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A short post today, as I have just heard the news of the Guilty verdict in the high-profile murder case of Alison Baden-Clay.
Beautiful wife and mother of three little girls, Alison disappeared one night, two years ago, to the shock of our local community.
Today her husband, Gerard Baden-Clay, was sentenced to life imprisonment for her murder. He has brought shame to the memory of his great-grandfather, Lord Baden Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement.
Like many others, I feel tears of relief and sadness that justice has now been done. The victim impact statements by her family are heart-breaking.
I have never commented on this before, because this happened in my neighbourhood. We live in a gentle, idyllic, semi-rural area, on the edge of the city. Nothing bad happens here. Not until that night.
For the 10 days until Alison's body was found, 13km away, our homes were buzzed by searching helicopters all day, every day.
The creek where I walk was dragged and searched, people were questioned, we saw the hundreds of police combing their property and our area. It was eerie and frightening. There could be a murderer in our midst.
Well, there was, but it was her own husband.
I did not know her personally, but Alison was a member of the same parish, community and neighbourhood. Her favourite colour was sunny yellow.
My heart goes out to her little girls, her parents and family.
May she rest in peace.
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Yes, this is so very sad. A very troubled man, I feel so for the little girls.
ReplyDeleteYes, sad in every way Sarah Liz. It is wonderful how the local community have gathered round to help the grandparents and the three little girls, whose lives have been changed forever.
DeleteI hope that your community can in time recover from this, it must have been awful for everyone. xx
ReplyDeleteThis was a very shocking event for us, Amy. The only good that comes out is the way the community rallied around to help the family and establish a trust fund for the children. It does bring the community closer together, as many of them have said to the media. xx
DeleteWhat a horrible thing to happen, Patricia. It sounds like something from a TV series like Midsomer Murders, not something that would happen in real life. The time between the murder and her husband being taken into custody must have been a very scary time for everyone in your community. What happened to the little girls? I can't imagine what it will be like for them growing up without a mom and knowing their father was the one who killed her.
ReplyDeleteSo traumatic for this community, Kristie, and I could not help myself reading the very long articles in the newspaper today. It is surreal to read a story where every detail happens in your own locality. The details would make a movie, and I wonder if that might happen some time in the future. The girls are beautifully cared for by Alison's parents, within a blanket of security and anonymity helped by her many friends.
DeleteHow very sad that we continue to have these tragedies happen. I'm glad the case was solved and the guilty husband punished. Their poor children. Growing up without parents. A lovely post and tribute, Patricia.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad, Sanda, and the victim impact statements made by her parents and siblings were so tragic, especially regarding the girls. It seems that every week some woman loses her life at the hands of a partner or family member in this country.
DeleteSo sad, Patricia, and somehow the security of a neighbourhood is never quite the same after such a cruel tragedy. Even our tiny village in Wales has known murder, but in different circumstances. Nowhere is immune.
ReplyDeleteYes, nowhere is immune, and our area is still in shock. Today the morning TV show was filming at our local store - bizarre and surreal.. It is the end of two years of wondering what would transpire, so now it is time to move on.
DeleteSuch a sad thing and I'm sure it must have been nerve wracking having all the police and media around. Even now that the husband has been found guilty I'm sure there will be ripples in the community for ages. Glad to hear the little girls have caring Grandparents and community support.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Yes, ripples still go on, Darla, like when I went to the hairdressers yesterday. An Appeal has been announced, so the business will continue for a while longer. Community support is key.
DeleteHopefully the nightmare is over...
ReplyDeleteHopefully justice prevails..
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Happy we live in a democracy, where such matters can be dealt with in a court of law with a jury.
DeleteCheers, Linda.
Yes, I heard that too Val, and it really makes you think. This particular case has just caught media attention for a few reasons: their high profile and the type of community where they lived being the main ones. It still gives me the shudders.
ReplyDeleteA horrid story, which seems to have really shaken Australia as I keep reading about it in blogs. But when it's about someone of your own community, it is even more heartbreaking. I think your idea of showing those bright yellow flowers in honor of something she loved is really sweet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, SB. This case has shaken us all, and shows evil can lurk in surprising places. People are leaving bunches of yellow flowers at her memorial place this week - very poignant.
DeleteA truly shocking crime and Valerie is correct, it is actually more than one woman a week that dies due to domestic violence of a partner/husband. My heart bleeds for her girls left with no mother and a father who will be in jail for minimum 15 years. It's beautiful that their community and grandparents will be supporting those little girls.
ReplyDeleteTerrible to think women in this country face these kind of odds. Everyone is just so sad for the little girls, and there is so much community support, it is wonderful to see.
DeleteIt always seems shocking when a descendant of a great person shows us that greatness can be diluted in inheritance. A particularly horrid example in England is the Shaftesbury family, when you think what the Victorian Lord Shaftesbury did to make the world a civilised place and the dreadful behaviour of some of his descendants.
ReplyDeleteI had not heard of this crime - it is too far away I suppose. I am glad you are remembering Alison with bright yellow, and I hope that her poor children are given a loving home and helped to come to terms with this.
I had to google the Shaftesbury family on this one, Jenny, and my goodness, what a family! It is enough to make ones head spin.
DeleteYes, this is a local story, although I think has some interstate coverage. August 1 has been declared a day of memory, and people will be encouraged to wear yellow that day.