Mosman bomb hoax
Date | 3 August 2011 |
---|---|
Location | Mosman, New South Wales, Australia |
Coordinates | 33°50′30″S 151°14′51″E / 33.8417°S 151.2474°E |
Cause | Suspected collar bomb |
Suspects | Paul Douglas Peters |
Charges | Aggravated break and enter, detaining for advantage |
Verdict | Guilty |
Convictions | 13.5 years (minimum 10 years) |
The Mosman bomb hoax took place in the Lower North Shore Sydney suburb of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia on 3 August 2011. An apparent collar bomb was placed around the neck of 18-year-old student Madeleine Pulver,[1] by a balaclava-clad home intruder.[2] A note attached to the device stated that any attempt to alert law enforcement would "trigger an immediate BRIAN DOUGLAS WELLS event".[3] Brian Wells was a pizza delivery driver who was killed in a bank robbery involving a collar bomb in 2003.[3]
Investigation
The dummy device was of such sophistication that it took the Police Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit almost ten hours to ascertain that it was not an explosive device, and then to dismantle and remove it, in part with the telephoned assistance of a British Army major who was in Australia for training.[4] The incident, which attracted media attention worldwide,[1] was treated as an extortion investigation.[5][6]
Arrest and sentencing
Paul Douglas Peters, a man with no direct links to the victim or her family, was arrested in Kentucky, United States after leaving Australia a few days after the incident. Police were unsure of motive, but were not looking for other suspects.[7] Peters was extradited to Australia on 24 September 2011 and was held without bail by New South Wales Police.[8] On 8 March 2012 he pleaded guilty in Sydney's Central Local Court to aggravated break and enter and detaining for advantage. On 20 November 2012, Peters was sentenced to a prison term of 13 years and 6 months, with a non-parole period of 10 years. In sentencing the judge said although Peters had marital and mental health issues, he engaged in a "deliberate act of extortion" and was not in a psychotic state at the time of the offence.[9] Peters appealed his sentence to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. On 20 December 2013, the Court unanimously dismissed the appeal.[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Madeleine Pulver's Mosman bomb nightmare a hoax: police". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Howden, Saffron; Ralston, Nick; Olding, Rachel (5 August 2011). "Novel signature adds to bomb hoax mystery". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ^ a b Bouda, Simon (22 October 2019). "Collared!". Reader's Digest True Crime: Tales of Murder & Mayhem. New York, N.Y. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-62145-454-0. OCLC 1088906428.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Carne, Lucy (5 August 2011). "British Army expert talked squad through the dangers". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Fake bomb was chained to Madeleine Pulver's neck". BBC.co.uk. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Morri, Mark (4 August 2011). "Police say bomb terror in Mosman involving teenager Madeleine Pulver was a 'very elaborate hoax'". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Australian police arrest man". mail.com. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ "Suspect in bomb scare extradited to Australia". CNN. 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
- ^ Wells, Jamelle, staff (20 November 2012). "Extortionist jailed over Sydney collar-bomb hoax". ABC News. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bibby, Paul (20 December 2013). "Paul Peters loses appeal against 10-year sentence in Maddie Pulver hoax bomb case". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2014.