Greenough Family Massacre

The Greenough Family Massacre refers to the axe murders of Karen MacKenzie, age 31, and her three children Daniel (16), Amara (7) and Katrina (5) at their remote rural property in Greenough, Western Australia, 400 km (≈240 miles) north of Perth, on 21 February 1993[1] by William Patrick Mitchell (Bill Mitchell).

Investigation

Police and forensics scoured the murder scene collecting evidence but it was five weeks before farm hand Bill Mitchell, a friend of Karen MacKenzie, was arrested. Apparently, Mitchell had been spending the day getting high on a mixture of cannabis, alcohol and amphetamines. The first sign of trouble began with the sound of a car arriving at Karen MacKenzie's house. Daniel went out to see who it was and was confronted by Mitchell. Mitchell, wielding an axe, killed Daniel and headed for the house. There he found Karen asleep in the lounge room. After attacking her with an axe and killing her, he raped her. Amara and Katrina were fast asleep in their bedrooms, when Mitchell turned his attention on them.[2]

Trial

According to the television series Crime Investigation Australia, a judge ruled that the exact way in which Daniel, Amara and Katrina were killed was to be sealed.[3] In fact, the crime has been called "One of the worst crimes in Western Australia" and details of the murders were withheld from the public as they were deemed too gruesome and horrific. The case was so heinous that "cries for the return of the death penalty could be heard echoing around the State".[2]

Mitchell pleaded guilty to four counts of willful murder, and four of sexual assault.[1] A hand lotion used by the killer was a key piece of evidence used to catch the killer. Mitchell was convicted of the murders in 1995 at the age of 24 and sentenced to four consecutive terms of life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 20 years.

Due to the public outcry at the sentence, a Crown appeal ordered his non-parole period be revoked. Despite a series of Supreme and High Court appeals (including a ruling that Mitchell never be released), another appeal overturned that decision and reinstated his 20-year non-parole period. If a current review of his non-parole period is unsuccessful, he will be eligible for parole in 2013.

Parole Attempts

In September 2013, Mitchell was refused parole, with Attorney General Michael Mischin saying that his appeal was refused on the gravity of the crime and the safety of the community.[4]Mitchell is currently in Bunbury Regional prison,W.A.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nicole Cox (19 May 2007). "Throw away the prison keys". Sunday Times. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Greenough Family Massacre". Retrieved on 4 July 2009
  3. ↑ CIA: The Greenough Family Massacre | Crime & Investigation Network
  4. ↑ "Axe murderer William Mitchell refused parole over gravity of crime and risk to community". ABC Online. 21 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

External links