Murder of Jill Meagher: Difference between revisions
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'''Jill Meagher''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɑr}} was a 29-year-old [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] woman living in [[Australia]] who was raped and murdered while walking home from a pub in [[Brunswick, Victoria|Brunswick]], an inner suburb of [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] in the early hours of 22 September 2012. |
'''Jill Meagher''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɑr}} was a 29-year-old [[Republic of Ireland|Irish]] woman living in [[Australia]] who was raped and murdered while walking home from a pub in [[Brunswick, Victoria|Brunswick]], an inner suburb of [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] in the early hours of 22 September 2012. |
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Why is there not a public outcry when an Asian woman died with very similiar circumstances. Racist Australia. |
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Meagher's case was initially that of a missing person, as she had failed to return home to her husband, Tom Meagher. Her disappearance attracted widespread media attention and a review of [[closed-circuit television]] images from the area of her disappearance. Her body was discovered six days later at [[Gisborne South, Victoria|Gisborne South]], about 50 kilometres from Brunswick. |
Meagher's case was initially that of a missing person, as she had failed to return home to her husband, Tom Meagher. Her disappearance attracted widespread media attention and a review of [[closed-circuit television]] images from the area of her disappearance. Her body was discovered six days later at [[Gisborne South, Victoria|Gisborne South]], about 50 kilometres from Brunswick. |
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Revision as of 05:57, 15 January 2015
| Date | 22 September 2012 |
|---|---|
| Time | c.1:45 am (disappearance) |
| Also known as | Gillian Meagher |
| Cause | Strangulation |
| Deaths | Jill Meagher |
| Burial | Fawkner, Melbourne, Australia. |
| Suspects | Adrian Ernest Bayley |
| Charges | Rape, murder |
| Verdict | Guilty |
Jill Meagher /ˈmɑːr/ was a 29-year-old Irish woman living in Australia who was raped and murdered while walking home from a pub in Brunswick, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Victoria in the early hours of 22 September 2012.
Why is there not a public outcry when an Asian woman died with very similiar circumstances. Racist Australia.
Meagher's case was initially that of a missing person, as she had failed to return home to her husband, Tom Meagher. Her disappearance attracted widespread media attention and a review of closed-circuit television images from the area of her disappearance. Her body was discovered six days later at Gisborne South, about 50 kilometres from Brunswick.
Adrian Ernest Bayley pleaded guilty to Meagher's rape and murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 35 year non-parole period. His bid to appeal his minimum term, on 26 September 2013, was unsuccessful.
Victim
Gillian "Jill" Meagher was born on 30 October 1982 in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland.[1] She worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in an administrative and occasional on-air role.[2][3]
Disappearance
After work on 21 September 2012, Meagher went with co-workers from ABC Radio to the Brunswick Green bar in Sydney Road, Brunswick, later moving to Bar Etiquette (also in Sydney Road). She left the bar at around 1:30 am and began the short walk back to the home she shared with her husband Tom.[4][5]
While walking home Meagher called her brother, Michael McKeon, and spoke with him briefly about their father. At their flat her husband woke to realise she was not home and started searching for her.[4][5]
The search for Meagher attracted high levels of media attention, including social media. Over the next few days, closed-circuit television (CCTV) video emerged and was released by Victoria Police. The video, recorded in front of the Duchess Boutique bridal shop at around 1:43 am on the night she disappeared, showed her speaking to a man in a blue hoodie who had also been filmed walking outside the shop four minutes earlier.[6] This was the last known time the 29-year-old was captured on camera.
Investigation, arrest and guilty plea
Adrian Ernest Bayley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Adrian Ernest Edwards[8] 14 July 1971[8] |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Pastry cook[8] |
| Criminal status | Imprisoned |
| Conviction(s) | Guilty |
| Criminal charge | Rape, murder |
| Penalty | Life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 35 years[7] |
The police investigation was assisted by the CCTV video. Police questioned and then arrested Adrian Ernest Bayley, then 41, of Coburg. At around 10:00 pm on 28 September, five days after Meagher's disappearance, he led police to where her body was buried in a shallow grave at Black Hill Road in Gisborne South. Meagher had been strangled.[9] He was charged with rape and murder and was held in custody to await trial. While in custody he attempted suicide.[10]
At a precommittal hearing in January 2013 a two-day committal case in the Melbourne Magistrates Court was scheduled to begin on 12 March 2013. According to news reports at the time the accused intended to fight the charges.[11] On 5 April 2013, Bayley pleaded guilty to the rape and murder of Meagher. On 26 April 2013, he pleaded not guilty to a number of other sexual assaults in Melbourne dating back to 2000. He appeared in court on 11 June 2013 for a pre-sentencing hearing.[12][13] A suppression order was lifted by Justice Geoffrey Nettle allowing Bayley's "extensive history of rape and violence" to be revealed.[14] On 19 June 2013, Adrian Bayley was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 35 years.[7]
Social media and impact
Social media outlets including Twitter and Facebook played a significant role in bringing the case to prominence and in helping with the police investigation.[citation needed]
In the days after she went missing, Meagher's ABC colleagues used Twitter to help in the search for her. A Facebook group, "Help us Find Jill Meagher", was also set up in the hope of finding her alive. By 27 September, five days after her disappearance, the group had received over 100,000 "likes".[15]
As a suspect had been charged with rape and murder, Victoria Police tried, initially unsuccessfully, to have Facebook pages about the case removed. As a result of the social media response the Premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, suggested that law reform might be necessary to avoid social media coverage prejudicing the jury pool.[16][17]
On 30 September a public march was organised with a crowd of 30,000 walking down Sydney Road in memory of Meagher.[18] The march also symbolised broader concerns about violence against women, with ensuing discussion on current issues websites.[18]
On 17 January 2014, Australian TV personality Derryn Hinch began serving a fifty-day prison sentence for breaching a suppression order which was in effect at the time of Adrian Bayley's sentencing (the suppression order was later lifted). Hinch had attempted to reveal Bayley's extensive record of prior rapes and other violent offences.[19]
Memorials
A stonemason placed an engraved 50 kilogram granite slab and memorial plaque at the Black Hill Road, Gisborne South site where Meagher's body was found. The Melton City Council later removed the memorial "with the permission of the family and in consideration of the Black Hill Road community". The council said that local residents were upset over the continuing attention and concerned it was attracting too much traffic. It was, however, a controversial move as other local residents had been tending the site.[20]
A street art memorial called "RIP Jill" was created in Hosier Lane, Melbourne by a mystery artist in September 2012. In early November 2012 the 20 metre mural was painted almost completely over by other street artists. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle, said that "The street art community painted the original message and have now painted over it. Personally I would have preferred just the name Jill to remain as a more permanent gesture but that is obviously no longer possible."[21] Of the transient nature of such works, the Premier of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, said that "The tribute to Jill Meagher was created very much in the spirit of Hosier Lane, an iconic part of Melbourne, and no doubt that will continue."[21]
References
- ^ Father says justice done as Jill Meagher murderer jailed, Irish Times, 19 June 2013
- ^ King, Rhianna (29 September 2012). "Tears for such a beautiful soul". The West Australian. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ "Jill Meagher: Mark Scott statement to ABC staff" (Press release). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ a b Hayek, Huda (24 September 2012). "What we know: Facts about the Jill Meagher case". Herald Sun. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
- ^ a b Miletic, Daniella (26 September 2012). "Brunswick, alone and after dark". The Age. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Oakes, Dan; Jeans, David (27 September 2012). "Hoodie man footage raises abduction fears". The Age. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Russell, Mark (19 June 2013). "Bayley jailed for 35 years for Jill Meagher's rape, murder". The Age. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- ^ a b c Kaila, Joe; Gillett, Chris (29 September 2012). "Locals reveal background of man charged with rape and murder of Jill Meagher". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Paredes, Arlene (21 January 2013). "Jill Meagher Murder Case Update: Suspect Adrian Ernest Bayley to Contest Charges". International Business Times. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Blue Hoodie: The hunt for Jill Meagher and the Mysterious Man on the CCTV Video". Independent.ie. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Accused Jill Meagher killer and rapist Adrian Ernest Bayley will fight charges". Herald Sun. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Jill Meagher's husband tells Adrian Bayley's pre-sentencing hearing that he is haunted by her murder". ABC/AAP. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- ^ Russell, Mark (5 April 2013). "Bayley pleads guilty to Meagher murder". theage.com.au. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
- ^ Farnsworth, Sarah (11 June 2013). "Jill Meagher's killer Adrian Bayley had history of violent sex attacks; parole board failed to take him off the streets". ABC. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
Bayley's history of violent attacks on women spans more than two decades, the court was told.... He has served a total of 11 years in prison for the rape and attempted rape of eight women.
- ^ "Friends send their love for Jill Meagher on Facebook page set up to find her". news.com.au. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ "Facebook refuses to remove Meagher page". ABC News. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ^ "Derryn Hinch arrested for failing to pay $100,000 fine". The Guardian. 17 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Jared Lynch (1 November 2012). "Council removes Meagher tribute". The Age. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ a b Michelle Ainsworth (7 November 2012). "Hosier Lane street art tribute to Jill Meagher painted over with graffiti". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 January 2013.