Tag Archives: Courier Mail

Prosecutor Danny Boyle appointed to Baden-Clay murder case-BAIL UPDATES

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Wearing hand-cuffs, Gerard Baden-Clay is driven into the Brisbane watch-house on Wednesday night after being charged with the murder of his wife Allis

Previous threads can be found using the links below, One being very first and so on…

One (26/04/12) here Two (14/05/12)  here Three (17/05/12) here Four (20/05/2012) here Five  (23/05/12) here Six (26/05/12) here Seven (28/05/12) here Eight (30/0512) here Nine (02/06/12) here Ten (08/06/12) here Eleven (11/06/12) here  Twelve 13/06/12 here Thirteen 17/06/12 here

Well tomorrow is the day Gerard Baden-Clays legal team go head to head with the DPP at Brisbane’s  Supreme Court to get bail.

AS has already been reported he may be in jail for several years before the case makes it to trial. That is the case whether he gets bail or not. I personally cannot fathom him getting bail, when you consider the potential to interfere with potential witnesses and evidence in this case. I’m certain that will be a hotly contested argument made tomorrow. His team will argue he has ties to the community, would abide by strict conditions and so on. It will be massive news either way. The  bail application is to be heard at 2.30pm and is scheduled to last 40 minutes.

I WILL KEEP THIS PAGE UPDATED WITH ALL THE LATEST AS IT UNFOLDS

UPDATE 3.06PM 21/06/12 New thread here folks http://goo.gl/wG56D

Is this true, bomb threats mid hearing, court has been evacuated? bloody hell. stay tuned, this is outrageous, is it connected to this hearing? There has been dozens of others without drama…I wonder…

Chaos reigns outside court amid claims of bomb threats and evacuations

His family keep their traps shut for 8 weeks, and now want some coin to help Gerard with his case today? Bit late to be seeking support now.

His family keeps their traps shut for 8 weeks, and now want some coin to help Gerard with his case today? Bit late to be seeking support now.

update 9.30am 21/06/12

THE family of Gerard Baden-Clay say they are “unwavering” in their support for “his innocence” and have appealed to friends and relatives to help them fund the legal defence.

A clean-shaven Baden-Clay is not expected to turn up to his bail application hearing today, but sister and brother-in-law Olivia and Ian Walton wrote in an email dated Tuesday, June 19, that they had raised sufficient surety to cover the amount required should he be released on bail.

However, the couple wrote they were still attempting to gather enough money to pay ongoing legal costs and required $30,000 by no later than 5pm yesterday.

Baden-Clay’s lawyer Darren Mahony said last night that he expected the bail application hearing to proceed today.

“Any comment about my engagement is prohibited by solicitor-client privilege,” he told The Courier-Mail.

The Courier-Mail also telephoned Baden-Clay’s father Nigel, but he hung up before any questions could be asked.

It has been confirmed Baden-Clay shaved off his beard to facilitate more forensic tests in compliance with a court order but a spokesman from the department of Justice and Attorney-General said yesterday he had not been asked to attend today’s hearing, but could if he wanted to.

If Baden-Clay is granted bail, he would have to comply with all the bail conditions before being released, which can often take several days.

After almost two months of a police investigation, which is continuing, the 41-year-old was last week charged with murder and interference with a corpse.

He reported his wife Allison missing on April 20 and her body was discovered 10 days later at Kholo Creek, Anstead, about 20km from the family home in Brookfield where she was last seen alive.

Baden-Clay will be represented in today’s hearing by barrister Peter Davis, SC.

The accused killer is currently in the medical unit of Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, but if he loses his bid for bail it is expected he will be taken to one of the prison’s standard 3m x 4m cells.

The prosecution, in its bid to keep him behind bars, will have to convince the presiding judge that Baden-Clay is either a risk of re-offending, could interfere with witnesses, may fail to appear at future court appearances or might flee the jurisdiction.

Although it is rare for an accused murderer to be granted bail, it can be in special cases provided certain conditions are met.

Meanwhile, a cricket day fundraiser will be held on Sunday at the Brookfield Showgrounds to raise money for the three Baden-Clay daughters.

To donate to the Late Allison Baden-Clay Children Appeal, Sanction Number CP5609; BSB 084 737; Account 133196502.

 THIS is the man whose role is to argue accused wife killer Gerard Baden-Clay should remain behind bars until his trial.

Prosecutor Danny Boyle.

Prosecutor Danny Boyle has been chosen as the Director of Public Prosecutions‘ man to mount a case in Brisbane’s Supreme Court to deny the father-of-three bail on Thursday.

Baden-Clay, 41, is accused of murdering his wife, Allison, at their Brookfield home in April.

His lawyer Darren Mahony said Baden-Clay would “defend the charge vigorously”.

Mr Boyle is an experienced prosecutor who has tried a number of murder trials, including one in 2009 which led to the conviction of a Hervey Bay man who paid a hitman $10,000 to murder his wife.

In April 2010, Mr Boyle prosecuted a man convicted and jailed for nine years for the manslaughter of his de facto wife in September 2008.

More recently Mr Boyle won convictions against two teenagers who brutally bashed a 52-year-old man to death in an inner-Brisbane city park in July 2008, and three dangerous prisoners convicted of killing a fellow central Queensland jail inmate 12 years ago.

Lawyers for Baden-Clay lodged an application for bail in the Brisbane Supreme Court’s civil jurisdiction last Thursday, less than 24-hours after the well-known real estate agent was taken into custody accused of killing Allison.

Several hours before the bail bid was lodged, Baden-Clay made two brief appearances – one just 40-seconds long – in the Brisbane Magistrates Court in Roma St.

Under Queensland law a person charged with murder cannot apply for bail in the lower courts, with any application to be considered and ruled upon by a justice of the Supreme Court.

Court documents obtained by The Courier-Mail show tomorrow’s bail application is to be heard at 2.30pm and is scheduled to last 40 minutes.

The documents also show Baden-Clay is charged with the murder of Allison June Baden-Clay and improperly interfering with her body on April 19, 2012.

It is unclear at this stage, but it’s likely respected barrister Peter Davis, SC will represent Baden-Clay at the bail application.

Baden-Clay is currently being housed in Wacol’s Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre‘s medical wing, locked away from any visitors other than his lawyer.

The Crown, in its bid to keep Baden-Clay behind bars, will have to convince the presiding judge the accused killer is either a risk of re-offending, could interfere with witnesses, fail to appear at future court appearances or flee the jurisdiction.

While it rare for an accused murdered to be given bail, it can be granted in special cases provided certain conditions are met.

The range of possible bail conditions can be regular reporting to police, posting of significant surety, staying away from witnesses, living at a designated address and surrendering any passports.

Should Baden-Clay fail to secure bail tomorrow, he can refer the matter to Queensland’s highest court – the Court of Appeal.

The Allison Baden-Clay Murder

Previous threads can be found using the links below, One being very first and so on…

One (26/04/12) here Two (14/05/12)  here Three (17/05/12) here Four (20/05/2012) here Five  (23/05/12) here Six (26/05/12) here Seven (28/05/12) here Eight (30/0512) here Nine (02/06/12) here Ten (08/06/12) here Eleven (11/06/12) here  Twelve 13/06/12 here Thirteen 17/06/12 here
 

PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING

The hurtful, spiteful, threatening, race fuelled, pure troublemaking type comments that have slipped by in the past will now be dealt with in an instant with Zero tolerancefolks.Be nice to each other and speak to others as you would expect to be spoken to yourselves. With decency, tact and acceptance of others right to a view opposite to your own. You do not have to agree, just be polite about saying so, it is not too much to ask! Otherwise you will be put into direct moderation until I read and allow EVERY comment you make…is that what we want?
Also if you feel you have been unduly  harassed or singled out or baited by another, try to refrain from replying to that person and sent me off an email with the Subject ALERT.I will deal with all queries ASAP…Thanks, Robbo
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UPDATE 3.06PM 21/06/12 New thread here folks http://goo.gl/wG56D

Alison Baden-Clay Investigation-Police interview owners of same type of cars

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In what one would imagine is a due process of tracking down all the similar cars in make and model and establish their whereabouts on the day(s) in question. One would imagine this could be very important down the track at a trial, where any decent defence would attempt to raise doubt about the cars. Here is a piece from the Courier Mail that came in overnight.

Please read this before you go on to read the rest and comment though folks!

I would personally like to make a plea to those of you who choose to make comments, to do so with due consideration to the circumstances surrounding this case and the 3 wonderful little girls lives have been destroyed.

WE all want answers and certainly Justice for Allison Baden-Clay and her family and we can honour her memory by trying to stay respectful of each other on here, whether or not you have formed an opinion on who is the guilty and who are not. Lots of ordinary folks like me and you have dedicated a lot of time to sit down and share themselves so we can have a collective place to delve into the who, where’s and whys of such a terrible crime.

WE are not judge or jury, that is obvious, and each and every one of you is entitled to say what you think, all I’m asking is NO PERSONAL ATTACKS, agree to disagree, and if it needs to be, just do not interact with a commenter you feel uneasy or judged by. You are welcome to contact me with any concerns as I will be stamping my foot down on the type of personal attack that sends valued contributors away and anyone found with multiple names/pseudonyms or resigns as a “New person” will be BANNED… I can see NO legite reason to pretend to be another (new) contributer etc. behave and you can be who you are simple…

Sound fair?

Thanks…Robbo

Previous threads can be found using the links below

Original First Post (26/04/12) here

Second updated Post (14/05/12)  here

Third Updated Post  (17/05/12) here

Fourth Updated Post (20th may 2012) here

Fifth Updated Post  (23/05/12) here

Sixth Updated Post (26/05/12) here

UPDATE THIS AFTERNOON 28/05/12

Police chief defends Allison Baden-Clay investigation

May 28, 2012 2:07PM

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson

QUEENSLAND’S police commissioner has defended detectives investigating the murder of Allison Baden-Clay, saying it’s important they are thorough.

It’s been more than five weeks since 43-year-old mother Allison Baden-Clay disappeared from her Brookfield home on April 20.

Her body was discovered on a creek bank 10 days later and toxicology results are expected to arrive this week.

No one has been charged and police refuse to say if they have any suspects.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson defended the slow-moving investigation, pointing out that it took eight years before there was a breakthrough in the Daniel Morcombe case.

“When you’re an investigator … you have to get it right. You don’t get a second chance,” he told reporters in Brisbane today.
“Everything that they do has got to be done properly in a considered way to gain all the evidence possible before they make a move.”

He was confident in the ability of investigators, whose commitment to catching the killer was “unwavering”.

“We will continue without in any sense easing off in terms of our efforts in the intensity of this investigation,” Mr Atkinson said.

“When and if we decide to prosecute anyone we have to make sure that we’ve got that as right as we can and we’ve done all we can in that space beforehand.”

Reports suggesting delays in the return of forensic results were a misunderstanding, he added.

“My understanding is that from the investigators’ point of view we’re in fact fine with the way this has been progressed,” he said.

POLICE are questioning western suburbs residents with cars similar to those driven by Gerard Baden-Clay about their movements on the night the real-estate identity’s wife disappeared.

The Courier-Mail understands one local woman, who owns a silver Holden Captiva, was questioned at the weekend on whether she had driven through the Kenmore roundabout at the intersection of Moggill and Brookfield roads on Thursday, April 19 – the night Mrs Baden-Clay was last seen alive.

In an apparent bid to clarify reported sightings and rule out various vehicles in the area, the woman was also asked whether she had recently pulled her car over to the side of Mt Crosby Rd.

Mrs Baden-Clay’s body was discovered on April 30 by a canoeist on the banks of Kholo Creek under the Mt Crosby Rd bridge at Anstead.

The mother-of-three was reported missing by her husband at 7.30am on April 20, after she failed to return from a late-night walk.

Police initially appealed for information from anyone who saw either of the family cars – a silver Holden Captiva or a white Toyota Prado – on the night Mrs Baden-Clay disappeared.

They later made repeated pleas for anyone who had driven through the Kenmore roundabout on April 19 between 11.30pm and 4am the following day to contact them.

On Thursday, May 10, police went to the roundabout and stopped cars between those same times looking for people who might be able to assist with their investigation.

(Click on image to see much larger version of collage)

The Allison Baden-Clay Murder Investigation
(click image for full size version)

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Allison Baden-Clay's husband Gerard had an affair, But we all knew that…

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Time a for a new thread, you guys are too active! All for a good cause, trying to solve this murder mystery…The old threads are listed below…Cheers

Original First Post (26/04/12) here (My apologies, this link was playing up, Fixed this morning…)

Second updated Post (14/05/12)  here

Third Updated Post  (17/05/12) here

update early edition 21/05/12 5am

POLICE are still interviewing friends and family of Allison and Gerard Baden-Clay in their quest to solve the murder of the Brookfield mother of three.

A month after she disappeared, police have made it clear they have a suspect, possibly more than one, but yesterday continued to run out numerous leads as they worked to solve the case.

They have also confirmed they believe Mrs Baden-Clay was killed by someone she knew.

But a police spokesman yesterday declined to comment on whether toxicology results from Mrs Baden-Clay would be able to confirm a definitive cause of death.

“Any investigation requiring forensic testing adheres to its own process and time-frames depending on the amount of evidence requiring testing and the nature of these tests,” the spokesman said.

“As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

BROOKFIELD mum Allison Baden-Clay’s husband Gerard had an affair with a woman who worked in their real estate franchise, friends say in evidence confirmed to police and central to investigations.

Former Century 21 Westside saleswoman Toni McHugh is alleged to have had an affair with Gerard Baden-Clay

Four weeks after her death a picture has emerged of a tumultuous final year for the Baden-Clays.

It included a public outing of the affair as the couple’s business imploded.

Police have been told the relationship between Mr Baden-Clay and former Century 21 Westside saleswoman Toni McHugh was widely known among friends and colleagues.

Ms McHugh is the former staffer reported to have been interviewed at least three times by detectives and confirmed the relationship to police, The Sunday Mail can reveal.

The affair has been a focus of investigations and may be a factor in Mr Baden-Clay’s near-silence publicly since his wife vanished and was found dead on a Kholo Creek riverbank at Anstead.

Friends were last year led to believe the relationship had ended but police have been told it was ongoing, helping to explain the repeated interviews of the former staffer.

Mr Baden-Clay’s lawyer declined to comment and Ms McHugh did not respond to calls yesterday, but has refused several interview requests since Allison disappeared.

“I’ve got nothing to say to you,” Ms McHugh, a former NSW art teacher, told The Sunday Mail when first reached a week after Mrs Baden-Clay vanished.

However, numerous sources spoke for the first time to reveal how the affair unravelled publicly long before Allison’s disappearance.

Staff reported spotting Mr Baden-Clay leaving Ms McHugh’s home after hours.

As the suspected relationship became a frequent discussion topic there was disquiet over perceptions that Ms McHugh received preferential treatment with new property listings.

“People saw them at events together. People saw them at dinners together. People had dinners with them together. It wasn’t a well kept secret,” said one person with intimate knowledge of the situation.

“I was shocked. Gerard’s history was of integrity and honesty. It was not something you could have suspected he could have been capable of being involved in. I had put him on a moral pedestal.”

With the marriage in trouble and Mrs Baden-Clay last year opening up about a breakdown in her relationship with her husband, friends are known to have asked her if her husband could be having an affair.

She denied it.

One person said: “She wanted the marriage to work.

“She did everything she could to make a happy home.”

Police have also been scouring the financial affairs of the Baden-Clays, who had rented their home at Brookfield.

Their Century 21 Westside business was ranked the brand’s top Brisbane franchise in 2010 and expanded from Kenmore to a bigger office at Taringa over Christmas, but nosedived after the January 2011 floods, insiders say.

Mr Baden-Clay’s business partners left the franchise late last year, records show.

One source said: “Things became incredibly difficult financially.” Educated at Sydney University, Ms McHugh taught in the Blue Mountains area outside Sydney for several years before moving to Queensland.

“She quickly won a role in property management and three years later caught the attention of Century 21 Westside principal Gerard Baden-Clay,” says an online profile.

Gerard Bayden-Clay at the Brookfield Show yesterday, was having an affair for much longer than first thought

The pair first met when Mr Baden-Clay presided over the sale of Ms McHugh’s block of land at Pullenvale.

“I wouldn’t have worked for just anyone,” Ms McHugh says in her profile.

“Century 21 Westside were ethically strong, results-driven and very much team players. I bring to this position empathy, understanding, a talent for solving problems and, above all, a true love of property.”



20/05/12

Allison Baden-Clay’s husband had an affair with a woman at his work that was widely known about, friends say in evidence central to police investigations into the Brisbane mother’s death.

The mother-of-three reportedly learned of the affair between Gerard Baden-Clay and Toni McHugh, a former saleswoman at the couple’s real estate franchise, around a year before her body was found under a bridge in West Brisbane on April 30.

Ms McHugh has been interviewed at least three times by police and confirmed the affair, which was ongoing and widely known among family and friends, The Courier Mail reports.

Mr Baden-Clay’s lawyer declined to comment on the reported affair and Ms McHugh was not answering her phone yesterday — she had refused earlier interview requests, saying she had “nothing to say”.

But numerous sources spoke to The Sunday Mail, saying the affair became public long before the 43-year-old mother was reported missing by her husband on April 20.

One colleague said things came to a head around the middle of 2011 when Mr Baden-Clay came to work and told staff his wife had discovered the affair — Ms McHugh resigned almost immediately after.

“People saw them at events together. People saw them at dinners together. People had dinners with them together. It wasn’t a well-kept secret,” a source told The Mail.

Mrs Baden-Clay’s husband reported her missing from their home in Brookfield at 7.30am (AEDT) on April 20 after she failed to return from a walk.

Her body was later found under a bridge over Kholo Creek.

Related articles

Allison Baden-Clay’s husband Gerard had an affair, But we all knew that…

Posted on by
564

Time a for a new thread, you guys are too active! All for a good cause, trying to solve this murder mystery…The old threads are listed below…Cheers

Original First Post (26/04/12) here (My apologies, this link was playing up, Fixed this morning…)

Second updated Post (14/05/12)  here

Third Updated Post  (17/05/12) here

update early edition 21/05/12 5am

POLICE are still interviewing friends and family of Allison and Gerard Baden-Clay in their quest to solve the murder of the Brookfield mother of three.

A month after she disappeared, police have made it clear they have a suspect, possibly more than one, but yesterday continued to run out numerous leads as they worked to solve the case.

They have also confirmed they believe Mrs Baden-Clay was killed by someone she knew.

But a police spokesman yesterday declined to comment on whether toxicology results from Mrs Baden-Clay would be able to confirm a definitive cause of death.

“Any investigation requiring forensic testing adheres to its own process and time-frames depending on the amount of evidence requiring testing and the nature of these tests,” the spokesman said.

“As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

BROOKFIELD mum Allison Baden-Clay’s husband Gerard had an affair with a woman who worked in their real estate franchise, friends say in evidence confirmed to police and central to investigations.

Former Century 21 Westside saleswoman Toni McHugh is alleged to have had an affair with Gerard Baden-Clay

Four weeks after her death a picture has emerged of a tumultuous final year for the Baden-Clays.

It included a public outing of the affair as the couple’s business imploded.

Police have been told the relationship between Mr Baden-Clay and former Century 21 Westside saleswoman Toni McHugh was widely known among friends and colleagues.

Ms McHugh is the former staffer reported to have been interviewed at least three times by detectives and confirmed the relationship to police, The Sunday Mail can reveal.

The affair has been a focus of investigations and may be a factor in Mr Baden-Clay’s near-silence publicly since his wife vanished and was found dead on a Kholo Creek riverbank at Anstead.

Friends were last year led to believe the relationship had ended but police have been told it was ongoing, helping to explain the repeated interviews of the former staffer.

Mr Baden-Clay’s lawyer declined to comment and Ms McHugh did not respond to calls yesterday, but has refused several interview requests since Allison disappeared.

“I’ve got nothing to say to you,” Ms McHugh, a former NSW art teacher, told The Sunday Mail when first reached a week after Mrs Baden-Clay vanished.

However, numerous sources spoke for the first time to reveal how the affair unravelled publicly long before Allison’s disappearance.

Staff reported spotting Mr Baden-Clay leaving Ms McHugh’s home after hours.

As the suspected relationship became a frequent discussion topic there was disquiet over perceptions that Ms McHugh received preferential treatment with new property listings.

“People saw them at events together. People saw them at dinners together. People had dinners with them together. It wasn’t a well kept secret,” said one person with intimate knowledge of the situation.

“I was shocked. Gerard’s history was of integrity and honesty. It was not something you could have suspected he could have been capable of being involved in. I had put him on a moral pedestal.”

With the marriage in trouble and Mrs Baden-Clay last year opening up about a breakdown in her relationship with her husband, friends are known to have asked her if her husband could be having an affair.

She denied it.

One person said: “She wanted the marriage to work.

“She did everything she could to make a happy home.”

Police have also been scouring the financial affairs of the Baden-Clays, who had rented their home at Brookfield.

Their Century 21 Westside business was ranked the brand’s top Brisbane franchise in 2010 and expanded from Kenmore to a bigger office at Taringa over Christmas, but nosedived after the January 2011 floods, insiders say.

Mr Baden-Clay’s business partners left the franchise late last year, records show.

One source said: “Things became incredibly difficult financially.” Educated at Sydney University, Ms McHugh taught in the Blue Mountains area outside Sydney for several years before moving to Queensland.

“She quickly won a role in property management and three years later caught the attention of Century 21 Westside principal Gerard Baden-Clay,” says an online profile.

Gerard Bayden-Clay at the Brookfield Show yesterday, was having an affair for much longer than first thought

The pair first met when Mr Baden-Clay presided over the sale of Ms McHugh’s block of land at Pullenvale.

“I wouldn’t have worked for just anyone,” Ms McHugh says in her profile.

“Century 21 Westside were ethically strong, results-driven and very much team players. I bring to this position empathy, understanding, a talent for solving problems and, above all, a true love of property.”



20/05/12

Allison Baden-Clay’s husband had an affair with a woman at his work that was widely known about, friends say in evidence central to police investigations into the Brisbane mother’s death.

The mother-of-three reportedly learned of the affair between Gerard Baden-Clay and Toni McHugh, a former saleswoman at the couple’s real estate franchise, around a year before her body was found under a bridge in West Brisbane on April 30.

Ms McHugh has been interviewed at least three times by police and confirmed the affair, which was ongoing and widely known among family and friends, The Courier Mail reports.

Mr Baden-Clay’s lawyer declined to comment on the reported affair and Ms McHugh was not answering her phone yesterday — she had refused earlier interview requests, saying she had “nothing to say”.

But numerous sources spoke to The Sunday Mail, saying the affair became public long before the 43-year-old mother was reported missing by her husband on April 20.

One colleague said things came to a head around the middle of 2011 when Mr Baden-Clay came to work and told staff his wife had discovered the affair — Ms McHugh resigned almost immediately after.

“People saw them at events together. People saw them at dinners together. People had dinners with them together. It wasn’t a well-kept secret,” a source told The Mail.

Mrs Baden-Clay’s husband reported her missing from their home in Brookfield at 7.30am (AEDT) on April 20 after she failed to return from a walk.

Her body was later found under a bridge over Kholo Creek.

Related articles