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Counting Dead Women Australia: 81 by December 31, 2013

Updated: Jul 31




We count every known death due to violence against women in Australia:

81 by December 31.


If you are using the research from this project, please credit the work of the researchers who do this heartbreaking and difficult work. They are the Counting Dead Women Australia researchers of Destroy The Joint. Thank you.

Destroy The Joint and Counting Dead Women Australia also thank the many journalists in Australia who continue to report responsibly on the epidemic of violence against women and whose work is used here as reference.

Our register for 2013 now stands at 81.

81

December 29:

Maureen Horstman (67), mother of Tamara, killed at her home in Warwick. Lesley Cameron (19), not known to the women, pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to a minimum of 32 years. http://www.abc.net.au/.../lesley-cameron.../6391422 WA


80

December 29:

Tamara Horstman (26), daughter of Maureen, killed at her home in Warwick. Lesley Cameron (19) , not known to the women, pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to a minimum of 32 years for the double murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../lesley-cameron.../6391422 WA


79

December 21:

Unnamed woman (42) found stabbed to death in the bedroom of her home at Kowanyama. Her partner Harry Zingle (42) found guilty of murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../cape-york-man-found.../6551798 QLD


78

December 21:

Marika Ninness (35) dies of head injuries in hospital having never regained consciousness after she was allegedly king hit on December 7 in an East Maitland car park. Her partner, Ross Merrick (30), found guilty of manslaughter. https://www.theherald.com.au/.../killer-sentenced-to-11.../ NSW


77

December 19:

Cathy Browning (47) stabbed to death at home in Skye. Her husband, Brian Browning (53), found guilty of murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../man-found-guilty-of.../6450260 VIC


76

December 8:

Korinne Aylward (35) and Greg Tucker (54) stabbed to death at their home in Moonee Ponds. Mustafa Kunduraci (44), known to the couple, found guilty of murder. http://www.thecourier.com.au/.../tradie-mustafa.../ VIC


75

December 8: Unnamed woman (48) stabbed to death at the Karnte camp, Alice Springs. An unnamed woman (30) charged with murder. http://www.ntnews.com.au/.../story-fnk0b1zt-1226778116389 NT


74

December 5:

Satwant ‘Sally’ Kaur (57) stabbed to death at her home in Koondoola. Her stepson Catalin Borbil (19) was convicted of her murder, sentenced to life (non-parole period of 17 years). https://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/.../inquest_into_the... http://www.abc.net.au/.../koondoola-stepmother.../6221828 NSW


73

December 4:

Christie Camilleri (32) stabbed to death at a friend’s flat in Guildford. Ex-partner, Stuart Morphy (25), charged with murder. http://www.parramattasun.com.au/.../man-to-face-court.../ WA


72

December 1:

Anne Cheek (59) found drowned in the swimming pool at her home at Pacific Pines. Investigators believe Michael Cheek (56) drowned his wife, then walked from the pool to the laundry and hanged himself. http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/.../story-fnje8bkv... QLD


71

November 29:

Karen Kugel (52) stabbed to death at her home in Devonport. Mark Mason (39), known to Ms Kugel, was found guilty of her murder. Marlene Xuereb (61) also suffered life-threatening stab wounds. https://www.magistratescourt.tas.gov.au/.../Eaton,-Jodi... http://www.abc.net.au/.../life-in-prison-for.../6503826 TAS


70

November 26:

Keeli Dutton (41) found dead at a friend’s unit in Miller. Her de facto partner, David Murray (49), found guilty of murder. https://au.news.yahoo.com/sydney-partner-killer-jailed... NSW


69

November 26:

Kwementyaye Bigfoot (29) killed at Bagot Community, Ludmilla. Her husband, Conway Stevenson (27) found guilty of murder. http://www.ntnews.com.au/.../story-fnk0b1zt-1227007751476 NT


68

November 25–26: Ms EP, known only from the redacted coronial record, was battered to death with an axe at her home in Revesby by her husband, who then hanged himself. https://tinyurl.com/ubuo7hn NSW


67

November 24:

Eunji Ban (22) beaten to death in a Brisbane CBD park while on her way to work. Alex McEwan (19), unknown to Ms Ban, charged with murder but found mentally unfit for trial. http://www.abc.net.au/.../eunji-bans-alleged.../6483162 QLD


66

November 14:

Ivana Ukropina (29) stabbed to death outside her home in Kingsford. Her father Djuro Ukropina (57) found guilty of murder. https://www.perthnow.com.au/.../sydney-father-jailed-for... NSW


65

November 5:

Suzil Oghia (31) found stabbed to death at her Noble Park unit. Her estranged husband, Bona Lual (37), found guilty of murder. https://tinyurl.com/ykm8nvj9 VIC


64

October 31:

Jacqueline Franklin (34) strangled then buried in a shallow grave on a property at Stansbury. The remains found two months after her disappearance. Darren Collins (35) charged with murder, convicted and sentenced to life (20 year non-parole period). He was known to Ms Franklin. http://www.abc.net.au/.../darren-collins-jailed.../6352932 SA


63

October 31:

Gwen Fowler (83) killed by insulin poisoning at a nursing home in Wallsend, a male resident also killed and a third resident survived. Garry Davis (27) found guilty of murder and attempted murder https://www.abc.net.au/.../nsw-nursing-home.../8115392 NSW


62

October 23:

Maddison Murphy-West (20) found dead at her Pakenham home. Her death was caused by neck compression, but her partner Troy Boothey (25) maintained she had committed suicide. Boothey was found dead in his home in May 2019 and in December 2020 a coronial inquest found that he had likely killed Ms Murphy-West. https://tinyurl.com/yc6l3xfv VIC


61

October 16:

Jennifer Dowell (62) was stabbed to death at her home in Lake Haven. Her partner Bruce O’Keefe (53) was found injured at the scene. He was found not guilty of murder in 2015, due to mental illness. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/.../story-fngr8h0p... (detail supplied by niece, Jo Dowell) NSW


60

October 12:

Colleen Tae Ford (18) (‘Miss Ford’ in court hearings) found on October 11 at an address in Beckenham with serious injuries. Taken to Royal Perth Hospital but died of extensive bashing, stabbing and cutting injuries the next day. Her partner Rodney Corbett (28) found guilty of murder. https://www.abc.net.au/.../perth-man-rodney-kevin.../6678168 WA


59

October 11:

Rekiah O’Donnell (22) shot in the head at Sunshine North. Ex-partner, Nelson Lai (34), found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter. https://www.news.com.au/.../58bd5a32bdfd27b615bbb7881fe25ad4 VIC


58

September 26:

Elizabeth Barnes (37) murdered at Yarra Junction. Her partner, Andrew Klaussner (39), charged with murder three weeks after, pleaded guilty. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/.../ec777fdcc7b6dc10da446a6f... VIC


57

September 26:

Helen Rocha (40) missing from this date, last seen with Keith Earnshaw, whom she had known for 15 years. Her remains found at Earnshaw’s house at Parmelia in February, 2014 after police undercover operation. Keith Earnshaw (42) found guilty of murder, sentenced to life (non-parole period, 23 years) http://www.abc.net.au/.../man-sentenced-for.../5802266  WA


56

September 20:

Genine Ballantine (44), and her partner, Steven White (44), killed in a fire at their home in Deer Park. Her ex-husband, David Campbell (45), admitted setting the fire as ‘payback’ and pleaded guilty to two counts of arson causing death. https://www.sbs.com.au/.../jealous-fatal-arsonist-jailed... VIC


55

September 19:

Debra Wolfgram (54) bashed to death in Hamilton South. Michael Clarke (43), known to Ms Wolfgram, found guilty of murder, sentenced to 22 years (non-parole period of 16 years and six months) http://www.theherald.com.au/.../22-years-for-savage-attack/ NSW


54

September 13:

Leonie Austin (58) suffocated at her home in Medlow Bath. Her daughter, Eliza Waters (30), charged with murder but found not guilty on the ground of mental illness and it was ordered that she remain in detention until the Mental Health Tribunal determines she should be released. https://au.news.yahoo.com/.../police-were-warned-before.../ NSW


53

September 13:

Colina Pausa (31) found unconscious in a toilet block in Cairns, flown to Townsville Hospital with severe head wounds, where she later died. Her partner Justin Tamwoy (32) pleaded guilty to manslaughter https://www.news.com.au/.../a4e5ca92b5e306bd9d4995ca3d57df7e QLD


52

September 02:

Jill Evans (62) bashed to death at her Riverside home by her husband John Evans (62), who then killed himself with an unregistered firearm after ringing 000. https://www.magistratescourt.tas.gov.au/.../Evans... http://www.examiner.com.au/.../motive-unknown-in-murder... TAS


51

August 21:

Unnamed woman (42) stabbed to death at her home in Broome. Her partner, Peter Brooking (49), charged with murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../man-charged-over-broome.../4904378 WA


50

August 21:

Louise Dekens (43) and her partner, David Young (43), killed in a machete attack at their Coolum home by David's brother, Anthony Young (42), who was later shot dead by police. http://www.couriermail.com.au/.../story-fnihsrf2... QLD


49

August 17:

Kwementyaye (Marita) Bennett (34) stabbed to death at Charles Creek town camp. Her partner, Edgar Forrester (51) charged with murder, subsequently pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 7 years (non-parole period of 4 years and 3 months) http://www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au/.../Forrester-09022015...  NT


48

August 14:

Trudi Wallace (46) found beaten to death, wrapped in a tarpaulin and dumped in an alley at Hermit Park. Her partner, Kevin Greenaway (37) charged with murder. http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/.../story-fnjfzs4b...  QLD


47

August 10:

Sandeep Thind (30) found strangled in the toilets at McDonald’s, Gregory Hills, with her husband and co-worker, Ranjit Singh (38) also injured. She died later in hospital. Ranjit Singh was charged with murder and committed suicide later while in custody.  http://www.news.com.au/.../ac0763b1785a2241114ce2d4f444e92d NSW


46

August 3:

Allira Green (23), who was five months pregnant, stabbed to death in her home. Her partner, Chris Anderson (38), found guilty of manslaughter. https://www.abc.net.au/.../sydney-man-jailed-for.../7310818 NSW


45

August 1:

Kylie Blackwood (42) found stabbed to death in her Pakenham home by her 11 year old daughters. Scott Murdoch (38), not known to Ms Blackwood, was arrested in 2016, pleaded guilty to her murder in 2019 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2020. In April 2021 he was found dead in his cell. https://tinyurl.com/2jzr9k3j https://tinyurl.com/y7a88g96 VIC


44

July 29:

Purvi Joshi (28) stabbed to death at her home in Kyeemagh. A former lover of her fiancé, Manisha Patel (30), was found guilty of murder, but the conviction was quashed and a new trial ordered. https://www.connectedtoindia.com/indian-woman-gets-new... NSW


43

July 22:

Cherie Vize (25) stabbed at her partner’s family home in Farmborough Heights, dies later in hospital. Her partner, Michael Quinn (25) suffered self-inflicted knife wounds which left him a quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair. He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. In August 2022 a coroners report revealed that Quinn died of natural causes while hospitalised in 2020. https://tinyurl.com/3va4hznp https://tinyurl.com/yktkhjpu NSW


42

July 21:

Tracy Connelly (40) murdered in her van at St Kilda. Investigations continue. http://www.news.com.au/.../story-fns0kb1g-1227282318533  VIC


41

July 15:

Teresa Mancuso (49) stabbed to death at her Reservoir home. Her ex-husband, Fernando Paulino (55) found guilty of her murder. https://tinyurl.com/2ce82sfw https://www.abc.net.au/.../fernando-paulino.../9276454 VIC


40

July 12:

Dianne Rogan (52) bashed and left to die in the backyard of her house in Whyalla. Bevan Brougham (52) acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter, sentenced to 15 years. He was known to Ms Rogan. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/.../story-fni6uo1m... SA


39

July 11:

Sue Glasgow (49) shot by her ex-partner while picking up the last few items from the couple's former home at Woongarrah. Dave Chalmers (51) then killed himself. http://www.theherald.com.au/.../brutal-central-coast.../ NSW


38

July 04:

Caroline Widgell stabbed to death in her home at Wilsonton Heights. Her cousin, John Brown (30), found guilty of manslaughter. https://www.thechronicle.com.au/.../jurors-say.../3102506/ QLD


37

June 24:

Angela Ferullo (43) stabbed to death at her business premises in Como, her pregnant daughter and a customer who tried to intervene also injured. Former partner, James Payet (48), has pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to life (with a 25 year non-parole period). Angela Ferullo posthumously awarded the Star of Courage for saving the life of her daughter in the attack. http://www.watoday.com.au/.../angela-ferullo-awarded-star... WA


36

May 21:

Joan Ryther (27) raped and murdered on her way to work in Logan. Andrew Burke (18) found guilty of murder, rape and the killing of Ms Ryther’s unborn child. https://www.abc.net.au/.../andrew-michael-burke.../7701194 QLD


35

May 18:

Charmaine Winmar (36) stabbed to death at her Narrogin home. Ex-partner Kevin Corbett (48) found guilty of murder. https://www.abc.net.au/.../perth-man-rodney-kevin.../6678168 WA


34

May 15:

Venesa Farcich (31) strangled at her home in Girrawheen. Her husband, Nikol Stoeski (37), convicted of her murder and that of his best friend later the same day, sentenced to life (21 year non-parole period) http://www.abc.net.au/.../life-sentence-for-drug.../6314370 WA


33

May 3:

Lana Towers (25) bashed to death at her Aldinga Beach home. Partner, Michael McDonald (32), convicted of murder, sentenced to life (23 year non-parole period) http://www.abc.net.au/.../michael-suve-mcdonald.../5983214 SA


32

April 31:

Linda Stevens (41) stabbed to death at her home in Wollongong, her body later found in the boot of her car in bushland. Colin Farrow (39), to whom she had dealt drugs, found guilty of murder, sentenced to 22 years (non-parole period of 15 years) http://www.abc.net.au/.../colin-maxwell-farrow.../6359276 (ABC, 30/3/2015) WA


31

April 29:

Souad Benhammadi (45) bashed and stabbed to death at her home in Canning Vale. Her husband, Messaoud Chiha (52), has pleaded not guilty to murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../messaoud-chiha-on-trial.../6389278 NSW


30

April 22:

Saria Johnson (20) shot and killed at St Albans. Jovan Jojic (22) acquitted of manslaughter. https://www.theage.com.au/.../jovan-jojic-acquitted-over... VIC


29

April 22:

Pauline Thomas (63) strangled and Bill Thomas (64) shot at their home outside Wangaratta. Their son, Ian Thomas (36), found guilty of murder. https://www.theage.com.au/.../ian-thomas-sentenced-to... VIC


28

April 21:

Noleen Hayson Pal (30) stabbed and set alight at her home in Werrington. Ex-husband, Man Haron Monis (49), charged with being an accessory before and after the fact of murder, and his partner, Amirah Droudis (34), charged with murder. Monis was subsequently shot and killed while perpetrating the siege of the Lindt Café in Sydney so his prosecution will fail. Droudis was found guilty of murder https://www.abc.net.au/.../man-monis-girlfriend.../8228516 NSW.


27

April (between the 17th and the 19th):

Kate Malonyay (32) suffocated and beaten to death in her Mosman home. Her partner, Elliot Coulson (32), fell to his death in Surfers Paradise, attempting to evade arrest for murder. Coronial inquest confirmed her murder and Coulson as the perpetrator. http://www.smh.com.au/.../kate-malonyay-murdered-by... QLD


26

April 17:

Kara Doyle (24) shot at her Avondale Heights home; died in hospital five days later. Boyfriend, Mehmet Torun (25), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to eight years (non-parole period of five years) DPP appealed the sentence and lost. http://www.theage.com.au/.../kara-doyles-mother-jenny... VIC


25

April 15:

Janelle Knox (34) choked to death with a rope at Kelmscott and her body dumped in the Canning River. Peter Bradshaw (34) has been found guilty of murder. He was not previously known to Ms Knox. http://www.abc.net.au/.../bradshaw-sentenced-to.../6755424 WA


24

April 10:

Renee Peta Todd (26) strangled in her Kingaroy townhouse. Her ex-partner Glen Duggan (39) found guilty of manslaughter http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/.../kingaroy-man... QLD


23

April 6:

Amanda Wood (43) shot and killed at her Port Hedland home. Her husband, Kenneth Wood (64), charged with murder, convicted and sentenced to life with a 20-year minimum term. http://www.abc.net.au/.../port-hedland-man.../5467976 WA


22

April 6:

Sharon Siermans (29) bashed to death in her home in Ballarat. Jason Dinsley (30), on parole at the time of the murder, convicted and sentenced to life with a non-parole period of 32 years. http://www.abc.net.au/.../parolee-murderer.../5170152 VIC


21

April 6:

Unnamed woman (27) found dead beside the Buntine Highway at Kalkarindji. Her partner, also unnamed (32), charged with murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../death-renews-calls-for.../4614300 NT


20

March (nd):

Chantal Barnett (27) and Robert Martinez (26) disappeared from the Rockhampton area. Robert Armstrong (33) and Daniel Hong (43) pleaded guilty to interfering with a corpse, and murder charges were dropped. http://www.abc.net.au/.../trial-deaths-chantal.../10263670 QLD


19

March 29:

Felicia Crawford (45) and her husband, Paul Breen (55), stabbed to death in their Killarney Vale home. Her stepson, Corey Breen (26), charged with murder. http://www.abc.net.au/.../new-charges-over.../4604924 NSW


8

March 29:

Rachelle Rowlinson (43) stabbed at her home in Eudunda. Paul Wheeler (45), known to Ms Rowlinson, found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, sentenced to15 years and 10 months (non-parole, 12 years) http://www.abc.net.au/.../paul-wheeler-jailed.../5657724 SA


17

March 12:

Cheree Lawson (26) bashed to death at Dareton. Her partner, Darren Johnson (25), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 21 years (non-parole, 15 years and 9 months). http://www.abc.net.au/.../dareton-man-to-remain.../6074582 NSW


16

March 10:

Natalie Leaney (26) shot at her home in Rochedale South. Her partner, Chris Koani (29), charged with murder, eventually found guilty of manslaughter. http://www.couriermail.com.au/.../story-e6freoof... Retrial ordered: http://www.9news.com.au/.../high-court-quashes-man-s... QLD


15

March 9:

Clare Weston (23) found choked to death near Melville Ford Bridge, Maitland. Her partner, George Ballantyne (30), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 19 years (non-parole, 14 years 3 months) http://www.abc.net.au/.../man-sentenced-to-almost.../5801770 NSW


14

March 6:

Elsie Robertson (39) was battered to death at her home in Cairns. Her partner James Grannigan (38) pleaded guilty to her manslaughter. https://tinyurl.com/u9bkrcy QLD


13

February 25:

Shan Wu (31) stabbed to death in her Newcastle home. Boyfriend Zhaoyun Wang (33) charged with murder, pleaded guilty and sentenced to 20 years (non-parole period of 15 years). http://www.abc.net.au/.../lawyer-sentenced-to.../6401686... NSW


12

February 19:

Kwementyaye Coulthard (25) bashed to death at Larrapinta camp. Her partner, Everett Wheeler (29), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 10 years 6 months (non-parole 7 years) http://www.abc.net.au/.../alice-springs-man.../5579278 NT


11

February 11:

Rita Addenbrooke (59) run over at the caravan park she managed in Madeley, 0n February 9, died of her injuries. Katie Walkerley (46) found guilty of manslaughter, sentenced to 6 years and 6 months http://www.abc.net.au/.../katie-walkerley-jailed.../5840486 WA


10

February 10:

Kowanyama woman Ms Bernard (23) was seen at a pub in Coen on Cape York. She then allegedly travelled to Archer River Quarry with caretaker Thomas Byrnes (51). Several days later, her family reported her missing after she failed to get in touch. For almost 11 years no charges were laid, despite investigations, an ongoing coronial inquest and a $500,000 reward. Ms Bernard’s body has not yet been found. On January 31st, 2024, Byrnes was charged with one count of murder and three unrelated charges and was remanded in custody. Nothing further is reported at present. http://tinyurl.com/3yx8dh4r QLD


9

February 9 :

Shandee Blackburn (23) stabbed to death in Mackay, while walking home from work. Ex-boyfriend, John Peros (32), charged with murder and robbery with wounding after an 18 month investigation, but found not guilty. A coronial inquest commenced in June 2019 found there was ample evidence that Peros was responsible for her death. After investigative reporting in the media in 2020-21, the Qld health minister requested that the inquest be reopened. In 2022 Peros launched a civil action against the creators of the podcast, Shandee's Story. https://tinyurl.com/bmmwppcc https://tinyurl.com/ycxruuyh QLD


8

February 9:

Susan Sarkis (21) stabbed to death at her home in Brighton-le-Sands. Her cousin and flatmate, Katherine Abdallah (32), found guilty of manslaughter, jailed for 11 years. http://www.smh.com.au/.../katherine-abdallah-jailed-for... NSW


7

February 6:

Novy Chardon (34) was last seen at a service station at the Gold Coast: her body has never been found. In May 2018 her husband John Chardon (65) was committed to stand trial and in 2019 was found guilty of her manslaughter. He died in prison in October 2020, without revealing the whereabouts of Ms Chardon's body. https://tinyurl.com/y6yxmphy https://tinyurl.com/swqq6lb QLD


6

January 31:

Unnamed woman (66) assaulted at her home in Emu Plains. Taken to Westmead Hospital where she later died. Her son (26) charged with murder. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/.../story-fngr8i5s... NSW


5

February 5:

Flora Nelson (31) bashed to death at a house in Kununurra. Her partner, Solomon Jabanunga Langdon (40), convicted of murder, sentenced to life imprisonment, (21 years non-parole) http://www.abc.net.au/.../man-sentenced-to-life.../6071072 WA


4

January 29:

Breeana Robinson (21) died after plunging from the balcony of her high rise apartment in Southport, Queensland. In 2017 a coroner asked that key evidence be re-examined. In January 2019 her former partner Jayden Moorea (45), then known as Dan Shearin, was arrested and charged with her murder, damaging evidence, and attempted fraud. In September 2023 charges against him were dropped as prosecution bekieved they had no hope of securing conviction. https://tinyurl.com/tkc3uuy8 https://tinyurl.com/mvvx38zn QLD


3

January 20:

Salaseini Batirau (46) stabbed to death at her home in Macquarie Fields. Her husband, Nacanieli Lutu (48), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to18 years 9 months (non-parole period 14 years) http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/.../story-fni0cx12... NSW


2

January 12:

Julie Grant (41) died after assault at her home at The Entrance. Her defacto partner, Shannon Mahon (43), pleaded guilty to murder and contravening an apprehended violence order. He was on bail for allegedly assaulting her at the time. Sentenced to 22 years 6 months (non-parole 16 years 10 months) http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/.../mahon... NSW


1

January 3:

Cathy McPhee (58) stabbed to death by her husband, Stephen McPhee (55), at their home in Mildura. Sentenced to 20 years (16 years non-parole period) http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/.../20-years-for-killer.../ VIC 

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