Australia: Correspondent Annika Smethurst
Photo:
ABC / Supplied / Supreme Court of Victoria
Australia correspondent Annika Smethurst looks at how the verdict in the mushroom murder trial fixated media around the world, as attention now turns to whether Erin Patterson will appeal her conviction.
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RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Julia DeLuney's lawyer won't say if she will appeal murder conviction
Julia DeLuney will be sentenced in September. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii It is not yet known if Julia DeLuney, found guilty of murdering her mother, plans to appeal the conviction. On Wednesday night, following a four-week murder trial at the High Court in Wellington, the jury found DeLuney guilty of murdering her mother , 79-year-old Helen Gregory. Gregory was killed at her Baroda Street home in Khandallah in January last year. DeLuney had denied killing her mother, and through the trial her lawyer Quentin Duff argued that the police investigation had been "one-eyed" and they had failed to consider anyone else for the murder. But the jury was more convinced by the Crown's argument that DeLuney was at the house that night and had been the one to kill her mother. After the verdict was handed down DeLuney cried silently in the dock, but otherwise remained stony faced. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Duff later told RNZ DeLuney was "devastated" by the jury's decision. When asked, he could not say whether she'd look to appeal or not. DeLuney has been remanded in custody and is expected to be sentenced on 5 September. Detective senior sergeant Tim Leitch, who led the police investigation, told media outside the court that he hoped the guilty verdict provided Gregory's friends and family with some answers and certainty as they moved forward with their lives. "Many of them have been in court every day over the past month, and have sat through the most difficult and confronting evidence" which, he said, "must have been almost unbearable at times". "The dignity, compassion and support the family have demonstrated every day of the trail has been incredible, and also quite remarkable," he said. Helen Gregory Photo: Supplied Gregory's friend Liz Askin was one of those who sat through the trial. She described her friend as an intelligent, kind, and generous woman who was full of vitality. "She loved her family deeply, following their achievements and going to their sporting events and family gatherings," and it was "with great sadness that her life was cut short". Cheryl Thomson was another of Gregory's friends who had been at the court every day after giving evidence herself. "This is the place we come to for justice in New Zealand and I am pleased we have now got it," she said. "Helen is sadly missed by all of us, holds a special place in our hearts and will never be forgotten."
RNZ News
12 hours ago
- RNZ News
'Dignity, compassion and support' family showed during Khandallah murder trial 'incredible'
The lead investigator in the death of Helen Gregory says family members of the victim, and her murderer, have shown compassion and dignity through the "really terrible nightmare" of a month-long trial. Julia DeLuney was found guilty of her mother's murder at the High Court in Wellington on Wednesday afternoon. She cried quietly, but remained stony faced, as the verdict was handed down. Relatives and friends of Gregory and DeLuney cried in the public gallery, with many having given evidence in the trial, or watched from the beginning. Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch told media outside the court it had been a difficult investigation, and a difficult trial. "I would like to specifically acknowledge the family and friends of Helen Gregory, who've had to endure this terrible and tragic journey," he said. "Many of them have been in court every day over the past month, and have sat through the most difficult and confronting evidence" which "must have been almost unbearable at times". "The dignity, compassion and support the family have demonstrated every day of the trail has been incredible, and also quite remarkable." He said he hoped the verdict would provide them with answers and certainty. He also acknowledged the efforts, commitment and professionalism of the officers involved in the investigation over the past 18 months. "These investigations are particularly taxing on our staff." Helen Gregory. Photo: Supplied Gregory's friend Liz Askin sat through the trial, describing her friend as "an intelligent, kind, generous, prayerful woman full of vitality and hope for the future". "She loved her family deeply following their achievements and going to their sporting events and family gatherings," and it was "with great sadness that her life was cut short". Cheryl Thomson was another of Gregory's friends who waited at the court for the verdict. She had been there every day after giving evidence herself. "This is the place we come to for justice in New Zealand and I am pleased we have now got it," she said. "Helen is sadly missed by all of us, holds a special place in our hearts and will never be forgotten." She thanked Detective Sergeant Hayley Adams for her work, and that of her team. "Julia won't now need to worry that she doesn't own her own home," she said. "The roof over her head for many years will be provided for her."
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
Julia DeLuney found guilty of murdering her mother, Helen Gregory, in Khandallah
Julia Deluney in the High Court at Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Julia DeLuney has been found guilty of the murder of her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory. Gregory was found dead on 24 January, 2024 at her home in the Wellington suburb of Khandallah. DeLuney denied the charge, and has been on trial at the High Court in Wellington since 23 June. The Crown argued she attacked her mother with a heavy object, possibly motivated by financial incentives or following a confrontation over stolen cash, and staged the scene to look like a fall from the attic. The defence argued it was a case of mistaken identity . Crown prosecutor Stephanie Bishop laid out their version of events for the jury during her closing argument , saying what began as a night to book ballet tickets ended in some kind of confrontation or argument, which saw DeLuney violently attacking her mother. Julia DeLuney and Helen Gregory on January 9, 2024, in a photo retrieved from DeLuney's phone by police. Photo: SUPPLIED She said the jury might never know exactly what happened, but they did know DeLuney was at the scene that night, and that according to a forensic scientist, the scene had been staged - which she said would only benefit DeLuney, not a burglar. She said the multiple changes of clothes and disposing of unknown items in a passing rubbish truck the following morning pointed towards her guilt. But Defence lawyer Quentin Duff argued throughout that the police investigation had been "one-eyed" and they had failed to consider anyone else for the murder . Julia DeLuney at Wellington High Court. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii He pointed to evidence such as a hair found on the hand of the body, which still had a root attached and was able to be DNA tested, which ruled out DeLuney and Gregory as DNA matches. He told the jury in the 90-minute window where DeLuney had left her mother following a fall from the attic, someone else arrived and violently attacked her. He said nobody could have caused those injuries without having hatred for Gregory - and there was no sign of that from DeLuney. More to come... Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
