Janine Balding

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Janine Balding
Janine Balding

Janine Balding (1967 – 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.

Contents

[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]

Cover of The Janine Balding Story: A Journey Through a Mother's Nightmare by Beverley Balding and Janet Fife-Yeomans.
Cover of The Janine Balding Story: A Journey Through a Mother's Nightmare by Beverley Balding and Janet Fife-Yeomans.

[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, bludgeoned, 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
*
Bronson Blessington Murder * Sentenced to life 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

  1. ^ Crimeweb, The Murder of Janine Balding
  2. ^ NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard Bronson Blessington Sentence Redeterminiation Application, May 3, 2005

[edit] External link

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