5 days ago
Missing Wollongong mother Pauline Sowry murdered 32 years ago after 'coming into money'
A court has heard a mother who has been missing for 32 years was allegedly murdered and dumped in bushland after "coming into money".
There was a breakthrough in the cold case of missing Wollongong woman Pauline Sowry on Thursday when a 64-year-old man was arrested in relation to her disappearance in June 1994.
The 49-year-old, also known by her married name Pauline Lawrence, was last seen by her family in the northern suburbs of Wollongong around Christmas of 1993.
On Thursday, Illawarra man Leon Boeyen was charged with being an accessory after the fact to her murder and helping to conceal the offence.
He faced Wollongong Local Court on Friday where he applied for bail.
Magistrate Leslie William Mabbutt said the accused had been secretly recorded by police inside his home, making admissions to his involvement with Ms Sowry's death.
"He speaks about where the murderers are now, in South Australia."
Ms Sowry's body has never been found.
Magistrate Mabbutt told the court the accused knows the identity of the killers but declined to reveal them as he was "concerned about his safety".
"The accused assisted the murderers after the event to avoid them being identified and brought to justice," he said.
Magistrate Mabbutt told the court Ms Sowry had "come into money" in June 1994 and an argument about it took place before Ms Sowry was taken from a Gray Street unit at Woonona to bushland on O'Briens Road, Figtree, and murdered.
"She was taken and murdered, and the accused has known since," Magistrate Mabbutt said.
The court heard two months later the accused contacted Ms Sowry's son Jason Lawrence asking him to collect her belongings.
"[Sowry said] she had left, and he didn't know where she had gone," Magistrate Mabutt said.
It is alleged an unknown male handed over Ms Sowry's handbag to her son at the accused's home.
At the time of her disappearance Ms Sowry had recently separated from her husband, the father of her son.
He was ruled out as a person of interest.
The court heard Mr Boeyen had a 28-page criminal history, with the last offence committed in 2017.
Defence lawyer Matt Ward applied for bail on Friday claiming his client was vulnerable due to his schizophrenia diagnosis, age, and the amount of time he would await potential trial.
Mr Ward acknowledged his client's criminal history but said he had never breached bail and always came to court for his appearances.
"In the last eight years, this person has been at liberty in this community with all the people who live in it and has committed no offence during that time," Mr Ward said.
Crown Prosecutor Catherine Gray told the court she held concerns over the accused's bail application due to his track record of interfering with police investigations.
"In relation to the primary interference with prosecution witnesses we don't have to wonder what the accused will do — he's already approached prosecution witnesses, and police have evidence of that," Ms Gray said.
"We can expect more of the same of that and the court cannot trust the accused," she said.
Mr Boeyen was refused bail and the case was adjourned for further mention on July 30 at Wollongong Local Court.
