The Allison Baden-Clay Case

The Trial

During the trial, it was testified by two former real estate partners that Gerard was in debt and was told to leave his wife or mistress or he would lose their business association. Gerard seemed to be under quite a lot of financial pressure.

The post-mortem examination failed to determine the cause of Allison’s death due to decomposition, there were no fractures to Allison’s body only a chipped tooth and possible bruising. The forensic pathologist believed though that Allison did not die from natural causes.

The scratches Gerard had on his face and body at the time of Allison’s disappearance were all given excuses as to how and why they were there the face injury was from shaving, there was a mark on his neck that was from when he crushed a caterpillar that had landed on his neck, and he had injured his hand while helping a friend with renovations.

He could not explain the marks on his chest though. DNA testing though did confirm blood found in the boot of Allison’s 4wd was Allison’s.

The defence painted the picture of Allison as a woman struggling with depression and struggling with the pressures of life. They would argue that Allison had taken her own life or wondered off the night of her death. A GP, two psychologists and a psychiatrist who had treated Allison all said she was not a suicide risk though.

The Verdict

In sentencing Justice John Byrne said “Allison’s death was not premeditated, but it was violent. The prosecution has suggested you smothered Allison, and that looks likely. But what ever your mechanism, your violet attack caused her death. Your shameful conduct after murdering Allison bespeaks a profound absence of remorse.”

Although the case against Gerard Baden-Clay was circumstantial, he was sentenced to life in jail with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.

How can a vow turn this fatal?