Janine Balding
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Janine Balding (? - September 8, 1988) was a Sydney bank teller, who was raped and murdered by a gang of five homeless youths on September 8, 1988.
Balding's murder is often compared to the 1986 murder of Sydney nurse Anita Cobby.
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[edit] Early life
Balding lived in Wagga Wagga before moving to Sydney and gaining employment at a branch of the State Bank on George Street. She was due to marry boyfriend Steven Moran in March of 1989. The couple had purchased a house in Berkeley Vale and was renting their house to help finance their wedding arrangements. [1]
[edit] Abduction and murder
Balding was abducted from Sutherland railway station by a group of homeless youths, consisting of four males, and one female. She was repeatedly raped by three of the male offenders, bashed, then hog-tied and drowned in a dam at Minchinbury.
[edit] Accused
- Matthew James Elliott, aged 16 at the time of the murder
- Bronson Matthew Blessington, aged 14 at the time of the murder
- Stephen 'Shorty' Jamieson, aged 22 at the time of the murder
- Wayne Wilmot, aged 15 at the time of the murder
- Carol Arrow, aged 15 at the time of the murder
In sentencing the defendants, Justice Stephen Jamieson said:
- To sentence people so young to a long term of imprisonment is of course a heavy task. However, the facts surrounding the commission of these crimes are so barbaric that I believe I have no alternative other than to impose upon [these] young prisoners, even despite their age, a life sentence. So grave is the nature of this case that I recommend that none of the prisoners in the matter should ever be released. [2]
[edit] Summary of sentences
| Defendant | From | Convictions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Jamieson | Sentenced to life imprisonment | ||
| Matthew Elliott | Murder | * Sentenced to life imprisonment * Reduced on appeal in September, 2006 to 28 years imprisonment |
|
| Bronson Blessington | Murder | * Sentenced to life imprisonment * Reduced on appeal in September, 2006 to 28 years imprisonment |
|
| Wayne Wilmot | Sentenced to ten years imprisonment | ||
| Carol Arrow | Sentenced to 3 year good behaviour bond plus the nineteen months of time served in prison |
[edit] References
- ^ Crimeweb, The Murder of Janine Balding
- ^ NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard Bronson Blessington Sentence Redeterminiation Application, May 3, 2005
