glennon, Jane Rimmer and Sarah Spiers in the mid-1990s after police searched his Kewdale home in December 2016.

He was also charged with committing sex attacks on teenagers in 1988 and 1995.

The former Telstra worker appeared in the Supreme Court today by videolink from Hakea Prison for a monthly case management hearing to check on the progress of his case.

Prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo told the court a number of stories allegedly authored or downloaded by Mr Edwards were found on electronic devices in his home.

It's the longest running police investigation in Australian history. Here's what we know about the Claremont serial killer story so far.

She said one or two stories had been disclosed to the defence and there were another four or five that were of interest to the prosecution.

Defence lawyer Paul Yovich said he would object to the State leading “selective material” from electronic devices, primarily on the basis of relevance.

He said the date the material was said to be “created, downloaded, accessed, whatever” was of fundamental importance to the defence.

Mr Yovich said he had recently received up to 45,000 pages of material relating to fibre evidence and up to 60,000 pages on DNA evidence.

Tentative dates had been set aside for Mr Edward’s nine-month trial starting from May 1, but today the start date was pushed back to July 22.

Justice Stephen Hall, who will preside over the judge-alone trial, said the May start day was no longer feasible given the amount of material.

He said if the trial ran through December next year and January 2020 he would work through and would not take a break until it finished.

Ms Barbagallo told the court Mr Edwards had worked for Telstra all his life and said every aspect of his employment was being investigated, from his personal leave to the cars he used.

She said police were trying to obtain statements from 20 taxi drivers who owned or drove certain vehicles between particular dates.

Mr Yovich told the court he would make a severance application to have two of Mr Edwards’ charges heard separately.

Mr Edwards will appear in court again in January.

Claremont serial killings:

Day 2 of Bradley Robert Edwards’ pre-trial hearing

Elle FarcicThe West Australian

Wednesday, 20 February 2019

https://thewest.com.au/news/claremont-serial-killings/claremont-serial-killings-bradley-robert-edwards-pre-trial-hearing-day-3-ng-b881111226z

  • Prosecutor paints a picture of evil
  • Prowler in a night dress ‘first steps’
  • Trigger factors — inside the mind of Bradley Edwards
  • Self-harm pencil blow prompts 24-hour watch
  • 3am, Mosman Park, a series of blood curdling screams
  • Sign up to our online newsletter to keep up-to-date with the Claremont serial killings case

Following explosive allegations in Tuesday’s proceedings Bradley Robert Edwards is back in court this morning for the resumption of his pre-trial hearing.

Allegations were aired in the Supreme Court for the first time yesterday as the prosecution argued for propensity evidence to be used in the case.

For all of today’s proceedings follow the minute-by-minute coverage live, below from 10am.

20/02/2019 06:37

Adjourned

elle.farcic

The hearing has been adjourned. Mr Edwards will appear in the Supreme Court again on March 20.

His nine-month trial is due to start in July.

Judge: My decision on the matters raised in the pre-trial hearing could be ready before March 20. If that is the case I will publish them to the parties.

Mr Edwards has been remanded in custody

20/02/2019 06:33

Challenging evidence

elle.farcic

Judge: Matters of substance really need to be sorted out prior to the trial so as not to derail it.

Challenges to DNA evidence are reasonably pressing. In my experience it involves complicated and lengthy evidence.

Defence: "That can go at the top of the shopping list, Your Honour

20/02/2019 06:31

Objections elle.farcic

Defence: A question will arise about objections to "bits and pieces" in witness statements all the way through.

That process of identifying objections has been underway for some time - over the past year or more.

20/02/2019 06:31

Experts

david.baker

Defence: The fibre experts have been briefed. I think it's likely we will have to engage computer experts

20/02/2019 06:27

Progress check elle.farcic

Justice Hall is now taking the opportunity to check on the progress of the case.

 


The serial killings that shocked a city to its core

The disappearance of three young women from the upmarket suburb of Claremont in the mid-1990s changed the face of Perth. Two decades later, a man faces court charged with their murders

By Andrea Mayes

The disappearance of three young women from the upmarket suburb of Claremont in the mid-1990s changed the face of Perth. Two decades later, a man faces court charged with their murders

The disappearance of three young women from the upmarket suburb of Claremont in the mid-1990s changed the face of Perth. Two decades later, a man faces court charged with their murders


Wed 28 Feb 2018, 

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-28/how-the-claremont-serial-killings-shocked-perth-to-its-core/9490836

It's a horrifying mystery that has haunted Perth for decades and become a dark stain on the city's psyche.

How three young women in the prime of their lives could disappear from a popular nightspot in Perth's wealthy western suburbs seemed beyond belief.

The fact that the crimes have remained unsolved for more than two decades added an element of grim fascination, fuelling endless speculation over water coolers and barbeques.

This is a case that has gripped the city like no other.

Their names are forever etched in our minds — Sarah Spiers, Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer


Three women who disappeared from Claremont, Perth, between 1996 and 1997 from left to right: Sarah Spiers, Ciara Glennon, and Jane Rimmer.

ABC NEWS

Sarah, the youngest victim and the only one whose body has never been found, was still a teenager when she disappeared. Just 18, she was just one of countless people celebrating Australia Day with mates on the night of January 26, 1996, when she vanished.

Jane Rimmer, a 23-year-old childcare worker, went missing six months later. Like Sarah, she had enjoyed drinks with friends at the same two popular pubs in the affluent suburbs of Cottesloe and Claremont.

When young lawyer Ciara Glennon also disappeared from Claremont nine months later, it was clear something was very amiss in Perth.

Chapter 1

A city on the move

Perth in the 1990s was beginning to grow up.

No longer a sleepy backwater — that image was buried a decade earlier when the spectacle of the Americas Cup threw a global spotlight on the city — Perth was consolidating its place in the world.

Perth had come of age by the 1990s.

RICHARD WOLDENDORP: STATE LIBRARY OF WA

By the mid-1990s WA had its first female premier in Carmen Lawrence, its resources industry was expanding into a national powerhouse and two teams had been successfully launched in the AFL.

The corporate excesses of the 1980s were a thing of the past, with the imprisonment of Brian Burke following the WA Inc Royal Commission and the bankruptcy of Alan Bond.

Few could have predicted this burgeoning metropolis would be harbouring a serial killer in its suburbs.

Claremont was a popular nightspot in the 1990s, and not just for those from the affluent western suburbs.

Students from the nearby University of Western Australia and surfers wanting to party after a day at Cottesloe beach mixed with locals who flocked after-hours to Claremont, which enjoyed a reputation as a party mecca.

Then suddenly, everything changed.

Chapter Two


A woman goes missing

On January 27, 1996, 18-year-old Sarah Spiers disappeared after a night out in the wealthy enclave.


Sarah Spiers had been celebrating Australia Day with friends when she disappeared.

FAIRFAX MEDIA

The fun-loving teenager had been celebrating Australia Day with a group of girlfriends, beginning their evening at the popular Ocean Beach Hotel in Cottesloe.

Sarah's older sister, Amanda, picked up the group at midnight from the "Obie", as it's colloquially known, and dropped them in Claremont, where they headed to Club Bayview to continue the fun.

The nightclub — which continues to operate today — was in its heyday from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. It was affectionately known as "Clubba" or "Club Bayspew" to its alcohol-fuelled 18- to 25-year-old clientele, who partied up a storm on its shaky dancefloor and sticky carpet.

It had been a big day for Sarah, who'd been socialising for many hours by this time and was beginning to get tired. She told her girlfriends she'd catch a taxi home.

She stopped to have a brief chat outside the club with the security guards, one of whom she knew quite well, then walked down to the phone box on Stirling Road, near the intersection of Stirling Highway, where she called a cab.

A couple of young men driving past would later report to police they'd seen the young secretary standing at the corner of Stirling Highway and Stirling Street, apparently waiting for the taxi.

But when the taxi arrived, just three minutes after she called for it, Sarah could not be found.

She was never seen again.

Sarah Spiers called for a taxi from this phone box on the night she disappeared.

ABC NEWS

Chapter Three   


A second victim




Jane Rimmer was last seen outside the Continental Hotel.

FAIRFAX MEDIA

Five months later, in the early hours of June 9, 1996, 23-year-old childcare worker Jane Rimmer vanished from the same area.

Like Sarah Spiers before her, Jane had begun her evening with friends at the Ocean Beach Hotel in Cottesloe.

The group stayed there for about an hour before jumping in a taxi to travel the 3.5 kilometres to Claremont, arriving around 9:30pm at their destination — the Continental Hotel.

Sitting on the corner of Bayview Terrace and Gugeri Street, the historic Continental Hotel — known simply as "the Conti" to a generation of young people — was good times central during the 1990s.

The Continental Hotel in Claremont has long been a popular drinking spot.

ABC NEWS

After a couple of hours enjoying themselves at the pub, Jane and her mates headed to Club Bayview — the same place Sarah Spiers left her friends before disappearing.

But they changed their minds when they saw the long queue outside, deciding instead to head back to the suburbs to party at a friend's house.

As they reached the taxi rank outside the Continental, Jane suddenly decided she'd rather stay out, telling her mates she was going back to the pub.

More than a decade later, police would release chilling CCTV footage of Jane standing outside the Continental shortly after midnight.

The grainy vision shows an unidentified man approaching the young blonde woman, whose face lights up when she sees him.

They appear to converse before the camera pans to another part of the pub. When the recording returns to where she has been standing, both she and the mystery man have disappeared.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

VIDEO 0:11 

CCTV vision of Jane Rimmer's final moments

ABC NEWS

Immediately concerns were raised the cases were linked — sending shockwaves through the community.

Jane's family had reported her missing when she failed to turn up work on Monday morning, having also been a no-show at the family's weekly Sunday roast lunch, and police were quick to act.

The Macro Taskforce was set up to investigate and would go on to become the longest-running and most expensive police probe in the state's history, involving hundreds of officers and thousands of suspects.

Hundreds of people who were identified as being in Claremont at the time were interviewed as police scrutinised CCTV footage in minute detail. DNA swabs were taken from all of Perth's taxi drivers.

As fear grew in Claremont and the wider Perth community, police appealed for help from the public.

Young women were repeatedly warned not to walk alone at night and people became fearful to take taxis.

Six weeks after she disappeared, Jane Rimmer's body was found in bushland in Wellard, 40km south of the CBD.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

VIDEO 0:12 

Police at Wellard, where Jane Rimmer's body was found

ABC NEWS

The gruesome discovery was made by a woman out picking wildflowers with her young child.

Sarah Spiers's family, meanwhile, were no closer to knowing what happened to their daughter.

Large billboard posters featuring her image were plastered around the city and flyers were handed out, but there was no breakthrough in the case.

A Sarah Spiers missing poster held up by a detective during a press conference at police headquarters in East Perth.

ABC NEWS

Chapter Four

Death returns to Claremont

Ciara Glennon had recently returned to Perth from a European holiday.

FAIRFAX MEDIA

Like Sarah Spiers and Jane Rimmer before her, 27-year-old Ciara Glennon had been drinking in Claremont before her disappearance.

The young lawyer had recently returned from a year-long European holiday and was back home in Perth for her sister's wedding in March 1997, where she was to be a bridesmaid.

She had returned to her old job as a solicitor and was enjoying after-work drinks with colleagues at the Continental Hotel on the night of Friday, March 14 — a night that was documented in a police re-enactment of her final moments.

PauseGIF0.8 MBSettings

GIF:Ciara Glennon's final moments re-enactment

Just before midnight Ciara told her workmates she was heading home, and walked down Bay View Terrace to Stirling Highway.

A man sitting at a bus stop called out to her that she was "crazy" for hitchhiking, but Ciara dismissed him with a wave.

On Stirling Highway, Ciara walked past the Claremont Baptist Church and was seen talking with the occupant of a light-coloured car near the traffic lights at the intersection with Stirling Street.

The man at the bus stop described her leaning over to talk to whoever was in the car.

But when he turned to look back, both Ciara and the car were gone.



When Ciara Glennon failed to turn up to a hairdressing appointment the next day, then missed her sister's hen's party, the young lawyer's family called police.

Three weeks later, her body was found, partially clothed, in bushland at Eglinton, north of Perth.

Police started openly talking about what everyone feared.

GIF:Perth police voice Claremont killer fears

Chapter 5

A stain across a suburb

Claremont, for a while at least, stopped being Perth's premier place to party.

It remained the home of Perth's monied elite, who continued to send their sons and daughters to the suburb's prestigious Christ Church Grammar and Methodist Ladies College, but a pall had been cast over the area.

For a time, young people in Perth were not only wary about catching taxis, they were nervous about going out at all.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

VIDEO 0:16 

Interviews with women in wake of serial killings

ABC NEWS

But as the years and then the decades went by, the case grew cold.

There were several reviews of the investigation and police openly targeted a number of suspects, who were later ruled out.

But the people of Perth never forgot the shocking nature of what happened.

While the blithe optimism of youth overcame fear and revellers returned to their favourite nightspots, the events remained scarred in people's minds over the subsequent decades.

As Sarah Spiers's family eloquently put it on the 20th anniversary of her disappearance.



Sarah Spiers's father Don Spiers (right) with WA Attorney-General John Quigley.

ABC NEWS: ANDREW O'CONNOR

It's hard not to wonder what Sarah's life, and ours, could have been had she not been taken from us.

Perth is a vastly different place in 2018 to what it was in the mid-1990s.

The city looks markedly altered, thanks to a building frenzy funded by a mining boom, there are a multitude of new cool nightspots dotted with small bars.


Perth has grown into a bustling modern city following the mining boom.

FLICKR.COM: KARL DINNINGTON

But the horror of the Claremont serial killings never went away.

Every time a body was found for the ensuing two decades, it brought hopes that it would be Sarah Spiers.

But there was a growing resignation that the case may never be solved.

Chapter 6

After 20 years, a breakthrough

In December 2016, out of the blue, police raided an unassuming home in the eastern Perth suburb of Kewdale.


Police arrested Bradley Robert Edwards at his Kewdale house.

ABC NEWS: ROBERT KOENIG-LUCK

It would be many hours before police confirmed that the huge number of heavily armed Tactical Response Group officers and forensic staff swarming around the property were investigating the Claremont serial killings — but rumours of a link began circulating almost immediately.

The city held its breath.


Bradley Robert Edwards was charged with the murders of Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon in 2016.

FACEBOOK: KLAC

Finally, more than 24 hours later, police announced they had charged Telstra technician Bradley Robert Edwards, 48, with murdering both Ciara Glennon and Jane Rimmer.

Now well into middle age, Mr Edwards would have been the same age as Ciara when she disappeared, and not too much older than Jane.


Bradley Edwards was last week also charged with the murder of Sarah Spiers.

FACEBOOK: KLAC

He was also charged over sexual attacks on two other young women, including the alleged rape of a 17-year-old at Karrakatta cemetery in Shenton Park in 1995.

Police say the teen was snatched as she walked through a park in Claremont and sexually assaulted at the nearby cemetery.


Bradley Edwards also faces two charges of sexually assaulting two other young women in the 1990s.

FACEBOOK: KLAC

Several years beforehand, in 1988, Mr Edwards was also alleged to have entered the bedroom of an 18-year-old girl in the southern Perth suburb of Huntingdale — the other side of the city and a world away from Claremont — and attacked her while she slept.

He has made several court appearances since his arrest, but is yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Then police announced Mr Edwards had also been charged with Sarah Spiers's murder.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.

VIDEO 3:03 

Police Commissioner announces breakthrough in Sarah Spiers case

ABC NEWS

Coming just days before Mr Edwards was set to face court to enter a plea, it threw a glaring national spotlight back on the case.

For the victims' families — and the city of Perth — this tragic story still has a way to run.

Credits

Reporting: Andrea Mayes

Research and video: Tracey Stewart

Production: Andrea Mayes and Liam Phillips

Editor: Liam Phillips

 

 


Further Background on Donald Morey Aka
Matusevich 


https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/australia-claremont-serial-killer-1996-1997-perth-western-australia-6.318778/page-18

David Williams <yourfreenews2@gmail.com>

 

Mon, Feb 25, 4:46 PM

 

 

to me

 

 

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19750925&id=QuBUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=P5IDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3838,5604554&hl=en

The Age - Sep 25, 1975  

Two convicts found gulty of axe-killing

Two Pentridge prisoners were found guilty in the Criminal Court last night of having murdered another prisoner, found bashed to death with an axe.

Claude Joseph Thompson, 24, laborer, of Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, and Donald Victor Matusevich, 20, cook, of Beachgrove Street, Mornington, were sentenced to gaol for the term of their natural life.

Both pleaded not guilty to charges of having murdered Graeme John Whateley, 28, at Pentridge on November 12 last.

Whately was found guilty to charges of having murdered Graeme John Whateley, 28, at Pentridge on November 12 last.

Whateley was found lying on bed with severe head injuries. there also had been an attempt to strangle him.

The Crown alleged that Thompson and Matusevich bashed Whately to death with an axe

The court was told that the three were working as clerks in a hospital ward at Pentridge.

Whateley had been transferred to Pentridge from Ararat and was waiting to be taken to another gaol.

Evidence was given that a prisoner who escaped from Ararat gaol was recaptured soon after with the help of information provided by Whateley.

The Crown alleged that Thompson and Matusevich planned to try to escape and saw Whateley as an obstacle to their plan.

Prison officers told the court that on the night Whately was killed, attempts were made to escape from the hospital ward.

They said a TV set was removed from a wall, attempts were made to bach holes in the ceieling and the toilet wall, and a fireplace unit was removed, apparently to investigate the possibility of getting out via the chimney.

In alleged records on an interview with police given to the court, both accused admitted having killed Whately.

Matusevich gave sworn evidence at the trial that he took no part of the attack.

He (Matusevich) said Thompson went berserk with the axe.

He (Matusevich) said he had no recollection of making the record of the interview because he (Matusevich) took some tablets after the incident.

Counsel for Thompson called two psychiatrists and one psychologist, who gave evidence that Thompson had a history of psychiatric illness and admitted in the past to other crimes he did not commit.

The doctors said that if he had killed Whately. if was possible that he was insane at the time.

After a trial before Mr Justice Murray, the jury of seven women and five men took about eight and a half hours to reach a verdict.

Mr. Philip P.C. Martin prosecuted, Mr. K. H. Marks, QC, with Mr. Mr H. J. casey, appeared for Matusevich, Mr Philip Dunn, with Mr. P.J. Cahill, appeared for Thompson.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19770913&id=qncQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YJIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1893,3347410&hl=en

The Age - Sep 13, 1977 

 Convict cleared of 1974 axe murder

by David Withington

A man last night won his two-year fight and was cleared of the axe killing of a Pentridge prisoner.

"it's been just like a nightmare," Mr. Donald Victor Matusevich, 22 said outside the Criminal Court.

"It's something you can't express in words. I'm just so happy that it's over."

" the last few years have been very hard, knowing that I'm innocent," he (Donald Victor Matusevich) said.

Mr. Donald Victor Matusevich's fight to clear himself began in September 1975, when a Criminal Court jury found him guilty of murder.

He (Donald Victor Matusevich) lost his appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal but, in July this year (1977), the High Court granted a re-trial.

After deliberating for seven hours, the second jury acquitted him (Donald Victor Matusevich).

Mr. Justice Murphy ordered his (Donald Victor Matusevich) release from Custody as he has completed the sentence he was serving at the time of the killing.

Mr. Donald Victor Matusevich had pleaded not guilty to murdering Graeme John Whately, 28, who was based to death in the Pentridge hospital ward on November 13, 1974.

The Crown alleged he and another prisoner, Claude Joseph Thompson, repeatedly hit Whately over the head with an axe.

On September, 24, 11975, the two were found guilty of murder.

Mr. Donald Victor Matusevich won his High Court appeal on the grounds that he had been improperly cross-examined on his prior convictions and the jury had been misdirected on two points of law.

Thompson had his conviction quashed last year by the Court of Criminal Appeal on the ground that the trial judge, Mr Justice Murray, had misdirected the jury on the law relating to insanity.

He (Claude Joseph Thompson) was found not guilty on the ground of insanity and ordered to be held in strict Custody.

On April 6th, this year (1977) he (Claude Joseph Thompson) was found hanged.

 



MATUSEVICH v. THE QUEEN HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA Gibbs, Stephen, Mason, Murphy and Aickin JJ.
MATUSEVICH v. THE QUEEN
(1977) 137 CLR 633
22 June 1977

Criminal Law (Vict.)

Criminal Law (Vict.)—Murder—Concert—Capacity to act in concert—Whether sane person can be guilty of acting in concert with insane person—Direction to jury—Evidence—Character and previous convictions of accused—Cross- examination—Accused establishing own good character—Permission of judge required for prosecutor to ask questions tending to show bad character or commission of previous offences—Evidence by one accused against another charged with same offence—Cross-examination by prosecutor—Permission not obtained—Whether Crown may cross-examine as to character or previous convictions where accused gives evidence against co-accused—Substantial miscarriage of justice—Crimes Act 1958 (Vict.), s. 399 proviso (e).

Decisions

Orders


Application for special leave to appeal granted. 

Appeal allowed. 

Order that verdict of guilty of and conviction for murder and sentence thereon by the Supreme Court of Victoria be quashed and in lieu thereof order that the matter be remitted to that Court for retrial. 


1977, June 22.
The following written judgments were delivered:-
GIBBS J. The facts of this case are fully set out in the judgment of Aickin J. In my opinion the applicant was wrongly asked in cross-examination by counsel for the Crown questions which tended to show that he had been convicted of offences other than those with which he was charged and that he was of bad character. The evidence thus elicited was not only inadmissible but was prejudicial to the applicant. It cannot rightly be said that no substantial miscarriage of justice occured, and the conviction should not be allowed to stand. On these matters I agree with the judgment of Aickin J. and cannot usefully add anything to what he has said. (at p636)

2. It is unnecessary to deal with the question whether the learned trial judge gave a proper warning as to the effect of the evidence so admitted. I would content myself by saying that I respectfully agree with the remarks made by Barwick C.J. in Donnini v. The Queen (1972) 128 CLR 114, at p 123 as to the duty of a trial judge when evidence of this kind is admitted. (at p636)

3. Since there may be a new trial I shall briefly express my views on certain other questions that have been raised. It was submitted on behalf of the applicant that the fact that the other accused man (Thompson) was insane meant that the jury could not properly find that the two accused acted in concert. The law as to the liability of persons who act in concert in committing a crime was stated by Smith J. in Reg. v. Lowery and King (No. 2) (1972) VR 560, at p 560 as follows:

"The law says that if two or more persons reach an understanding or arrangement that together they will commit a crime and then, while that understanding or arrangement is still on foot and has not been called off, they are both present at the scene of the crime and one or other of them does, or they do between them, in accordance with their understanding or arrangement, all the things that are necessary to constitute the crime, they are all equally guilty of that crime regardless of what part each played in its commission."
What is necessary, for this principle to apply, is that the two or more persons concerned had a common design, or in other words had formed a common intention and were acting together in a common enterprise to achieve an object which was in law criminal. The question whether two persons have entered into an agreement, or have made an arrangement, or formed an understanding, to pursue a particular object is simply one of fact. The circumstance that one of the persons concerned is insane is relevant to that issue, but insanity sufficient to amount to a defence to a criminal charge does not necessarily render the person whose mind is diseased incapable of making an agreement or arrangement or reaching an understanding with another. Whether insanity will have that effect will no doubt depend, amongst other things, on the form which the disease takes. For example, a man who suffers from such a defect of reason from disease of the mind as not to know that it is wrong to kill may nevertheless be quite capable of agreeing with another person to kill a third person. (at p637)

4. But if the insanity of Thompson was such that he was incapable of reaching any agreement, arrangement or understanding with the applicant, it does not follow that the latter must be acquitted if the death of Whateley was caused by the acts of Thompson. If the applicant incited Thompson to kill Whateley, the applicant would be guilty of murder, since Thompson, if insane, would then be treated as the applicant's innocent agent. If there was no preconcert between the two accused, and the applicant did not influence Thompson to act as he did, the applicant may nevertheless be convicted if he was present and assisted Thompson when the latter struck the fatal blows. The learned trial judge directed the jury that if they found Thompson not guilty on the ground of insanity they could not find the applicant guilty of aiding and abetting. The view that a person cannot be convicted on a charge of aiding and abetting another to commit a crime when the person who actually perpetrated the criminal act was of unsound mind, and was therefore himself not criminally responsible, is supported by Reg. v. Tyler and Price (1838) 8 C &P 616 (173 ER 643) where Lord Denman C.J. told the jury that in such a case "there will be no foundation on which the accessary crime can rest" (1838) 8 C &P, at p 618 (173 ER, at p 644) . However, the reasoning in Reg. v. Bourne (1952) 36 Cr Appr R 125 suggests that there are cases in which a person may be liable for aiding and abetting another to commit a crime, although the actual perpetrator is not criminally responsible. The law on this question remains unsettled (see Reg. v. Cogan (1976) 1 QB 217, at p 222 ) but it is unnecessary to pursue the matter. If the applicant knew that Thompson intended to strike Whateley blows of considerable severity with an axe, and, himself intending that Whateley should be killed or seriously injured, assisted Thompson, the applicant would be guilty of murder. It would be an affront to justice and to common sense that Thompson's insanity should exculpate the applicant in those circumstances. If authority is needed to show that the applicant would be guilty in such a case, Reg. v. Tyler and Price provides it. Opinions may differ as to the basis of that decision. It may be that the lunatic there was regarded as the innocent agent of the accused. Or it may be that the case establishes that an accused person may act in concert with a lunatic even if the latter is, for his part, not capable of making an agreement. (at p638)

5. The jury on a new trial need not be troubled by a charge which endeavours to explain these niceties. Nor should they be asked for special findings. What would be necessary would be to instruct them clearly as to the facts of whose existence they would have to be satisfied before they could convict. If upon a new trial the jury find that Thompson and not the applicant struck the blows that killed Whateley, they may convict the applicant of murder, notwithstanding that Thompson was insane, if they are satisfied either that the two men acted in concert or that, whether there was preconcert or not, the applicant, intending that Whateley should be killed or seriously injured, procured Thompson to strike him with an axe, or assisted him when he did so. (at p638)

6. The final question that arises is whether evidence was admissible that the murdered man (Whateley) had at an earlier time informed the authorities of the escape of some prisoners from a prison at Ararat. Such evidence was admissible as tending to assist the Crown case that the applicant's motive in participating in the murder of Whateley was to prevent him from giving an alarm when the applicant and Thompson attempted to escape, because there was other evidence which, if accepted, showed that the applicant was aware that Whateley had been an informer on the earlier occasion. Of course if the jury rejected the latter evidence they could attach no weight to the former. It was submitted that the evidence was also relevant to the issue whether the applicant had made a statement to the police in the course of which he was said to have mentioned that he had heard that Whateley had been an informer. The question whether the evidence could have been used to show that the statement was made depended on whether it was established that the fact that Whateley had been an informer was unknown to the police officers who gave evidence that the applicant had made the statement. The principles governing this matter are discussed in Burns v. The Queen (1975) 132 CLR 258, at pp 263-264 . (at p639)

7. I would grant special leave to appeal, allow the appeal and order a new trial. (at p639)

STEPHEN J. I would grant special leave to appeal and would allow this appeal. I do so for the reasons stated in full in the reasons for judgment of Aickin J. with which reasons I am in agreement, as I am with those of Gibbs J. (at p639)

2. There is one aspect of that ground of appeal concerned with the cross-examination of the appellant as to prior convictions about which I wish to add something to the views already expressed. (at p639)

3. For the Crown some reliance was placed upon s. 399 (e) (iii) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vict.) as justifying the course followed in cross-examining the accused as to prior convictions. It was said that since he had given evidence against his co-accused the provisions of s. 399 (e) (iii) entitled the Crown to cross-examine as it did, the failure to seek the prior approval of the trial judge being no more than an irregularity which did not render the resultant evidence inadmissible. (at p639)

4. In my view s. 399 (e) (iii) provides no occasion for the Crown, as distinct from a co-accused, to cross-examine as to an accused's prior history. It only permits such cross-examination, in the circumstances it describes, on behalf of a co-accused against whom the accused who is sought to be cross-examined has given evidence. (at p639)
5. A course apparently inconsistent with this view appears to have been adopted at the trial in Seigley v. The King (1911) 6 Cr App R 106and was in no way remarked upon on appeal; moreover in the speeches of their Lordships in Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 are to be found views to the contrary, expressed of course in relation to the Criminal Evidence Act 1898 (Eng.). Before examining further this aspect of that decision some examination of the Victorian Act is called for, in the course of which will occur other passing references to Murdoch v. Taylor. (at p640)
6. A striking feature of par. (e) of s. 399 is its failure in sub-par. (iii) to provide the same safeguard, the requirement of prior permission of the judge, which by sub-par. (ii) it affords in the circumstances there provided for. (at p640)

7. If reasons for this important difference be sought they do not lie in any distinction turning either upon the nature of the cross-examination which each sub-paragraph permits or upon the circumstances which brings each of the sub-paragraphs into operation. In each case it is the same class of evidence which the sub-paragraphs let in, evidence of a kind inherently likely to be prejudicial to the accused; a comparison of the respective circumstances which the two sub-paragraphs predicate as rendering admissible such evidence discloses no apparent reason for the omission from sub-par. (iii) of the safeguard of the judge's permission which sub-par. (ii) affords. It is quite otherwise in the case of sub-par. (i), where the omission of the safeguard is readily apparent, having regard to the circumstances which bring it into operation. (at p640)

8. It cannot be doubted that the requirements of justice and common fairness, which require that the Crown's right to cross-examine as to prior convictions and the like should be subject to discretionary control by the trial judge, as it is in sub-par. (ii), would apply equally to any Crown cross-examination sought to be availed of under sub-par. (iii). In Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC, at p 593 Lord Donovan, with whom Lord Reid and Lord Evershed agreed, observed that should the Crown seek to cross-examine as to prior convictions, in reliance upon sub-par. (iii), the Court must retain control of the matter by requiring that the Crown's right to do so be subject always to the discretionary power of the judge, and this because the Court's duty "is to secure a fair trial and the prejudicial value of evidence establishing the accused's bad character may at times wholly outweigh the value of such evidence as tending to show that he was guilty of the crime alleged". His Lordship considered that were such control not exercised the possible unfairness which might result was such as Parliament could never have intended. Lord Pearce said (1965) AC, at p 587 that he discerned "nothing in the words of the Act which justifies any discrimination between the two subsections" (the English equivalents of sub-pars (ii) and (iii)) "on the point in issue", that is, on the need to control such cross-examination by requiring prior approval of the judge. (at p641)

9. The use that I seek to make of these passages is that they make all the more remarkable the absence from s. 399 (e) (iii) of the safeguard which appears in the immediately preceding sub-paragraph. However it is only upon the hypothesis that sub-par. (iii) applies at all to Crown cross-examination that the omission of the safeguard is inexplicable. Once depart from this hypothesis and all else falls into place. If sub-par. (iii) only operates so as to permit a co-accused, and never the Crown, to cross-examine when the circumstances which it describes are satisfied, there will then be no occasion for the safeguard; indeed its presence might well lead to positive injustice to the co-accused, he has been attacked and may, by refusal of permission to cross-examine as to his attacker's bad character, be deprived of his only avenue of defence. (at p641)

10. It was their Lordships' unequivocal recognition of the absolute right of a co-accused to cross-examine as to such matters if his fellow accused had given evidence against him that led the majority to their conclusion in Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 . As Lord Donovan said of the position of the co-accused in such a case (1965) AC, at p 593 :

"He seeks to defend himself; to say to the jury that the man who is giving evidence against him is unworthy of belief; and to support that assertion by proof of bad character. The right to do this cannot, in my opinion, be fettered in any way." (at p641)


11. To regard sub-par. (iii) as only capable of permitting cross-examination by a co-accused, and not by the Crown, is, I think, precisely what would be inferred were one to consider the apparent object of the sub-paragraph in the context of s. 399. That section takes as its model the English Criminal Evidence Act 1898, legislation which was the outcome of that compromise, to which Viscount Sankey L.C. referred to in Maxwell v. Director of Public Prosecutions (1935) AC 309, at p 317 , whereby the accused is made a competent witness and, while denied privilege against self incrimination (s. 399 (d)), is accorded protection from cross-examination as to bad character and past convictions, etc. (s. 399 (e)), subject only to the three exceptions to be found in its three sub-paragraphs. The reason for the exception is sub-par. (iii) is clear on its face: as Winn J. said when speaking for the Court of Criminal Appeal in Reg. v. Stannard (1965) 2 QB 1, at p 9"the plain effect and object of subparagraph (iii)" was not merely to qualify the immunity afforded by the paragraph generally but "is also to protect any defendant against whom a co-defendant has given evidence to the extent of enabling him to undermine the credibility of such evidence". In Murdoch v. Taylor Lord Donovan was no less clear as to the object of the sub-paragraph. He said (1965) AC, at p 590 :

"The object of proviso (f) (iii) is clearly to confer a benefit upon a co-accused. If evidence is given against him by another accused he may show, if he can, by reference to the latter's previous offences that his testimony is not worthy of belief." (at p642)


12. If this be its object, apparent upon its face, should not its operation be confined to the effecting of that object, confined, that is, to affording to a co-accused who has been attacked by a fellow accused the opportunity of defending himself by cross-examination as to bad character and the like? Its operation seems inherently unlikely to be to give, quite fortuitously, to the Crown an opportunity to cross-examine as to matters not otherwise open to it. (at p642)

13. Such an interpretation does no violence to the words of the sub-paragraph. The whole of par. (e) of s. 399 is drafted in terms of that which may and may not be asked of an accused, rather than by express reference to and identification of the party who is permitted to so ask or prevented from so asking. It is from the subject matter of each sub-paragraph that is to be ascertained the party who is to have the benefit of the exemption from the general prohibition of par. (e) which each of its subparagraphs confers. Although I know of no authority to this effect, I would think that sub-pars (i) and (ii) are for the benefit only of the Crown and not of any co-accused. Equally I would conclude from its well recognized object that sub-par. (iii) is for the benefit only of a co-accused against whom evidence has been given. In passing I would add that I regard these last few words as of importance. I do not think that when a number of persons are charged with the same offence and one of them gives evidence against one only of his co-accused other co-accused can take advantage of sub-par. (iii). The sub-paragraph operates only for the benefit of the co-accused against whom evidence has been given. (at p642)

14. It is for these reasons that I have concluded that sub-par. (iii) of s. 399 (e) can never be taken advantage of by the Crown so as to entitle it to cross-examine an accused as to the matters with which s. 399 (e) is concerned. (at p643)

15. I have earlier said that the view I take was not that which appears to have governed the course of cross-examination in Seigley v. The King (1911) 6 Cr App R 106 and does not accord with certain observations of Lord Donovan in Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 . So far as I am aware these are the only instances of judicial reference to the point and it is, in fact, stating the matter altogether too strongly to suggest that Seigley v. The King (1911) 6 Cr App R 106 involved any consideration of the question. All that occurred in that case was that at the trial in the police court the prosecution was permitted to cross-examine an accused as to prior convictions after he had given evidence against a co-accused. No objection was there taken that sub-par. (iii) did not authorize that course. The matter went on appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal and again this point was not argued. The appeal was upon quite other grounds and the most that can be said of this case is that when Hamilton J., as he then was, spoke for the Court his Lordship's judgment certainly assumed that sub-par. (iii) authorized the cross-examination which had taken place. (at p643)

16. In Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 Lord Donovan considered quite specifically and in some detail the operation of the subparagraph in relation to cross-examination by the Crown. His Lordship undoubtedly assumed that the sub-paragraph was capable of application in such circumstances. However the point does not appear to have been the subject of any argument; nor would it have been likely to have been argued since the issue before their Lordships was confined to whether or not the discretion to exclude such cross-examination, clearly enough possessed by a trial judge when the Crown seeks to cross-examine under sub-par. (ii), existed when it was a co-accused who sought to do so under sub-par. (iii) as against a fellow accused who had given evidence against him. Lord Donovan concluded that in those circumstances no discretion existed. His Lordship then turned to the different case of Crown cross-examination under sub-par. (iii) and did so only, I think, for the purpose of contrasting the Crown's position with that of a co-accused. Not only were his Lordship's observations obiter but they assumed the applicability of sub-par. (iii) and reasoned from that assumption, no examination of the initial correctness of the assumption being called for in the circumstances of that appeal. Lord Evershed agreed generally with Lord Donovan's opinion and Lord Reid expressed himself as agreeing entirely with the view of Lord Donovan on "the question of the discretion of the court". Lord Morris, in a separate opinion, reached the same conclusion on the point in issue as had Lord Donovan. Lord Pearce dissented in part and, although unassociated, I think, with his reasons for dissenting, it would seem from passages in his speech (1965) AC, at p 587 , that he made the contrary assumption to that made by Lord Donovan and regarded sub-par. (iii) as applicable only to a co-accused. However again the matter proceeds upon assumption, no examination of the point is made nor was it called for. (at p644)


17. Whatever is to be made of Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 in this respect, it is distinguishable in one important aspect. The legislation upon which it was decided, the English Act of 1898, although containing a provision in all other respects identical to par. (e) of s. 399, omits from the equivalent of sub-par. (ii) all reference to the need for prior permission of the judge, a provision to which I have attached considerable importance for the light it casts upon the meaning of s. 399 (e) (iii) of the Victorian Act. This is in itself sufficient to distinguish Murdoch v. Taylor as an authority in determining the meaning and effect of the Victorian legislation. (at p644)

18. In England it was by a series of judicial decisions that the courts, soon after the enactment of the Criminal Evidence Act, established that, despite the unqualified terms of that Act, trial judges retained a discretionary power to refuse to accord to the Crown that right to cross-examine which the English equivalent of par. (e) (iii) appeared to confer. Until 1958 (Reg. v. Rothery (1958) Crim L R 618 ) this discretionary power was applied also to the right of a coaccused under the equivalent of par. (e) (iii), but Murdoch v. Taylor now establishes the correctness of a number of recent decisions of the Court of Criminal Appeal to the effect that no discretion exists in such a case. (at p644)

19. In Victoria and in those other States having legislation in which express mention is made, in their equivalents of s. 399 (e) (iii), to permission of the trial judge, that permission is granted or withheld in the exercise of a discretion governing which well recognized principles have been evolved. If I am correct in the view which I have expressed concerning s. 399 (e) (iii) no question can arise of any exercise of discretion in relation to an application by the Crown to cross-examine, made under subpar. (iii). If, on the contrary, that subparagraph is capable of founding an application by the Crown then, consistently with Murdoch v. Taylor and despite the sub-paragraph's omission of all reference to permission of the trial judge, those same discretionary criteria will be applicable. Aickin J. has indicated in his reasons for judgment how they should, in such circumstances, be applied and with what he has said I have already expressed my agreement. (at p645)

MASON J. I would grant special leave to appeal and allow the appeal on the ground that the trial judge erred in permitting the Crown to cross-examine the accused as to his prior convictions without having previously granted leave to the Crown so to do. I do not agree with the Court of Criminal Appeal's view that if leave had been sought it probably would have been granted or that it would have been proper to grant it. The convictions were prejudical and yet it seems to me that they were not of such a kind as to seriously shake the statements made in cross-examination by the Crown witnesses that Matusevich had no prior convictions for crimes of violence. The prior convictions, though formidable, do not appear to have involved violence to the person. Accordingly, on a consideration of the prejudice to be sustained by the Crown if the statements by the Crown witnesses were left unqualified against the prejudice to be suffered by Matusevich if cross-examination on his prior convictions were permitted, the trial judge should have refused an application for leave to cross-examine had it been made. This view of the matter is borne out by the events. The cross-examination was highly prejudicial, suggesting, as it did, a propensity to commit the crime charged. For reasons which have been expressed more comprehensively by Aickin J., I agree that the cross-examination resulted in the wrongful introduction of evidence and that it cannot be said that there was no consequential miscarriage of justice. (at p645)

2. Although it is unnecessary to deal with other matters which were argued, as one question at least will certainly arise on a new trial, I wish also to express my agreement with Aickin J.'s observations respecting the directions which should have been given on the topic of Matusevich's acting in concert with an insane person in the commission of the crime charged. (at p645)

3. In the result I would grant special leave and allow the appeal. (at p645)

MURPHY J. Special leave to appeal should be granted, the appeal allowed and a new trial ordered. (at p645)

2. The applicant, Matusevich, a young man who described himself at the trial as a thief, was a prisoner at Pentridge who had applied for parole. He was placed in a cell in the prison's hospital wing with Thompson, a prisoner with a history of insanity, and Whateley, who had been moved from Ararat for his safety after he had informed the authorities there of an escape. On the night of 12th November 1974, Whateley was killed with an axe in the cell. Matusevich and Thompson were tried jointly and were both convicted of murder. (at p646)

3. At the trial, evidence prejudicial to Matusevich was admitted contrary to s. 399 (e) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vict.), which states:

"(e) a person charged and called as a witness in pursuance of
this section shall not be asked, and if asked shall not be required to answer, any question tending to show that he has committed or been convicted of or been charged with any offence other than that wherewith he is then charged, or is of bad character, unless - (i) the proof that he has committed or been convicted of such other offence is admissible evidence to show that he is guilty of the offence wherewith he is then charged; or
(ii) he has personally or by his advocate asked questions of the witnesses for the prosecution...with a view to establish his own good character, or has given evidence of his good character, or the nature or conduct of the defence is such as to involve imputations on the character of the prosecutor or the witnesses for the prosecution...: Provided that the permission of the judge (to be applied for in the absence of the jury) must first be obtained; or
(iii) he has given evidence against any other person charged with the same offence".
The requirement in par. (i) was not satisfied. The prosecution suggested that Matusevich and Thompson intended to escape and that the motive for the murder was to prevent Whateley from informing on them. It contended that evidence of the applicant's escaping from a boys' home showed a propensity to escape and a propensity for violence and that this was admissible to show that the applicant was guilty of the offence charged. The evidence of propensity was not admissible for this purpose (Stirland v. Director of Public Prosecutions (1944) AC 315, at p 326 ); even if it were, the propensity of a boy to escape does not show a propensity for violence. (at p646)

4. The requirement in par. (ii) was not satisfied as the judge's permission was not obtained. The requirement in par. (iii) was satisfied, but the prosecution was not entitled to ask the questions. Only a co-accused against whom an accused witness has given evidence is entitled to ask the questions. (at p646)

5. Section 399 (e) should not be construed literally. The requirement of judicial permission is expressed in the proviso to par. (ii) and this suggests it is not implied in pars (i) and (iii). Judicial decisions have added it to par. (i). It is obvious why it is absent from par. (iii) if only the co-accused is entitled to ask the questions: it would be unjust to impose this restriction on the coaccused's defence. There is no logical reason why the prosecution should be entitled to ask questions otherwise forbidden to it simply because an accused gives evidence against a co-accused; and to read par. (iii) as entitling it to do so without judicial permission would conflict with the policy reflected in the proviso to par. (ii). (at p647)

6. Section 399 (e) recognizes the prejudicial nature of the questions. Even if the prosecution had a right to ask the questions, proper practice would be to ask permission first to ensure a fair trial (Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 ; Reg. v. Billings (1966) VR 396, at p 398 ). Fullagar J. observed in Ziems v. Prothonotary of Supreme Court of New South Wales (1957) 97 CLR 279, at p 294 that "such tactics are permissible in civil cases, but in criminal cases in view of what is at stake they may sometimes accord ill with the traditional notion of the functions of a prosecutor for the Crown". The applicant's counsel applied for discharge of the jury because of the breach of s. 399 (e), but the judge refused. The asking of the questions caused a miscarriage of justice, which should result in the allowing of the appeal unless the court considers that no substantial miscarriage of justice has actually occurred (Crimes Act, s. 568). (at p647)

7. The prosecution contended that any miscarriage was not substantial because the judge, if asked, would have granted an application for permission for two reasons. The first was that the applicant's counsel had asked prosecution witnesses questions with a view to establish the applicant's good character or had given evidence of his good character, thereby enabling the judge to grant permission under par. (ii); the second was that the requirements in par. (iii) had been satisfied. The decision whether the issue of good character had been raised was borderline. Even if it were raised, the prejudicial tendency of the prosecutor's questions so outweighed any possible tendency of the evidence to mislead the jury on the applicant's character that the discretion should have been exercised against the prosecution. Therefore, the judge should not have granted permission under par. (ii) and had no power to grant it under par. (iii). The judge gave certain directions in an attempt to cure any prejudice. But judicial directions do not satisfy the legislative command that the questions should not be asked. The appeal should be upheld on the ground of miscarriage caused by the prosecution's unlawful questions. (at p648)

8. Thompson was found guilty of murder although he contended he was not guilty on the ground of insanity and after a successful appeal, at a new trial was found not guilty on this ground. Rather than treating the issue as strictly between the Crown and Thompson, it should be assumed in the applicant's favour that the jury had a wrong view of Thompson's sanity which must have affected their finding that Matusevich had acted in concert with Thompson. The view that Thompson was not insane must have affected not only their finding that the two accused acted in concert, but also crucial factual aspects of the case, for example, the circumstances in which the notes were written in the cell. The applicant's evidence that these were written at Thompson's dictation after the killing becomes more credible if it is accepted that Thompson was insane. It is not necessary to consider the complications caused by adherence to the M'Naghten Rules. The determination of the applicant's guilt on the basis that Thompson was not insane has resulted in substantial miscarriage of justice. There should be a new trial on that ground. On a retrial, the prosecution will no doubt concede Thompson's insanity although its nature may still be debated. If the prosecution relies on acting in concert, this will raise mixed questions of law and fact. I agree with Aickin J.'s observation that careful direction will be required on whether the nature of the insanity precluded the insane man from being capable of the necessary assent. Proof of acting in concert with an insane person raises problems of philosophical and psychological subtlety which a jury should not have to deal with, if the prosecution case can be fairly presented without it. The prosecution is not obliged to rely on every conceivable basis for conviction. A complicated theory is best avoided if its substance can be presented more simply. (at p648)

9. The applicant also contended that the admission that the deceased was an informer had been wrongly used to prove that the applicant had made the statements attributed to him in the unsigned record of interview. A similar point arose in Burns v. The Queen (1975) 132 CLR 258 and I adhere to the views I stated there (1975) 132 CLR, at p 267 . (at p648)

10. There were other disturbing features of this case concerning the voluntariness and reliability of a confession and interview (the record of which was unsigned) admitted in evidence against the applicant, particularly as he was a prisoner and had applied for parole. On the day after the killing, the applicant was questioned from 12.30 p.m. onwards by police in the presence of the acting Governor of the gaol, with no legal adviser present and no access to legal advice. An interviewing police officer testified that he was astonished by the unexpected confession which the applicant made at the commencement of the questioning. Earlier the same day (about 4 a.m.), the applicant had been given a drug which, on the prison doctor's evidence, may have left him incapable of making any reliable statement up to an hour or so before the questioning. The applicant claimed that he had taken other drugs which would affect his capacity. There was no medical examination at the time of the interview and the applicant had no medical advice. (at p649)

AICKIN J. This is an application for special leave to appeal from a decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal of Victoria which dismissed the applicant's application for leave to appeal from a conviction on a charge of murder (1976) VR 470 . The applicant and one Thompson were jointly charged with the murder of one Whateley. All three were prisoners in the same ward in D Division of Pentridge gaol. They were the only prisoners in that ward. Both Thompson and Matusevich were working in the hospital section of the gaol as writers, i.e. in effect as clerks, which was a position of some trust and which carried certain privileges. About a week before his death the prisoner Whateley had been transferred to Pentridge from a prison at Ararat. He was put into the same ward as Thompson and Matusevich. Early in the morning of 13th November 1974 Whateley was found dead in the ward. He was lying on a bed having suffered severe head injuries which were said to have been inflicted by the use of an axe. There was no evidence as to how the axe, which was found in the ward, had been placed there. The facts in question were in dispute only with respect to who it was who struck the blows which killed Whateley, and whether there was concert between the two accused. (at p649)

2. Thompson was the first of the two accused to be interviewed by the police. The interview was recorded and signed by him. In it he said that his memory was vague but that he remembered losing his head and hitting Whateley on the head with the axe. When Matusevich was interviewed he is alleged to have said that both he and Thompson killed Whateley. In his evidence he denied the truth of the statements contained in the record of the interview but said in effect that he had no recollection of what he had said at the interview. He gave evidence, the general effect of which may be said to be that he was locked up with a madman who not only killed Whateley but threatened to kill him if he gave the alarm and that it was only some time after the killing that he thought it safe to press the alarm button in the ward. He said that he was unable to remember much of the details of what took place but that he had been so frightened that he did whatever Thompson told him. Thompson did not give evidence at the trial and made no statement from the dock. His counsel cross-examined Matusevich with a view to suggesting that he was the sole killer but in effect he made no significant concessions in the course of that cross-examination. (at p650)

3. Evidence was called on behalf of Thompson to show that he was legally insane at the time of the killing and substantial evidence was given as to his early life and history of mental illness. Two psychiatrists and a psychologist gave evidence to the effect that in their opinion Thompson was suffering from such a defect of reason due to disease, disorder or disturbance of the mind, that he did not know at the time of the killing that what he was doing was wrong. No evidence was called on behalf of the Crown to rebut this evidence of insanity. (at p650)

4. In the result, the jury convicted both Thompson and Matusevich of murder and although they were asked certain specific questions by the trial judge they did not answer them in a manner which indicated their view as to which of the two accused struck the blows which killed Whateley. (at p650)

5. Each of the accused appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal against the conviction. That Court took the view that the jury had not been properly instructed on the question of insanity and that the verdict against Thompson should be set aside and a new trial ordered. We were informed that that new trial had since taken place and that a properly instructed jury had in fact found Thompson not guilty on the ground of insanity. (at p650)

6. The Court of Criminal Appeal dealt in the same judgment with the position of Matusevich and dismissed his application. A number of grounds of appeal were relied upon in the Court of Criminal Appeal not all of which were pursued in this Court. Three points were argued, viz., (1) whether it was possible to act in concert with an insane person in the commission of a crime; (2) cross-examination of the accused as to prior convictions suggesting propensity to violence and escape; and (3) admission of evidence that the deceased had in fact informed against persons escaping from the Ararat gaol. (at p651)

7. It will be convenient to deal first with the second ground, i.e., the complaint that the trial judge erred in permitting the Crown to cross-examine the accused as to his prior convictions and had erred in failing to discharge the jury following such cross-examination. Counsel who appeared for Matusevich at the trial obtained from Crown witnesses in cross-examination evidence that Matusevich had no prior convictions for crimes of violence. The situation was of course one in which it was obvious from the circumstances that each of the three men had been guilty of some offence since each of them was a prisoner in Pentridge gaol. Matusevich himself gave evidence on oath and the Crown Prosecutor, without seeking any permission from the trial judge, cross-examined with a view to showing that he had previously escaped from custody and that he had committed such crimes as house-breaking and stealing which were offences of a violent nature. No immediate objection to this line of cross-examination was taken by counsel or by the trial judge, and indeed there was little opportunity to do so. Immediately thereafter counsel for Matusevich sought the discharge of the jury but the trial judge rejected that application. (at p651)

8. The position with respect to cross-examination of accused persons as to their bad character or previous convictions is governed by s. 399 (e) of the Crimes Act 1958 which is as follows:

"(e) a person charged and called as a witness in pursuance of
this section shall not be asked, and if asked shall not be required to answer, any question tending to show that he has committed or been convicted of or been charged with any offence other than that wherewith he is then charged, or is of bad character, unless - (i) the proof that he has committed or been convicted of such other offence is admissible evidence to show that he is guilty of the offence wherewith he is then charged; or
(ii) he has personally or by his advocate asked questions of the witnesses for the prosecution with a view to establish his own good character, or has given evidence of his good character, or the nature or conduct of the defence is such as to involve imputations on the character of the prosecutor or the witnesses for the prosecution: Provided that the permission of the judge (to be applied for in the absence of the jury) must first be obtained; or
(iii) he has given evidence against any other person charged with the same offence".
It will be observed that in Victoria the requirement that the prosecutor must apply to the judge for permission to cross-examine as to character or prior convictions is part of the statute itself and is not dependent upon the rule of practice which has developed elsewhere with respect to otherwise similar legislation. The position thus is that without an application having been made by the prosecutor, evidence obtained by cross-examination of the accused as to his prior record is inadmissible. The evidence was nonetheless admitted. It must be seldom that one can properly describe the admission of inadmissible evidence as to prior convictions in a criminal trial as merely an "irregularity". In the present case it was particularly prejudicial to the prisoner and its probative value as to his reliability as a witness was far outweighed by its prejudicial effect. (at p652)

9. The motive for the murder was suggested as being that Whateley was known to be a man who had informed against prisoners who had or were attempting to escape from the Ararat gaol and that Matusevich and Thompson were planning an escape and killed Whateley lest he should betray their plans. (at p652)

10. Evidence of previous escapes and of convictions for crimes of violence would have been likely to have been regarded by the jury as indicating a disposition or propensity to escape and towards crimes of violence in the context of this particular trial. It would not ordinarily be permissible to prove either of those things. (at p652)

11. The Court of Criminal Appeal took the view that "in all probability if permission had been sought the learned trial judge would have granted it" (1976) VR, at p 481 . It does not appear, however, that in the circumstances as they then stood he would have been right to do so and it appears wrong to have assumed that he would have done so. The fact that he subsequently refused to discharge the jury is not a proper basis for concluding that he would have given permission to conduct a cross-examination of so highly prejudicial a character. It is not necessary for this Court to decide whether the trial judge should have discharged the jury when the application was made if, as I think, the wrongful admission of this evidence cannot be regarded as a mere "irregularity" not involving any "miscarriage of justice". The view taken by the Court of Criminal Appeal (1976) VR, at p 482 that the "irregularity" cannot have caused Matusevich to lose a chance which was fairly open to him of being acquitted is one which I do not think was properly open. The evidence of these prior convictions appears to be just the kind of prejudicial material that might in this very unusual case have tipped the balance against him. (at p653)

12. In argument it was suggested that the cross-examination could also be supported under sub-par. (iii) of s. 399 (e). No doubt it was correct to say that Matusevich had given evidence "against" Thompson as that expression has been construed by the House of Lords in Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 . In that case their Lordships took the view that if one accused gave evidence against another there was no discretion to refuse to allow counsel for the other accused to cross-examine as to prior convictions if such convictions were material, e.g. as to credibility. However, Lord Donovan (with whom Lord Reid, Lord Evershed and Lord Pearce agreed) said (1965) AC, at p 593 :

"But in these cases it will normally, if not invariably, be the prosecution which will want to bring out the accused's bad character - not some co-accused; and in such cases it seems to me quite proper that the court should retain some control of the matter. For its duty is to secure a fair trial and the prejudicial value of evidence establishing the accused's bad character may at times wholly outweigh the value of such evidence as tending to show that he was guilty of the crime alleged. These considerations lead me to the view that if, in any given case (which I think would be rare), the prosecution sought to avail itself of the provisions of proviso (f) (iii) then here, again, the court should keep control of the matter in the like way. Otherwise, if two accused gave evidence one against the other, but neither wished to cross-examine as to character, the prosecution could step in as of right and reveal the criminal records of both, if both possessed them. I cannot think that Parliament in the Act of 1898 ever intended such an unfair procedure. So far as concerns the prosecution, therefore, the matter should be one for the exercise of the judge's discretion, as it is in the case of proviso (f) (ii). But when it is the co-accused who seeks to exercise the right conferred by proviso (f) (iii) different considerations come into play. He seeks to defend himself; to say to the jury that the man who is giving evidence against him is unworthy of belief; and to support that assertion by proof of bad character. The right to do this cannot, in my opinion, be fettered in any way."
It is true that the observations as to the position of the prosecutor were obiter. However for present purposes they provide a sufficient guide. The Court of Criminal Appeal took the view that the law in Victoria was the same and that the express requirement for prior permission under sub-par. (ii) did not produce the result that no discretion existed in respect of sub-par. (iii). With this view I respectfully agree. That Court however, said (1976) VR, at p 481 :

"...counsel for Thompson would have been entitled to cross-examine Matusevich as to his character, but it is a question whether the Crown was entitled to do so. We can see no reason why it should not. The language of the paragraph is quite clear. But we do not think that the Crown should ordinarily do so without first raising the matter in the absence of the jury and when the question is so raised we think that a trial judge should be wary of allowing the Crown to exercise the right. The reason for caution is simply the interests of fairness. The trial judge is bound to ensure a fair trial, fair to all concerned, and to allow the Crown unrestricted right to cross-examine as to character whenever one accused gives evidence against another might make it almost impossible for an accused person with previous convictions to defend himself." (at p654)


13. The Court also said: "The exercise of the right by the Crown is therefore not to be encouraged: see Murdoch v. Taylor per Lord Donovan (1965) AC, at pp 592-593 , Reg. v. List (1966) 1 WLR 9; (1965) 3 All ER 710 where Lord Donovan's observations were applied and Reg. v. Brown (1960) VR 382, at p 398 ." It is in my opinion clear that the Crown should never do so without first seeking the permission of the trial judge for that is to deprive the judge of a proper opportunity for the exercise of his discretion. There is much to be said for the view that the purpose of this paragraph is not to allow the Crown the right, unrestricted or otherwise, to cross-examine one accused where in a joint trial one accused gives evidence against another. The insertion of this provision in the Criminal Evidence Act 1898 (Eng.) no doubt arose from the need to give one accused the same right to test the evidence of a co-accused who gave evidence against him, as he has to test the evidence of other witnesses who did so. Otherwise he would have no means of defending himself against such accusations. No similar basis for allowing the Crown to cross-examine as to prior convictions or bad character appears. It may be that when one accused cross-examines his co-accused the Crown's case against each may be improved. The fact that one accused gives evidence against another does not in principle appear to provide any basis for introduction of what has always been treated as highly prejudicial material against the former. This may suggest that the section was not intended to give such a right to the Crown at all notwithstanding the absence of any express limitation. (at p654)

14. None of the cases appears to deal directly with this matter but the observations in Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 plainly recognize this right. In the circumstances of this case it is not necessary for us to examine the question de novo. It is sufficient to say that if such cross-examination is permissible at all, it should not be allowed in the absence of prior permission from the trial judge and that cases where it may prove to be proper to grant such permission are likely to be extremely rare. (at p655)

15. In order to consider the question of whether it can be said that the wrongful introduction of this evidence did not involve any miscarriage of justice it is necessary to examine the details. (at p655)

16. At the hearing, the prosecutor in his cross-examination of Matusevich reached a point where he was asking the accused about his statement that he expected to be released from gaol on parole some time in the following year. The accused said that he realized that this would depend upon a parole board but that he had been told it would be about July. He was then asked as follows:

"And I suppose it follows from that that you maintain, why should you try to escape if you are expecting to be released? - Exactly. Why? Well, because you had just assisted to murder a man? - I didn't. I have told you what happened Because you have escaped before, havent't you, from legal custody? - Not from gaol. That is not what I said, Mr Matusevich? - What is escaping from legal custody? From legal custody. You have escaped, haven't you before when you have been held for some offence? - In boys' homes, yes. Back in 1970 you were convicted of escaping from custody, weren't you? - Was I? In Adelaide, South Australia, juvenile court, four or five years ago? - I don't remember being so. But of course, you heard your counsel putting to witnesses that you had never been convicted of any violent offence? - I never have. I'm not a violent boy. Not a violent person? - of course not. In November, 1972 you were convicted of, I put to you, 11 counts relating to offences of breaking and stealing, larceny of a motor car, housebreaking and stealing, housebreaking with intent to commit a felony, housebreaking and stealing, factory breaking and stealing. Is that right? - Yes. Nothing violent about those crimes? - I am just not a violent person. H'mm? - I am just not a violent person. Do you remember what those offences were in relation to? - Stealing, because that is what I was, a thief. But these premises that you broke into, they were wrecked by you, weren't they? - What do you mean, wrecked? Well, you tried to set fire to them, for a start? - Yes. I was drunk. Can you remember what you did on those occasions? - No. How can I? I was drunk." (at p656)


17. Immediately thereafter counsel for Matusevich asked the judge if he could mention a matter in the absence of the jury. He then made a submission to the trial judge that the prosecutor should have first sought directions from the judge with respect to cross-examining Matusevich about his prior convictions and that the series of questions was such that the trial would miscarry. He asked for the discharge of the jury. The prosecutor replied that the question about his prior convictions not being in respect of offences of violence had been raised and the cross-examination was "simply to show that there was an element of violence in this that you can look at". This itself is enough to indicate that the cross-examination was calculated to suggest propensity, not merely lack of credibility. He also submitted in addition that the situation came within sub-par. (iii). It was submitted that that paragraph was quite general in its operation. The learned judge said "...what we have to consider is what the section actually says. This man has undoubtedly given evidence against Thompson, has he not, and just on an ordinary reading of the section, it comes fairly within the proviso". He did not advert to the need for an application for permission to cross-examine on that basis, and dismissed the application to discharge the jury. He subsequently said:

"Although I have not studied the matter, I cannot see any good reason for reading (e) (iii) as only applying to counsel for the co-accused, but one never knows whether there may be some authority to that effect. In any event it will be necessary for me to give the jury very explicit directions as to the fact that they should not take the previous convictions of either accused into account to assist them to reach any conclusion upon the basis of propensity or disposition. With the background of this trial and the evidence that is necessarily before the jury, I do not feel that any possible prejudice which might have flowed to the accused by the asking of the questions by Mr. Martin, would, in any event, lead me to discharge the jury. I propose to cure it - if there is any defect in Mr. Martin's cross-examination - as well as I can. In the circumstances of the case I think it is a very different situation from the case of a man who is on trial and the jury has absolutely no knowledge whether he has got any previous convictions or not. If evidence of previous convictions gets in under those circumstances, of course, it may be very, very damaging indeed, but in the present case I do not feel that damage is sufficient to warrant me, on the sixth day of this trial and at the close of all the evidence, to discharge the jury, so I refuse the application."
In the learned trial judge's charge to the jury he said:

"The third thing I want to mention to you is that - by the very nature of this trial we know that both the accused men are convicted criminals. Now ordinarily if you came to sit as members of the jury or if you come and sit in this court and hear criminal trials, you may hear a man charged with some terrible offence, and the trial will go from the beginning to the end, and you will never know, nor will anyone, no member of the jury will know or be allowed to know whether that man has a long history of criminal offences behind him or whether he is a man who is charged with a criminal offence for the first time. It is only in particular circumstances when a man's background, his criminal history, can be brought into a trial. I will not worry you about what those circumstances are, but you can see for yourself if you have got a man charged with a crime and there is conflicting evidence, if a jury were to know that that man had previously been convicted of the same sort of crime, particularly over a number of years, it would be dreadfully difficult for the jury to forget that and to concentrate its attention on the evidence before it. Ordinarily speaking the problem is not whether the accused person committed some other crimes; your problem is not that, your problem is whether these men or either of them committed this crime. Now, in this case, because they are both convicts in Pentridge, of course, it would be quite impossible to conduct the trial without your knowing that they were convicted men. Therefore what I want to say to you is it would be very wrong of you to hold that against them in the sense when you are debating a point amongst yourselves to say this man has a record of X and Y, and therefore he has a propensity to do this sort of thing or a disposition to do it simply by reason of his previous convictions. You are here to judge what he did on the 12th of November; so, do the best you can not to allow the fact that both of these people are convicted criminals, both serving sentences at Pentridge, to intrude in any way into your logical analysis of the evidence in relation to what happened on this particular night."
The passage which I have quoted above was in the early stages of the charge and no further reference was made to prior convictions or the manner in which evidence with respect to them should be treated by the jury. (at p657)

18. In dealing with s. 399 (e) (ii) the Court of Criminal Appeal said that there was "no doubt that counsel for Matusevich had put 'his character in issue'". They went on to say (1976) VR, at p 481 :

"Thus a right arose in the Crown to cross-examine him as to his character, provided that permission had first been obtained from the trial judge. In all probability if permission had been sought the learned trial judge would have granted it, but be that as it may the failure to obtain permission is an irregularity. But the question is did the irregularity involve a miscarriage of justice?" (at p658)


19. With due respect I do not consider that this adequately states the position. It overstates the matter to say that a "right arose in the Crown to cross-examine him as to his character". Under the Victorian section, what arose was a right in the prosecutor to apply to the Court to cross-examine Matusevich as to his character and prior convictions, and it was then the function of the trial judge to decide whether or not in the circumstances such cross-examination could be embarked upon. The failure to apply and obtain such permission is more than a mere irregularity. It is to embark upon the asking of inadmissible questions and the introduction of inadmissible evidence, without affording the trial judge an opportunity to exercise his discretion. (at p658)

20. The proper approach to this problem is I think conveniently stated in the judgment of Smith J. in Reg. v. Brown where he said (1960) VR 382, esp at p 394 :

"But I can see no justification for departing from the ordinary and natural meaning in order to widen the jurisdiction to grant leave. As was pointed out in Reg. v. Cook... (1959) 2 QB 340 the provision was intended to be a protection to an accused person, and its terms show that the introduction of his previous convictions was not meant to be other than exceptional..."
and (1960) VR,at p 398 he enumerated the matters which in that case the learned trial judge should have taken into account in considering the exercise of the statutory discretion. Two of those considerations are material to the present situation, i.e. "(b) That the prejudicial effect on the defence of questions relating to the accused's long criminal record needed to be weighed against such damage as his Honour might think had been done to the Crown case by the imputations" - (in this case by the evidence of relative good character), and "(d) That the actual prejudicial effect of the cross-examination, if allowed, might far exceed its legitimate evidentiary effect upon credit". (at p658)

21. I am of the view therefore, that if the trial judge had been asked for his permission it would have been an incorrect exercise of his discretion to permit such cross-examination in the present instance. The question with which the trial judge would have been faced if asked for permission would have been quite different from that with which he was actually faced when he was asked to discharge the jury. It would not be right to say that, even if he was justified in refusing to discharge the jury in the circumstances, it must follow that he was or would have been right to grant permission to the prosecutor to embark on this cross-examination, if he had been asked in advance for such permission. (at p659)

22. The wrongful admission of the evidence relating to the nature of Matusevich's prior convictions is in the circumstances of this case a proper ground for special leave. The proper application of s. 399 is a matter of general importance as is the use of sub-par. (iii). In the circumstances of this case the risk of prejudice to the accused was substantial. I am therefore of opinion that special leave should be granted and the appeal allowed. (at p659)

23. In these circumstances it is not strictly necessary to consider whether the warning given by the trial judge, the terms of which I have quoted above, was adequate in the circumstances. It appears now to be settled that the only purpose for which evidence of bad character may be admitted under sub-pars (ii) and (iii) is that it goes to the credit of the accused as a witness or to negative evidence of good character in so far as that may extend beyond an attack on credit. Accordingly, such evidence cannot be used for the purpose of proving guilt, whether by suggesting propensity or otherwise. This appears from the decision of the House of Lords in Murdoch v. Taylor (1965) AC 574 , if not from earlier authorities. The views expounded by Professor Stone in his two interesting articles on the Criminal Evidence Act 1898 in Law Quarterly Review, vol. 51 (1935), p. 443 and vol. 58 (1942), p. 369 must be taken not to have obtained acceptance. See also Maxwell v. Director of Public Prosecutions (1935) AC 309, at pp 318-321 where Viscount Sankey discusses the matter. (at p659)


24. It is because of the purpose for which such evidence is admissible that it is necessary in cases where it is admitted that the jury should be instructed upon the only manner in which it can be used. It is necessary to mention in this context the decision in the Victorian Supreme Court in Reg. v. May (1959) VR 683 where the Court said that there was no duty on the trial judge to warn the jury that they should not use evidence of prior convictions to show that the accused was a person with a propensity to commit crimes and said that the matter was in the discretion of the trial judge. The authority quoted for this proposition was Reg. v. O'Meally (1953) VLR 30, at p 32 but that was a different kind of case which was treated as arising under sub-par. (i) where of necessity the evidence must be directed to showing that the relevant offence was committed. At the trial in May's Case (1959) VR 683 the evidence was evidently admitted upon the basis that the accused had put his character in issue. Its admission was upheld in the Full Court of the Supreme Court upon the basis that it fell within sub-par. (i) rather than sub-par. (ii). It appears that the applicant had admitted his guilt to the police and in evidence admitted having done so. The Court went on to say (1959) VR, at p 684 :

"This affords strong evidence of his guilt. But in his evidence he said the admissions made to the police were untrue. He naturally felt called upon to offer an explanation as to why he untruly admitted his guilt. He gives reasons why he did so."
They then referred to those reasons and said that (1959) VR, at pp 684-685 :

"The jury had the task of deciding whether applicant's admissions to the police were truthful. The correctness of the facts offered in explanation was very important in deciding on the truth of the admission. If it turned out, for example, that Kent was not married, or that Kent had no prior convictions, or that applicant had a bad criminal record, that would be of great materiality. The truth or falsity of all these matters was put in issue by the applicant and it was therefore admissible in evidence to ask questions directed to such truth or falsity. Applicant's record was one of such matters and was therefore admissible evidence with sub-par. (i)."
It is necessary to refer to this passage as well as the other passage already dealt with lest it be thought that the case should otherwise be approved. It is enough for present purposes to say that I do not regard the cross-examination referred to as necessarily falling within sub-par. (i). (at p660)

25. As to the earlier aspect, it appears to me to be clear that where cross-examination as to prior convictions is permitted by the trial judge, he should make it clear to the jury that such evidence is material only to the credibility of the accused as a witness. The manner in which he does that will of course depend upon the individual circumstances in each case, but it is not a matter which he can omit. In this respect the charge in the present case was inadequate. (at p660)

26. Although the point already dealt with is sufficient to dispose of this case, the other two points are likely to arise in a further trial of the applicant and should therefore be dealt with. The first of the three points argued before us was whether it was possible to act in concert with a lunatic and involves inquiring as to what is meant by "consensus" or "concert" and the significance of mens rea in a "consensus". It was argued that concert in this sense exists only when two or more persons agree to carry out some crime. If they have not in fact so agreed then, in such a case as this, one may be a principal and the other merely an aider or abettor. The question is what is the scope of the agreement required to make the act done something which is done in concert. It was argued that where intention is a necessary element in the crime there must be sharing of that intention, and that it was not enough to show agreement to do the physical act only without the agreement extending to a common criminal intention. It was then said that insanity affects the capacity to have the necessary intention and that if you cannot find the sharing of that intention you cannot find that the acts are done in concert. As an alternative it was put that the jury should be told to consider the nature of the insanity in question in order that they should consider whether that insanity was such as to make it impossible for the formation of a common criminal intent. The trial judge directed the jury that insanity was not relevant to the intention with which an act was done and was not relevant to whether or not there was a concert. (at p661)

27. The Court of Criminal Appeal said that the necessary concert is (1976) VR, at p 478 :

"...constituted by the assent together of the participants to do the act (i.e. the actus reus alone) and it may be evidenced by their conduct. The fact that a man is insane for the purposes of the criminal law does not necessarily mean that he is incapable of assenting together with another man to an act. He may not know that the act is wrong but he may still assent to do it."
The Court referred to the distinction between the actus reus and the mens rea which together constitute the crime of murder and said (1976) VR, at p 478 :

"In this case the actus reus was made up of the unlawful striking of the blow or blows which caused the death of the deceased, and the resultant death itself. Leaving aside for the moment the effect of the insanity of one man, if the two men assented together to the striking of the blow or blows, then once it was established that the striking was unlawful and that death resulted from it, the two men were acting in concert in the actus reus of the crime. Any questions as to their knowledge that the striking was unlawful or that death would or might result or as to their respective intentions would arise only in determining whether either had a mens rea."
And they therefore held that the assent of a sane man and an insane man to do the physical acts which constitute the actus reus makes the sane man guilty if he has the necessary mens rea, although the insane man is not guilty. The Court then referred to Reg. v. Tyler and Price (1838) 8 C &P 616 (173 ER 643) as supporting that conclusion and noted that Professor Glanville Williams in Criminal Law - The General Part, 2nd ed. (1961), p. 352, par. 120 analyses that case as being an instance of "innocent agency", but without making any suggestion that a sane person may not agree on an actus reus with an insane person. Reg. v. Tyler and Price was recently examined in some detail in the House of Lords in Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland v. Lynch (1975) AC 653 , a case which was primarily concerned with the defence of duress. It was there held that duress was a defence open to a person accused as a principal in the second degree i.e. as an aider and abettor, on a charge of murder. Some of their Lordships expressed the view that duress would not be an available defence in respect of a charge of murder as a principal in the first degree, while others left that point open, but see now Abbott v. The Queen (1977) AC 755 where a majority of the Privy Council held that duress was not a defence against a charge of murder available to a principal in the first degree who did the actual killing. Lord Morris dealt with Tyler's Case (1838) 8 C &P 616 (173 ER 643) in Lynch's Case and said (1975) AC, at p 673 :

"...there are many indications which suggest that in company with very many others they had joined Thom's assemblage because they were attracted by the claims and promises that he made. It would seemingly have been easy for them to detach themselves. It was against such a background that Lord Denman C.J. in summing up is reported to have said that the law was 'that no man, from a fear of consequences to himself, has a right to make himself a party to committing mischief on mankind'. Without analysing the expressions used it would not be appropriate to treat what was said as being a comprehensive statement of principle."
Lord Edmund-Davies (1975) AC, at pp 713-714 treated the case as not establishing that duress was not an available defence in such circumstances. The question of duress, however, does not arise in the present case since, although Matusevich claimed that what he did after the killing he did under the duress of Thompson, the crime with which he was accused was completed before that stage was reached. In these circumstances, however, Reg. v. Tyler and Price (1838) 8 C &P 616 (173 ER 643) cannot be regarded as an authority directly bearing on the question of whether there can be a common intent as between a sane man and a lunatic, there being no other parties involved. The judgment does not advert to the point and it cannot be treated as determining it. (at p663)

28. The question whether there can be a common intent with respect to the commission of a crime between a sane man and a lunatic is almost devoid of direct authority and no material discussion is to be found in the textbooks. I do not think however that the problem of whether there can be the requisite concert can always be solved by reference to the so-called doctrine of the "innocent agent". (at p663)

29. I am in agreement with the views of the Court of Criminal Appeal when they said that (1976) VR, at p 480 :

"...the question whether in a particular case the sane and the insane man were acting in concert requires of course an examination of the evidence. The nature of the insanity may preclude the insane man from being capable of the assent which is necessary for the two men to be acting in concert."
They went on to say (1976) VR, at p 480 :

"That would not mean that the sane man would not be guilty in respect of his own participation in the events which caused the death and the concept of innocent agency might well apply to make him liable for the acts of the insane man. But in such a case, the matter could not be put on the basis of acting in concert."
The evidence given at the trial, however, would not have justified the view that there was anything in the nature of innocent agency in the present case. The difficulty is that all that the trial judge said in the course of his charge was that, although if the jury found Thompson not guilty on the ground of insanity they could not find Matusevich guilty of aiding and abetting (whether that is right or wrong is not material), "that does not apply in relation to concert". This appears to me to be inadequate, although in the event the jury did not act on that, or rather had no occasion to act upon it, because they did not find Thompson to be insane. A proper direction however would have to advert to the question whether the nature of the insanity may preclude the insane man from being capable of the necessary assent to produce action in concert. It would not be enough to say that all the jury had to consider was whether the condition of the insane man was such that his mind went with the doing of the actus reus. The jury should also be told that they must consider whether the nature of the insanity, if they find insanity, is such as to make it impossible for there to be any concert between the two accused. They should be told that if they find that one accused did not understand the nature or quality of the act which he in fact did, then there could be no concert between the two accused. They should also be told that, if the basis for their finding of insanity was that the accused did not know that what he did was wrong, they may find that the two accused acted in concert, if they are satisfied that there was an actual agreement or common understanding. The way in which such a matter should be expressed in a charge cannot usefully be considered further in the abstract, as it must depend upon the particular evidence in the particular case. (at p664)

30. The remaining ground relied upon was that the trial judge should not have admitted the evidence as to the conduct of the deceased in informing against other prisoners who were planning to or were escaping from the Ararat gaol. This argument was that it was irrelevant to any issue. Its admissibility was supported by the Crown upon the basis that it tended to prove a motive and also to make it more probable that Matusevich made the statement to the police. The Court said with respect to this (1976) VR, at p 482 :

"It was relevant to establish a possible motive for the murder of Whateley. If Whateley had given the alarm when three prisoners escaped it was likely that the applicant would have heard about it and if he were intending to attempt to escape it might have been thought by the jury that he had a motive for wanting Whateley out of the way."
If this were all, it would not in my opinion provide a sufficient basis for the admissibility of this evidence because there was no foundation for the statement that "it was likely that the applicant would have heard about it" apart from the statement which he was alleged to have made to the police in which he did refer to having heard about it. It was also sought to rely, as an alternative basis upon which this evidence might be admitted, on the fact that it tended to make it more likely that Matusevich did make the statement to the police as there was some evidence that the police did not already know of the event. The Court said (1976) VR, at p 483 :

"Once the evidence was received as relevant to the question of motive, it could properly be used by the jury as tending to prove the truth of the record of the applicant's interview with the police and it remains only to consider whether a proper direction was given."
It is of course trite law that evidence properly admitted may be used to assist in arriving at conclusions other than those which formed the basis of its admission. However, that assumes initial admissibility. I have said above that I do not think that the original basis for admissibility was sustainable and the question must be whether the evidence was admissible solely upon the basis that it tended to prove that Matusevich had in fact given that alleged answer to the question asked by the police. (at p665)

31. The problem raised by the admission of this evidence upon the basis that it tended to prove the truth, not "of the record of the applicant's interview with the police", but of one part of that interview was considered by this Court in Burns v. The Queen (1975) 132 CLR 258 . It is sufficient to refer to the passage in the joint judgment of Barwick C.J. and Gibbs and Mason JJ. where they said (1975) 132 CLR, at pp 263-264 :

"In the present case the evidence, apart from the confession fell far short of establishing guilt, and in some cases it might be thought unsafe to allow a jury to consider evidence of that kind (although logically relevant) in deciding whether a confession was made. Where it is the case for the accused that the circumstances which pointed inconclusively to the guilt of the accused suggested to the police that he was guilty, and led the police to fabricate a confession, the jury may not be assisted in deciding whether the confession was made, but rather distracted from the real question which is essentially one of credibility, by considering the fact that those suspicious circumstances did exist. However, it is not possible to lay down any general rule as to whether the jury may consider other evidence, pointing to the guilt of the accused, in deciding whether an alleged confession was made; that must depend on all the facts of the particular case. In the present case the fact that after the crime the applicant to the knowledge of the police officers was in possession of newly acquired wealth made it probable that the police officers, who had formed suspicions as to his guilt, would have questioned him as to the source of his comparative affluence; it was therefore relevant to the issue whether the applicant was truthful when he said that he was not questioned at all. In the particular circumstances of this case, therefore, it would not have been correct to direct the jury that, in deciding whether the applicant was questioned by the police officers and made admissions in response to their questions, they could not give any consideration to the evidence as to the change in his financial position. On the other hand, if the jury had been told that they might consider that evidence on this issue the trial judge should have warned them of the danger of giving it undue weight. Where an accused by his confession admits facts not then known to his interrogators which are subsequently found to be true, this circumstance affords strong evidence that the confession was in fact made. Where, however, the accused by his confession admits only facts already known to his interrogators the probative value of the truth of what is admitted on the issue whether the confession was in fact made is less cogent and it should, in general, be excluded from the jury's consideration of that issue in fairness to the accused because its prejudicial effect in the minds of the jury may well outweigh any probative value it has." (at p666)


32. The problem in the present case is that there was a contest on the question of whether the fact (i.e. that Whateley had informed against the escaping prisoners at Ararat) was not then known to Matusevich's interrogators. The preliminary fact therefore remained undetermined at the time of the charge to the jury. It could not be said that the lack of knowledge by the interrogators had been established; that was a matter which the jury would have had to determine independently as a separate question of fact. There could not be said to have been "any independent proof" (to use the expression contained in the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeal in R. v. Kerr (No. 2) (1951) VLR 239, at p 246 ) that the statement as to Whateley having informed against prisoners escaping at Ararat "was more likely to have come from him than to have been mentioned or suggested by the police". (at p666)

33. The situation thus falls somewhere between the two illustrations given in the joint judgment in Burns v. The Queen (1975) 132 CLR, at pp 263-264 and must therefore present a situation in which consideration should have been given by the trial judge to the exclusion of the evidence upon the ground referred to in the final sentence in the quotation which I have set out above. The transcript of the proceedings at the trial does not make it altogether clear on what basis the trial judge admitted this evidence. The discussion on this matter took place at the opening of the proceedings and in the absence of the jury. However, it was suggested to the trial judge at that stage that the Crown would also lead evidence to supply a "connecting link between Ararat and Pentridge" and in particular that there had been another prisoner in the hospital in D Division who had been transferred from Ararat to Pentridge so as to enable an inference to be drawn that he had or may have conveyed the information to Thompson and/or Matusevich as to the deceased's activities at Ararat. No such evidence was in the end led. On the basis of that discussion an admission was made by counsel for both defendants. His Honour said:

"But, in view of the possibility of linking the facts through Robinson to the accused Matusevich, it appears to me that this evidence has got some relevance in the sense that without it you have evidence of Matusevich giving an answer as to his motive, and that answer is left completely by itself without any shadow or substance to indicate whether the motive was such as to be an operating factor or likely to be an operating factor."
It was subsequently pointed out to the trial judge that the supposed witness would be unlikely to say that he knew that Whateley had been an informer but notwithstanding that the trial judge said that he regarded the fact of the escape and of Whateley's informing about it as a relevant matter for the Crown to prove though he said, "There may be a missing link". At the end of that discussion counsel for both defendants indicated that they were prepared to make an admission that "three prisoners escaped from Ararat and that Whateley was a prisoner at that time in Ararat". In his charge to the jury the trial judge said that it had been admitted by both the accused:


"...that he (i.e. Whateley) had on 31st October been a prisoner at Ararat gaol, and that on that date three prisoners escaped and that he had raised the alarm in relation to the said escape. Now, because counsel for the two accused admit those admissions, it does not mean that any inference should be drawn against either of the accused in relation to them."
The transcript of the hearing however does not reveal that an admission in that form was in fact made but no objection was taken to this part of the charge to the jury. After the opening address by the prosecutor he mentioned to the jury with the consent of the trial judge that there had been certain admissions with respect to "four matters" and he gave particulars, which were that Whateley in fact died on 12th November 1974 as a result of injuries received by him on that day, that the deceased was in fact Whateley who was a prisoner in D Division Hospital on 12th November and that a test of the deceased's blood had shown no alcohol present, and that the deceased was a prisoner at Ararat prison on the night three prisoners escaped from Ararat prison. No further admission is contained in the transcript of evidence placed before us but, notwithstanding that, the trial judge in his charge to the jury said:

"Now it might be convenient to start off with the admissions, and you will remember that it is admitted by both accused that the deceased died on 12th November as a result of injuries received while he was a prisoner in Ward 1 of 'D' Division at Pentridge; that he is the person named in the presentment filed in this Court; that when his blood was analysed there was no trace of alcohol, and finally that he had on 31st October been a prisoner at Ararat gaol, and that on that date three prisoners escaped and that he had raised the alarm in relation to the said escape. Now, because counsel for the two accused admit those admissions, it does not mean that any inference should be drawn against either of the accused in relation to them." (at p668)


34. The case was argued so far as one can tell before the Court of Criminal Appeal upon the footing that the admission actually made was in the form contained in the trial judge's direction and for this Court the matter was argued upon that basis. The references which I have made are to the transcript of the proceedings as furnished to this Court. Just prior to the accused, Matusevich, giving evidence, the prosecutor said to the trial judge that he had arranged for the admissions to be typed but whether that was done and what became of the typed admissions does not appear. It is said at that same point that the prosecutor had referred to these admissions in his opening but that opening has not been recorded. In these unsatisfactory circumstances it does not appear desirable that this Court should proceed upon the basis that the admissions referred to in the charge were actually made, notwithstanding the failure to object to that form of charge. (at p668)

35. If there were no other grounds which constituted a basis for granting special leave to appeal I would regard it as necessary to consider more fully how this particular aspect of the matter should be dealt with. In view of the fact that I regard the other matters to which I have referred above as themselves a sufficient basis for granting special leave it is not necessary or desirable to pursue this particular matter further in view of the uncertainty as to the nature of the admission which was actually made or to consider whether the admission of this particular evidence was unduly prejudicial to the accused. It is enough for present purposes to say that, assuming the admission to have been made in the form in which it is set out in the charge to the jury, the direction was inadequate as to the manner in which it might be used in view of the fact that the preliminary question upon which its admissibility depended could not be regarded as having been determined and no direction was given to the jury as to how in the circumstances they could properly use the material. (at p669)

36. For the reasons set out above I am of opinion that special leave should be granted and that the appeal should be allowed. (at p669)

Orders


Application for special leave to appeal granted. 

Appeal allowed. 

Order that verdict of guilty of and conviction for murder and sentence thereon by the Supreme Court of Victoria be quashed and in lieu thereof order that the matter be remitted to that Court for retrial. 



In Matusevich v The Queen,[16] Matusevich and his co-accused Thompson were prisoners

Pentridge Jail and were jointly charged with the murder of a third prisoner in their ward. The

deceased had been killed with an axe and Matusevich and his co-accused were the only people

present at the time of the killing. Matusevich was alleged to have admitted that he and his

co-accused killed the deceased but he gave evidence denying the truth of those statements and that

he had no recollection of what he said at the police interview. Matusevich claimed that his

co-accused was a madman who not only killed the deceased but threatened to kill him if he called

for assistance; he was only able to press the alarm button some time after the killing. He said he

had no convictions for offences of violence. Matusevich was wrongly cross-examined in his

murder trial as to his prior convictions for previously escaping from custody, house breaking and

stealing, which the prosecutor suggested were offences of a violent nature.[17] During

cross-examination Matusevich admitted that he wrecked and tried to set fire to premises he broke

into when he was drunk and that he now had no memory of his actions on those occasions. Aickin

J, with whom Gibbs, Stephen and Mason JJ agreed, rejected the Victorian Court of Criminal

Appeal's finding of no substantial miscarriage of justice because evidence of these prior

convictions was "just the kind of prejudicial material that might in this very unusual case have

tipped the balance against him.".[18]

R v Salmon

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