Anita Cobby murder
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The Anita Cobby murder was the name given to the murder of 26-year-old Australian nursing sister and beauty pageant winner, Anita Lorraine Cobby, on 2 February 1986.
Her murder has been remembered as one of the most horrifying and violent crimes ever perpetrated in Australia. The violent nature of the crime shocked most Australians and united the public in outrage. Petitions containing tens of thousands of signatures were sent to governments, and thousands of telephones calls were made to television stations and talk back radio shows, supporting the reintroduction of the death penalty to Australia.
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[edit] Earlier life
Anita Lorraine Lynch was born on 2 November 1959.
Anita met her future husband, John Cobby, while studying for her nursing degree. They married on 27 March 1982. At the time of her murder, though, the couple had divorced and Anita was living with her parents in Blacktown, New South Wales.
[edit] Anita is missing
On the day of the murder, Anita finished work at Sydney Hospital at 3pm and met friends for dinner in Redfern. She then caught a train from Central Station to Blacktown Station. She was never seen alive again by anyone but her killers.
Anita was walking alone along Newton Road when the gang of five youths drove up alongside her and stopped their stolen Holden Commodore. Two men leaped from the car, dragging Anita kicking and screaming into the car. She was ordered to strip off her clothes but refused, begging her attackers to let her go, saying she was married and that she was on her period.
Her attackers continued to punch Anita repeatedly, then drove to a service station to purchase fuel using money stolen from Anita's purse. She was then driven to a secluded paddock, while being held down in the car whilst continuously being raped and beaten by the five attackers.
Anita was reported missing by her family on 3 February.
[edit] Shocking findings
On 4 February, farmer John Reen discovered the naked body of a young woman on his Prospect, New South Wales farm, and Police were called to the scene. The body had been dragged through a barbed wire fence, bashed, raped and slashed twice across the throat, almost causing decapitation. Her neck was apparently being held onto her torso by a thread. There was bruising on her head, breasts, face, shoulders, groin, thighs and legs. Both shoulders and several fingers were also broken, the result of an attempt to restrain Travers from causing her more pain. Her fingers were nearly severed from holding the knife away from her throat; this is why police believed the victim was still alive when her throat was cut.
After investigations of the crime scene, police believed more than one person, possibly a gang, had committed the crime.
[edit] Hunt for the killers
On 6 February, the NSW State Government posted an AUD$50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her killers.
On 9 February, police re-enacted Anita's movements on the night of her disappearance in the hope of jogging the memories of travellers or others who may have witnessed her movements. Constable Debbie Wallace wore similar clothing to Anita and travelled the 9:12 p.m. train to Blacktown. Detectives interviewed the passengers and showed them photos of Anita whilst Constable Wallace walked the length of the train during the journey.
While in police custody, John Travers requested that his friend be called so she could bring him cigarettes. This simple request was his downfall, as the number was handed to the investigating police who contacted the woman. Although she was terrified of Travers, she agreed to help with the investigation, and met with an officer and gave him details of Travers sadistic and violent background.
The woman, who became known as Mrs. X, talked to Travers and he confessed the crime to her. 'Mrs X' was sent back in to talk to him with a recording device, which she was able to get a confession on.
Eventually 5 men were arrested and charged with the murder. Police were praised for the quick response in capturing all suspects involved. In total, 22 days had elapsed from the time of the murder to the time all suspects were taken into custody.
[edit] The accused
The five accused suspects had over 50 prior convictions for offences including armed robbery, assault, larceny, car theft, breaking and entering, drug usage, escaping lawful custody, receiving stolen goods and rape.
[edit] John Travers
John Raymond Travers, the eldest of eight children, was considered the ring-leader of the gang of attackers.
[edit] Michael Murdoch
Michael Murdoch was a childhood friend and criminal associate of Travers. Murdoch had also spent a great part of his childhood in juvenile prisons where he experienced sexual assaults. He was known to write to politicians during this period of imprisonment seeking protection from such assaults.
[edit] The Murphys
Les, Michael and Gary Murphy, brothers from an Irish family of nine children were also accused of the crime.
[edit] Michael Murphy
Michael was 33 at the time of the murder. He was the eldest of the nine Murphy children. Mick was sent to live with his grandmother when 12 years of age. On December 26, 1985, two months before the murder, Michael Murphy escaped from Silverwater Correctional Centre.
[edit] Gary Murphy
Gary Murphy was five years younger than Michael. Hearing impairment affected Gary's schooling and he left early to seek work. He was noted as being an able and willing worker before the crimes. Overall it was said he was a likable person.
Gary's strong interest in cars led to him facing several automotive theft related charges in the years before the murder. Gary was also known to have a very violent temper.
[edit] Les Murphy
Les Murphy was youngest of the Murphy children, but was known as having the worst temperament. He faced Children's Court on many occasions for a number of theft related offences before being accused of the Anita Cobby murder. Les was 24 at the time of the murder.
[edit] The trial
All accused pleaded not guilty, however shortly before trial proceedings began, Travers changed his plea to guilty.
A mistrial was called when information surfaced that Michael Murdoch was a prison escapee from Silverwater Prison at the time of the murder.
The trial lasted 54 days, with the men's defense relying on convincing the jury of their minimal involvement in the beating and murder.
On 10 June 1987, all five men accused of the murder were found guilty of murder.
On 16 June 1987, all were sentenced in the Supreme Court of New South Wales to life imprisonment, never to be released. Justice Maxwell described the crime as "One of the most horrifying physical and sexual assaults. This was a calculated killing done in cold blood. The Executive should grant the same degree of mercy they bestowed on their victim."
[edit] Aftermath
Anita's parents are the founders of the Victims of Homicide Support Group, a community support group that helps families deal with heinous crimes. They are also campaigners in seeking tougher sentencing and truth in sentencing laws which eventuated after Anita's murder.
A book detailing the crime, titled Someone Else's Daughter was written by Julia Sheppard and released in 1997 [ISBN 0-7329-0916-3]. The crime has been cited as the basis for the 1997 Australian film, The Boys, although there is no actual link between the crime and the film, or the stage play on which the film was based.
A September 2006 episode of Australian television series Crime & Investigation Australia featured the Anita Cobby murder.
[edit] References
- Prisoners challenge indefinite imprisonment
- MURPHY v. THE QUEEN AND MURDOCH v. THE QUEEN AND MURPHY v. THE QUEEN 1989 HCA 28; (1989) 167 CLR 94 F.C. 89/024 (30 May 1989)
