Geelong Man Kicked to Death for Defecating on Floor

A 55 year old alcoholic was bashed to death in a Geelong hotel.

Crime:  Murder / manslaughter

Occurred:  Sunday, 2 October 2011

Where:  Sir Charles Hotham Hotel, Geelong

Convicted #1:  Bradley James Walters (murder)

Sentenced:  7 December 2012

Convicted #2: Brett Ross Drummond (manslaughter)
Sentenced: 13 March 2013

Victim: Edwin Singer

What happened?

Bradley, Brett and Edwin were residents at the Sir Charles Hotham Hotel in Geelong.  Bradley and Edwin were unemployed alcoholics.  Brett worked in a local factory and also drank heavily.

Bradley and Brett were friends with the hotel cleaner, who had complained for some time about Edwin's habit of defecating in public areas of the hotel.  Over a number of incidents she discovered faeces on the carpet and sheets in his room, in the foyer, out on the street and in the bathroom.  Hotel residents, including Bradley and Brett, were growing increasingly upset at this behaviour.

On the Saturday before his death, a large smear of faeces appeared on the hallway carpet outside the bathroom door.  A trail of footsteps led back to Edwin's room.

Bradley confronted Edwin and told him he had a day to clean up the mess, but Edwin denied responsibility.

On Sunday, Bradley drank five to six litres of cask wine before intercepting Edwin on his way to the bathroom.  Bradley punched Edwin until he was on the floor and then kicked him repeatedly with his steel capped boots.

Bradley returned to his drinking while Edwin crawled back to his bedroom.  At various points in the evening Bradley returned to continue his assault on Edwin, at one stage accompanied by Brett, who also joined in the beating and who had consumed at least ten beers.

Later in the evening, the men dragged Edwin out to the fire escape.  He was either dead at the time or died soon after while he was at this location.  The men later dumped Edwin's corpse in a driveway neighbouring the hotel.

Victims' background

Edwin Singer (source)

Edwin, who was 55 years old at the time of his death and suffering from emphysema, died from blunt force trauma and sustained a number of injuries including a fractured nose, sternum and 27 rib fractures.  He is survived by a sister, a daughter and a step daughter.  His daughter, who was already suffering depression before his death, has deteriorated in mental condition since he was killed and now requires significant care from her step sister.  He was 55 years old when he died.  A year before his death he had participated in a newspaper interview and told journalists that he was a former social worker and had worked at Deakin University, but it is not clear whether this was true.

Convicted #1's background

Bradley was 45 years old at the time of the attack.  Born in Geelong, the middle child of five children and the son of a truck driver and a canteen worker, he did not enjoy a good relationship with his father and began drinking on a daily basis by the age of 17.  He left school at the end of Year 11.  At 22 he left home and fell in and out of employment, ending up mostly working in fruit picking, a lifestyle that enabled him to continue to drink heavily.

By the age of 27 Bradley had two children to another alcoholic, Pauline.  The couple were unable to look after their children and when the kids were aged 5 and 7 they were placed into the welfare system and Bradley has not seen them for over 12 years.

The Sir Charles Hotham Hotel (source)

A psychologist who interviewed Bradley for his trial observed that Bradley 'seems to be of the view that alcohol is the only thing that can give his life even the most fleeting sense of meaning'.

Convicted #2's background
Brett was approximately 44 years old at the time of the murder.  Born in Geelong, he was the middle child among six siblings.  His mother and father were both alcoholics and Brett suffered sexual abuse at the hands of two uncles.  By the time he was six years old, all of the children in the family had been placed into alternative care.  Brett spent the rest of his childhood in and out of boys' homes.  He began drinking at 14.  He left school after Year 10 and worked as a factory hand and woodcutter.  A psychologist described that at the time of sentencing Brett was "bordering on frank alcoholism".

Brett has a low IQ.  He has a prior criminal history that includes three assaults, dishonesty and driving offences, and a period of imprisonment.  At the time of the manslaughter he was on a suspended sentence for driving offences.

Outcome of trial

#1:  Bradley confessed what he did to police and was willing to plead guilty to manslaughter, but due to a number of factors (including that he continued to return to Edwin for more beatings throughout the night of the murder, indicating deliberateness), the prosecution pursued a murder charge and the matter proceeded to trial, where Bradley was found guilty by a jury of his peers.

#2:  Similarly, the prosecution pursued a charge of murder against Brett but changed its mind shortly before the sentence was handed down.  Brett pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter, and no trial was necessary.

Sentence

Bradley was sentenced to 17 years imprisonment before eligible before parole, 20 years maximum.  The judge recognised that Bradley had already served well over a year of his sentence whilst on remand.

You can read more about the crime here and here and the judgement for Bradley here and for Brett here.

The crime scene near where the body was found (source)

Dromana Woman Died in Post-Coital Attack

A 54 year old woman was beaten to death after sex.

Crime:  Murder

Occurred:  26 April 2011

Where: Unknown address, Dromona

Sentenced:  19 February 2013

Convicted:  Dwaine Anthony Grant

Victim:  Julie Simmonds

What happened?

Despite the 22 year age gap between the couple, Dwaine and Julie had a sexual relationship dating back to Dwaine's early teens.  Over the last year, since Dwaine had moved to Dromona, the two were regular drinking buddies.  On the day of the murder, they drank cask wine and smoked pot together.  Later in the day, they had sex and then something, it is not clear what, made Dwaine snap.  He called Julie a "fuckwit" and a "gutter slut" and proceeded to beat her viciously, beginning in the living room and then moving into the bedroom, choking her to the point of crushing her larynx, ripping chunks of hair right off her scalp and battering her all over, including around her genitals and anus. He held her by the hair while punching her and finished off by repeatedly hitting her over the back of the head with a lump of wood. Julie died of "multiple injuries including neck compression" and was alive for the entire beating.

Victim's background

Julie, aged 54 at the time of her death, was an alcoholic.  She left behind three children and an ex-husband.  In sentencing, the judge commented that Julie's family were left with "a cruel and unjustified feeling that they did not protect her adequately in the vulnerable state which it was plain her alcoholism created".

The Dromana pier (source).

Convicted's background

Dwaine was 22 years old when he murdered Julie.  His father died before he was born and his mother found an undesirable de facto partner.  Dwaine experienced sexual abuse, witnessed ongoing domestic violence, and spent his earlier years in foster homes. Early on, Dwaine began racking up a series of offences in the Children's Court, related to dishonesty and motor vehicle offences.  He moved to Melbourne as a young adult and obtained a series of partial trade qualifications before he was sacked for his alcoholism.  In 2010 he moved back to Dromana where he spent his days drinking and lived on welfare.  As well as alcohol, Dwaine was a cannabis and (alleged) amphetamine user.

Dwaine also held a number of convictions in the Magistrates Court, none of them related to violence.

Dwaine and Julie drank cask wine on the day of the murder (source).

Outcome of trial:  Dwaine pleaded guilty so there was no need for a trial.

Sentence:  16 years before eligible for parole, 20 years maximum.

You can access the judgment here.  Media articles are available here and here.

Brutal Assault in Swan Hill

 A 65 year old man was beaten to death in his own home.

Crime: Murder and theft

Occurred: 28 September 2011


Where: Harrisen Crescent, Swan Hill

Sentenced: 6 February 2013

Convicted: Darren Williams

Victim: Gary John Beggs

What happened?
Darren and Gary became acquainted in Bendigo when Darren asked Gary for a lift to Swan Hill for $20.  Gary obliged.  Six days later, over a cask of wine with his friend Kim (who happened to live on the same street as Gary), Kim told Darren that Gary was gay and was involved in a dispute with Kim over some money that she owed him.
Darren was disturbed at hearing this news, and as more people came to the premises that day for a party, he was heard by witnesses to make threats that he was "going to do the old fella over".
The party finished up at midnight but Darren stayed up and continued drinking.  Eventually, he grabbed a knife from the kitchen and walked down the road to Gary's house.
Shortly before the attack, Darren became convinced that Gary had sexually assaulted him.
Gary was in his lounge room when Darren stabbed him in such a frenzy around the chest and face that the knife broke off after becoming stuck in Gary's right eye.  Darren also dropped a stone statue on Gary's head, fracturing his skull.
Gary died of head and chest injuries.
Following the murder, Darren stole Gary's Toyota station wagon and dumped it in Dareton, New South Wales.

Victim's background
Gary was 65 years old when he was killed.  He is survived by his intellectually disabled 11 year old son, Nathan.  Nathan's mother left the family when he was three years old, and he was raised by Gary until he was 8 and then placed into the care of the Department of Human Services.  Nathan looked forward to his father's visits, and since his father's death has regressed.
Gary also left behind a brother in Austria.

Convicted's background
Darren was 37 years old at the time of the murder.  He was one of nine kids.  Darren was sexually abused as a child.  He told police that Gary had also sexually assaulted him, though he was unable to convince the sentencing judge on a balance of probabilities that this was the case.
Darren's mother died of cancer when he was 11, and his father died of diabetes-related complications when Gary was 35.  Gary was of Aboriginal, Afghani and Irish origin and identified as Aboriginal.  He spent most of his life at the Manatjira Mission in Dareton, New South Wales.
Darren dropped out of school around year 10, and worked seasonally in number of jobs including woodcutting and fruit picking.  He became an alcoholic by the time he was 18, and continued to abuse alcohol up until the murder.  Throughout the years he incurred a string of violent convictions dating back to when he was 21, spending over 5 (non-consecutive) years in prison.
He has a daughter who lives with her mother.

Outcome of trial:  Although Darren initially pleaded not guilty to the murder, he changed his plea to guilty and there was no need for a trial.

Sentence:  Darren was sentenced to 14.5 years imprisonment before eligible for parole, 17.5 years maximum. Darren served 494 days of his sentence while in remand.

You can read the judgment here, and media articles here and here.

The township of Swan Hill (source)

Jugular Slashed by Stranger in West Heidelberg

Crime:  Murder
Occurred: 21 November 2009
Sentenced: 4 October 2011
Where: Alamein Road, West Heidelberg
Convicted: Tjay Tunja
Victim: Rowan Biram

What happened?
Rowan came out of his house after hearing a dispute across the road, where Tjay and some friends were gathered.  Rowan yelled at the men to keep it down and stop screaming at each other, but this only antagonised Tjay’s group and two men set on Rowan, fighting him into the front yard of the house next door to Rowan’s.  Rowan fought back and at one stage was on top of one of the men when Tjay jumped into the fray and slit Rowan’s throat, a wound that ran 12cms long, nine cms deep and passed through the jugular.  He died on the scene.

Victim's background

Rowan was 38 years old when he was killed. Victim impact statements were made by his mother, brother, ex-girlfriend, housemate and neighbour who described him as a kind, generous, funny, intelligent and loving man.  He did not like his neighbourhood and had packed his belongings ready to move out to his dream house in Whittlesea. There had been hundreds of complaints from people to the Department of Housing about the house across the road.  Rowan liked motorbikes but had injured his leg in an accident.

Rowan and his best mate.

Convicted's background

Tjay was 24 years old when he killed Rowan and lived in Rosebud West.  His mother was born in London and he never knew his father.  He is the middle son of three boys, educated to Year 10 and worked in various odd jobs and gained certificates in hospitality.  Tjay has prior convictions which include assault, possessing a controlled weapon, theft and charges of causing serious injury (intentionally and recklessly).  He served three years in juvenile detention from 2003 to 2006. He has a history of substance and alcohol abuse but was not taking drugs at the time of the incident. A clinical psychologist who assessed Tjay shortly after the killing described him as “remarkably normal… in absence of psychopathology”.

A photo on Tjay's Facebook page.

Outcome of trial: Tjay pleaded not guilty to murder but a jury found otherwise.

Sentence: 19 years minimum before eligible for parole (24 years max).  Tjay has already served nearly two years of his sentence in remand.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Police at the scene.

Tragic End to 18th Birthday Party in Edithvale

Crime:   Defensive homicide - when you kill someone believing you are defending your own life or another’s life but the basis for that belief is unreasonable.
Occurred:  24 January 2010
Sentenced:  27 September 2011
Where:  Montrose Avenue, Edithvale.
Convicted:  Scott Roy Jewell
Victim:  Dylan Casey

What happened?
It was the evening of Scott’s sister’s 18^th birthday party (held at the parents’ house) and everyone was drinking, including Scott and Dylan, who were unknown to each other.  Scott picked up a Batman fantasy knife from inside his parents’ house and decided to take it home with him. When the DJ finished at 1am the party was over and Scott and his fiancé waited for a taxi on the street.  They observed Dylan leave the party with a group of friends, some of whom removed pickets from Scott’s parents' fence and threw them onto the ground.  Scott went inside to tell his dad.  He and his dad then followed the group down the street and upon sighting them trying to rip down a roundabout sign, Scott’s father shouted, “Who the fuck smashed up my fence?”  Pushing and shoving ensued. Believing his dad to be in danger, Scott lunged forth and stabbed Dylan once in the heart and once in the bowel.  The chest wound killed Dylan at the scene.

Dylan Casey was 19 when he died.

Victim's background

Dylan was 19 when he was killed and was planning to undertake an apprenticeship as an aircraft mechanic.  In sentencing, the judge made reference to the many victim impact statements that were read to the court and noted that Dylan’s mother “spoke of the 2 a.m. call dreaded by every parent and of the indescribable pain of not being there to comfort her son as he died, lying on the footpath”.  He was the eldest child in his family and played a significant role in helping out his autistic younger brother.

Convicted's background

Scott was 22 at the time of the defensive homicide.  Educated until Year 10, he was a carpenter who ran a subcontracting business and had recently purchased a house with his fiancé.  Scott has no prior convictions.  He has no history of drug use and does not have a drinking problem. His fiancé is looking forward to his release.

After the fatal stabbing, a friend of Scott’s buried the knife underneath a tree near a retirement village but dug it up for police later that same day. Scott ran from the scene, pursued by Dylan’s cousin who caught up with him and fought him.  No serious injuries resulted from this scuffle.

Dylan's parents are devastated by their loss.

Outcome of trial:  Scott pleaded guilty to defensive homicide before the committal proceeding.  No trial was necessary.

Sentence:  Five years before eligible for parole (eight years max).  Nearly two years of the sentence has already been served in remand.

You can read the judgement here.  Media coverage is available here and here.

Police at the crime scene.