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they were shovelling earth onto her supine body, she suddenly sat up in her grave. Birnie picked up an axe and swung it at her skull. He then swung it again, smashing her skull open. They finished the job of covering her up and drove home.
However, the extremely violent nature of this murder was too much even for a callous woman such as Catherine Birnie, which probably explains why their last victim remained alive long enough to escape. She later told police, ‘I think I must have come to a decision that, sooner or later, there had to be an end to the rampage. I had reached the stage when I didn't know what to do. I suppose I came to a decision that I was prepared to give her a chance. I knew it was a foregone conclusion that David would kill her, and probably do it that night. I was just fed up with the killings. I thought if something did not happen soon it would simply go on and on and never end’.
There was uproar when the news broke and furious Australians called for the reintroduction of the death penalty. They were even angrier when Catherine was seen stroking David Birnie’s hands as they stood in the dock at their trial. Their relationship was put under the microscope and one psychiatrist talked of Birnie’s evil influence over Catherine as ‘the worst case of personality dependence I have seen in my career’. They both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation by the judge that they never be released. They never saw each other again but exchanged 2,600 letters during their first four years behind bars.
On 2 October 2005, David Birnie, one of Australia’s most notorious serial killers, was found hanged in his cell at Perth’s Casuarina Prison. Because no one came forward to claim his body, Birnie was given a secret pauper’s cremation at the expense of the taxpayers. His apparent suicide came almost nineteen years into his life sentence – possibly because his former lover had cut off all contact with him; or just possibly because he felt some remorse.
Copyright
© 2011 Canary Press eBooks Limited
www.omnipress.co.uk
This 2011 edition published by Canary Press eBooks Limited
www.canarypress.co.uk
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.
The views expressed in this book are those of the author but they are general views only, and readers are urged to consult a relevant and qualified specialist for individual advice in particular situations. The author and Canary Press eBooks Limited hereby exclude all liability to the extent permitted by law for any errors or omissions in this book or for any loss, damage or expense (whether direct or indirect) suffered by the third party relying on any information contained in this book.
Cover & internal design
Anthony Prudente on behalf of Canary Press
However, the extremely violent nature of this murder was too much even for a callous woman such as Catherine Birnie, which probably explains why their last victim remained alive long enough to escape. She later told police, ‘I think I must have come to a decision that, sooner or later, there had to be an end to the rampage. I had reached the stage when I didn't know what to do. I suppose I came to a decision that I was prepared to give her a chance. I knew it was a foregone conclusion that David would kill her, and probably do it that night. I was just fed up with the killings. I thought if something did not happen soon it would simply go on and on and never end’.
There was uproar when the news broke and furious Australians called for the reintroduction of the death penalty. They were even angrier when Catherine was seen stroking David Birnie’s hands as they stood in the dock at their trial. Their relationship was put under the microscope and one psychiatrist talked of Birnie’s evil influence over Catherine as ‘the worst case of personality dependence I have seen in my career’. They both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation by the judge that they never be released. They never saw each other again but exchanged 2,600 letters during their first four years behind bars.
On 2 October 2005, David Birnie, one of Australia’s most notorious serial killers, was found hanged in his cell at Perth’s Casuarina Prison. Because no one came forward to claim his body, Birnie was given a secret pauper’s cremation at the expense of the taxpayers. His apparent suicide came almost nineteen years into his life sentence – possibly because his former lover had cut off all contact with him; or just possibly because he felt some remorse.
Copyright
© 2011 Canary Press eBooks Limited
www.omnipress.co.uk
This 2011 edition published by Canary Press eBooks Limited
www.canarypress.co.uk
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.
The views expressed in this book are those of the author but they are general views only, and readers are urged to consult a relevant and qualified specialist for individual advice in particular situations. The author and Canary Press eBooks Limited hereby exclude all liability to the extent permitted by law for any errors or omissions in this book or for any loss, damage or expense (whether direct or indirect) suffered by the third party relying on any information contained in this book.
Cover & internal design
Anthony Prudente on behalf of Canary Press
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