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Murder of Allison Baden-Clay

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Allison June Baden-Clay[1] (née Dickie; 1 July 1968 – 19 April 2012[2][3]) was murdered by her husband, Gerard Baden-Clay in a premeditated act on 19 April 2012. Allison was an Australian woman, mother of three daughters aged 10 and under and a business executive. Her body was discovered on 30 April 2012, ten days after she was reported missing by her husband, Gerard. On 13 June 2012, Gerard was charged with murder and interfering with a corpse. On 15 July 2014, he was found guilty of murder, with the other charge being dropped; Gerard was given a life sentence. Gerard appealed the conviction and, on 8 December 2015, these charges were downgraded to manslaughter. In August 2016, the High Court of Australia re-instated the murder conviction.[4]

Allison Baden-Clay
Born
Allison June Dickie

(1968-07-01)1 July 1968
Corinda, Queensland, Australia
Died19 April 2012(2012-04-19) (aged 43)
Cause of deathHomicide
NationalityAustralian
SpouseGerard Robert Baden-Clay (1997–2012; her death)
Children3

Background

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On 23 August 1997, Allison June Dickie married[5] Gerard Robert Baden-Clay, who had been born in Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom on 9 September 1970.[5] In 1971, Gerard's family had migrated from Zambia to Rhodesia, where they changed their family name to "Baden-Clay" to associate the family with his father's grandfather, Lord Baden-Powell of Scouting fame. In 1980, the Baden-Clay family migrated to Australia.[6] After leaving school, Gerard trained in accountancy, and then worked for Flight Centre in Brisbane,[5] where Allison was a colleague.

At the time of Allison's death in 2012, the couple were on diverging financial paths. Allison had become an executive for Flight Centre, but Gerard, who had been running a successful up-market real estate franchise since 2004, was struggling following the disastrous Brisbane floods.[7] The couple lived in a rented house in Brookfield, Queensland along with their three daughters aged 10 and under.[7][8] In October 2011, Allison learnt of a long-standing affair her husband was having with an employee at his business.[7][9] At the time of her disappearance Allison's life was insured for more than A$800,000.[10]

Disappearance and discovery

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Memorial to Allison Baden-Clay, beside Kholo Creek where her body was found, 2024

At 7:14 am on Friday, 20 April 2012,[11] Gerard reported Allison missing. He claimed she sometimes went for a walk at 5am and assumed she had done so that morning. She was always back in time for their daughters' breakfast, and he became concerned when she had not returned home.[12]

On 30 April, a woman's body was found by a canoeist at Kholo Creek, Anstead, about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the Baden-Clay home in Brookfield. The following day, the body was confirmed to be Allison.[13] Her funeral was held in Ipswich on 11 May.[14] The autopsy report stated that the cause of death could not be determined.[15]

Trial and conviction

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On 13 June 2012, Gerard was formally interviewed at Indooroopilly police station and charged with Allison's murder and for interfering with her corpse.[16] He maintained his innocence and said he would "be strenuously defending the charges".[17] Gerard's bail application was denied on 22 June because Justice David Boddice said he posed a "significant flight risk".[18]

The trial began in the Brisbane Supreme Court on 10 June 2014. Gerard pleaded not guilty to the charges.[19] On 15 July, he was found guilty of murdering Allison.[20] He was given a life sentence with a non-parole period of fifteen years.[21] The charge of interfering with a corpse was dropped.

Defence appeal

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On 7 August 2015, Gerard appealed his conviction to the Queensland Court of Appeal.[22] On 8 December, his conviction was downgraded to manslaughter,[23][24] on the ground that the evidence at trial was not able to exclude a reasonable hypothesis that “there was a physical confrontation between [Baden-Clay] and his wife in which he delivered a blow which killed her (for example, by the effects of a fall hitting her head against a hard surface) without intending to cause serious harm".[25]

Prosecution appeal

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The decision of the Court of Appeal was controversial. There was a strong public reaction and a large rally was organised calling for an appeal to the High Court of Australia. On 18 December, a crowd estimated at around 4,000 people gathered in King George Square in the centre of Brisbane to support the proposal that the decision be appealed.[26] Some members of the legal profession, in turn, were vocal in defending the decision handed down by the Court of Appeal. Prominent Queensland lawyer Terry O'Gorman, for example, said that, "You don't have a murder case or any other case decided by who can yell out loudest in the media" and that "those who don't like it have to cop it because that is the law."[27] However, in an unusual move, the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions decided to appeal against the downgrade.[28][29] The following year, on 31 August 2016, more than four years after Allison had died, the High Court of Australia restored the original trial murder conviction.[25][30][31]

Later developments

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In February 2017, Allison's father was appointed the executor of her estate. It was ruled that Gerard Baden-Clay was not entitled to any benefits from her death.[32]

Legacy

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The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation was launched on 31 July 2015.[33] Its aim is to "create a Queensland community that acknowledges the prevalence of domestic and family violence".[34]

In March 2018, the first annual scholarship in Allison's memory for an aspiring ballet dancer was announced by the Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, who had known Allison as a child.[20][35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Baden-Clay guilty verdict: We finally have justice for Allison, family says". SBS News. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  2. ^ Calligeros, Marissa (31 May 2014). "The trial of Gerard Baden-Clay". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. ^ Stephens, Kim (7 August 2015). "Gerard Baden-Clay appeal: Was Allison's death murder?". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Baden-Clay jury seeks more guidance". www.theaustralian.com.au. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "The life and times of Gerard Baden-Clay, as supplied to police via affidavits used in bail application". News.com.au. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  6. ^ "Gerard-Baden-Clay-consummate-salesman-narcissist-and-killer". Brisbane Times. 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Australian True Crime: The Murder of Allison Baden-Clay with David Murray - #18". Apple Podcasts. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. ^ "Allison Baden-Clay Remembered Seven Years On | 10 daily". 10daily.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 May 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Gerard Baden-Clay's mistress flees Australia under 'Bridget Jones' alias". New Idea. 5 May 2019. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Allison's family spend last day in court". www.couriermail.com.au. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  11. ^ Murray, David (2014). The Murder of Allison Baden-Clay. Random House Australia. p. 4.
  12. ^ Davies, Lisa (5 May 2012). "Friend of murdered woman laments: 'She told me things, I should have done more'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 September 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  13. ^ Waters, Georgia (2 May 2012). "Police confirm body as Allison Baden-Clay". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  14. ^ Callinan, Rory; Jabour, Bridie (12 May 2012). "Reclusive side to grieving husband". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 November 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Allison Baden-Clay died of unknown causes, pathologist tells court". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 11 June 2014. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  16. ^ Worthington, Elise (16 June 2012). "Baden-Clay remanded in custody on murder charge". ABC News. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  17. ^ Sandy, Alison; Kyriacou, Kate (26 June 2012). "Gerard Baden-Clay's morning texts to dead wife". The Advertiser. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  18. ^ Remeikis, Amy (22 June 2012). "Accused wife-killer Gerard Baden-Clay denied bail". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  19. ^ Norton, Francene (11 June 2014). "Baden-Clay murder trial: Supreme Court jury told of marriage and debt problems". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  20. ^ a b Gerard Baden-Clay murder conviction reinstated by High Court Archived 24 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine ABC News, 31 Aug 2016
  21. ^ Norton, Francene (16 July 2014). "Gerard Baden-Clay given life sentence for murder of wife Allison". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  22. ^ Mellor, Leonie; Taylor, John; Hatzakis, Maria (7 August 2015). "Gerard Baden-Clay: Court of Appeal reserves decision over murder conviction". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Gerard Baden-Clay: Murder conviction downgraded to manslaughter over death of wife Allison". ABC News. 8 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  24. ^ R v Baden-Clay [2015] QCA 265.
  25. ^ a b "Baden-Clay and the perils of giving evidence in murder trials". Sterling Law. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  26. ^ Murray, David (2014). The Murder of Allison Baden-Clay. Random House Australia. p. 457.
  27. ^ Murray, op.cit., p.455.
  28. ^ Elks, Sarah (2 January 2016). "Queensland's high-stakes legal gamble over Gerard Baden-Clay". The Australian. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  29. ^ "High Court to hear appeal against Baden-Clay murder downgrade". ABC News. 25 July 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  30. ^ Wilson, Rae (31 August 2016). "High Court finds Gerard Baden-Clay murdered wife Allison". Sunshine Coast Daily. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  31. ^ The Queen v Baden-Clay [2016] HCA 35.
  32. ^ "Wife killer Gerard Baden-Clay not entitled to any of Allison's estate, court rules". ABC News. 23 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 July 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  33. ^ "Allison Baden-Clay Foundation targets violence". Brisbane Times. Australian Associated Press. 29 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  34. ^ "About the Foundation". The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  35. ^ Jessica van Vonderen (10 March 2018). "Allison Baden-Clay legacy lives on as ballet scholarship winner announced". abc.net.au. Archived from the original on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.

Further reading

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