Expert warns NSW Coroners Court overwhelmed, under-resourced and in need of overhaul abc.net.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from abc.net.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A mother who was reassured by her son that he was safe in a NSW prison recalls screaming out and uncontrollably crying after finding out he had been murdered by his cellmate.
Geoffrey Fardell had been locked inside a jail cell with a repeat offender who has a historical tendency towards unprovoked violence, the NSW Supreme Court was told on Tuesday. I m OK in here mum . don t worry, Fardell earlier told Sandra Deveson who found this comforting and believed he would be OK , she said.
Geoffrey Fardell (pictured) was murdered by his violent cellmate after calling his mother to tell her not to worry about him
by Dan Mills
Premium Content
Subscriber only A man has been found guilty of the 2019 murder of a jail inmate he shared a cell with at the Mid-North Coast Correctional Facility in Kempsey. Supreme Court Justice Robert Hulme found Richard Jason Reay, 44, concocted an elaborate story to police about acting in self defence when he strangled Ballina man Geoffrey Fardell to death between June 10 and 11, 2019. Justice Hulme delivered his murder verdict in the judge-only trial at Port Macquarie Supreme Court on Wednesday, accepting that there was no doubt the accused was intent on seeing him [Mr Fardell] die . I do not conclude that the accused was attacked by Mr Fardell, Justice Hulme said.
Premium Content
Subscriber only The murder trial of a man who allegedly killed of a fellow inmate will continue despite his willingness to plead to manslaughter. Richard Jason Reay, 44, is charged with murder over the death of 52-year-old Ballina man Geoffrey Fardell. Police will allege Mr Fardell was killed while being held on remand at the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre, near Kempsey, on between June 10 and 11, 2019. Mr Reay, who remains bail refused, was arraigned before the NSW Supreme Court in Port Macquarie on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Fardell. During his arraignment, Mr Reay said he had been willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
Murder trial for inmate accused of killing Ballina man ballinaadvocate.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ballinaadvocate.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.