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Friday, 09 January 2009

13 years: Gordon Wood sentenced for murdering Caroline Byrne

4/12/2008 10:46:00 AM.  | AAP

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Gordon Wood has been jailed for at least 13 years for throwing his girlfriend off a Sydney cliff 13 years ago.

On Thursday, Justice Graham Barr set a maximum term of 17 years and four months for Wood, the former driver for flamboyant stockbroker Rene Rivkin.

The 46-year-old was found guilty in the NSW Supreme Court last month of murdering Caroline Byrne, 24, at The Gap, a notorious suicide spot in Sydney's east, on June 7, 1995.

The judge backdated the sentence to include time Wood had spent in custody in the UK, where he was arrested in 2006, and since he was taken into custody after the guilty verdict.

The earliest date he will be eligible for release on parole is in October, 2021.

The judge said he was not satisfied the murder was premeditated and concluded it had been committed "in a rage".

He said he was satisfied that when Wood and Ms Byrne went to The Gap, their relations were "affable" and Wood had no thoughts of violence.

Justice Barr said he was satisfied the violence erupted after the couple engaged in a long and bitter argument, which went on during the evening and ended somewhere near the fence at the clifftop from which Ms Byrne was thrown.

There were more than 100 people in the public gallery for the sentencing on Thursday, including Wood's family and a large number of supporters.

Wood has indicated he will be appealing against his conviction.

Meanwhile, Ms Byrne's father says his family is satisfied with the 13-year minimum jail term.

Speaking after Wood was sentenced, Tony Byrne said all his family had wanted was the truth to come out about his daughter's death, and Wood's penalty was never a major issue.

However, Wood's family said they were devastated by the sentence because an innocent man had been convicted.

His sister Jacqueline Schmidt questioned how an innocent man could spend 13 minutes in jail, let alone 13 years.

"This case is riddled with doubt. Firstly, was it suicide or murder? There is not any conclusive evidence to show that a crime was committed," she said.

While the public gallery was full, the atmosphere for Justice Graham Barr's sentencing was much less emotional than when the jury handed down its guilty verdict in November.

Wood appeared calm and acknowledged his many supporters in the gallery.

COMMENTS

Thursday, 04 December 2008

Hmm, I suppose the judge weighed his evasiveness and the continuing hurt done to the family by his activity after?

Posted by: Happy Fun Ball, Carramar/Sydney

 

Thursday, 04 December 2008

He threw her to her death. I can see it in his face and in his eyes. And, all he gets is 11 years?? That is truely farsical. She wanted to break it off and he didn't. Simple as that.

Posted by: Pithy Opiner, Stockton, California

Thursday, 04 December 2008

"I can see it in his face and in his eyes." wow .. and we waste all this money on trials and such.. when all we have to do is have you cast your eyes upon anyone accused of anything and you can tell us straight away if they're guilty or not! - simply amazing

Posted by: skeptical aboutyourpowers, docklands

 

Thursday, 04 December 2008

Justice has almost been done. I ancient Britain they used to throw murderers in a peat bog. It's a damn shame we can't do the same. There is a peat bog at Robertson. Oh for the old ways. Some of the were good.

Posted by: Chanticlere ., keira

Thursday, 04 December 2008

You're sick "obey " Keep UR comments to the issue

Posted by: DENLO ., Wollongong

 

Thursday, 04 December 2008

I can't believe that I have been 'moderated' by LiveNEWS ever!!! after seeing this previous comment it is obvious that every bastard must have gone to lunch and left the f&*kin auto-pilot on... WTF is with that...?

Posted by: smartmouth bogandickhead, dapto

 

Thursday, 04 December 2008

What part of "GUILTY" does this grub and his family NOT understand? From day 1, we were wise enough to ascertain the shady character in him instilling harm to such a poor, beautiful but defenceless young lady in her prime with a blossoming career in such a despicable and inhumane manner. While Caroline's family are happy with the verdict, it should've been LIFE with this kind of atrocity inflicted on her. Knowing that she's gone, they can now resume their lives with some closure and relief.

Posted by: Dorita *, Sydney

 

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

Cant wait for Woodsie to start blabbing about who the other (greek former chauffer) bloke at the gap was that night...

Posted by: john deerfield, sydney

 
 

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