Greer Likely To Remain In Prison

Convicted murderer Arthur Greer is unlikely to be granted parole, despite new evidence that suggests he may not have killed 14-year-old Sharon Mason, according to former attorney-general Jim McGinty. Greer has served 16 years of his life sentence, more than double the minimum term set by the Supreme Court, but has had his parole request continually knocked back by the Prisoners Review Board. His pro bono lawyer Jonathan Davies has applied to the board to allow Greer parole in light of the new evidence, which may explain his long-standing refusal to accept responsibility for the schoolgirl's murder. The evidence uncovered by John Button, who was also wrongly convicted over a murder committed by serial killer Eric Edgar Cooke, was presented to the Innocence Project in WA and Edith Cowan University law students, as well as criminologists and psychologists. His years as a builder meant he was able to find a discrepancy about where the plumbing was on the Mosman Park site where Ms Mason's remains were found. It is now suggested that the remains were above pipes that were installed after the girl's disappearance in 1983, and were not located under a shed then-belonging to Greer, which was thought to have concealed the burial spot. Greer has a violent criminal record, including being convicted of sexual assault, and has been described as "a sexual, predatory psychopath". Yet advocate Estelle Blackburn said the hairs found in Ms Mason's underwear, when her body was recovered, did not match Greer's, nor did fingerprints found on the rubbish bags that housed Ms Mason's remains. Ms Blackburn said witnesses attested that they saw Ms Mason running down Stirling Highway at 10 o'clock at night looking distraught after police alleged she had been murdered. She said she had her own theories about who killed Ms Mason but ruled out Ms Mason's father, who committed suicide after coming under the spotlight during the police investigation into her disappearance. Ms Mason's mother, who was divorced at the time of her daughter's disappearance, was haunted by reminders of her daughter's gruesome death every time Greer came up for parole, Mr McGinty said. Mr McGinty was in his role as attorney-general when Greer's parole was first considered in 2001 and said he considered deporting the Liverpool-born Greer but the board rejected parole on the basis that it needed to protect the larger community, not just in Western Australia. "If there was new evidence like there was in many, many cases such as the Micklebergs, Mallard and Beamish I would have had no hesitation in bringing it for reconsideration before the courts but I can't really comment on this (evidence)," Mr McGinty said. He said Andrew Mallard, who was wrongly convicted over the murder of Mosman Park jeweller Pamela Lawrence, had "significant evidence proving his innocence" and Greer's case was "not as conclusive", despite many lawyers arguing that his conviction was based on circumstantial evidence. Mr McGinty said even Mr Mallard had to remain in custody well after he was cleared by court, pending a new trial that was eventually abandoned by the Department of Public Prosecutions. He said it was unlikely the Prisoners Review Board would grant Greer parole to compile an appeal and ultimately the decision would have to be approved by the current Attorney-General Christian Porter, who could take into account public sentiment. "It would be unusual for someone to be released on parole in a murder case and from what I know of this case I wouldn't at all be enthusiastic over the prospect of release." Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/mason-murderer-will-remain-inside-mcginty-20110303-1bgak.html#ixzz1OIhnku23

Arthur Greer conviction of Sharon Mason Murder - Unsafe

New bid to overturn Mason murder verdict Aja Styles watoday.com.auWeb. .March 3, 2011 A prominent Perth barrister is advocating the release of convicted murderer Arthur Greer, saying fresh evidence has since surfaced proving he was not responsible for killing and burying Sharon Mason in 1983. Greer, who is now 73, was jailed in 1994 for the 14-year-old school girl's murder on the grounds that her remains were found on a Mosman Park site where he had owned a dress shop at the time of her disappearance. The remains were excavated by building workers nine years after she went missing from the area and were found on top of plumbing pipes, partially intact with flesh still clinging to the bones. Advertisement: Story continues below The prosecution case relied on the theory that Greer had buried her body, despite it being a well-frequented area, by lifting the floor of his backyard shed in order to dig the deep hole. Law students at Edith Cowan University, under the auspice of the Innocence Project set up in WA in 2006 to exonerate wrongly-convicted felons, have since traced the manufacturing year of the pipes and utilised aerial surveillance to demonstrate the shed's location was not over the burial site. Tom Percy QC, who is on the board of the Innocence Project, said the pipes were manufactured many years after the girl's disappearance and long after Greer had moved from his shop. "There was no evidence at all apart from his very, very bad (criminal) record which was tied to running someone down and assaulting his wife," he said. "The trial was run on his record because the evidence was threadbare." He said the body may have been refrigerated and stored and buried on the site at a later date, which "would account for a lot of the flesh still being on (the body)". "Which totally removes him from the location, so it could not possibly be Greer," Mr Percy said. He said Greer had never been granted parole since becoming eligible in 2001 because he refused to take responsibility for the murder. "He says 'I can't admit guilt on this because I didn't do it'," Mr Percy said. Barrister Jonathan Davies is working pro bono on Greer's behalf and has applied to the Prisoners Review Board to grant him parole to assist him to prepare the new evidence for an appeal. The decision will ultimately rest with the Attorney-General Christian Porter, who has to sign off on any recommendation for parole. Mr Davies has overturned the convictions against John Button and Darryl Beamish over the Eric Edgar Cooke serial killings from 1959 to 1963. Greer also has the backing of Supreme Court Chief Justice Wayne Martin, who worked pro bono as a lawyer at the time of his conviction to take the appeal to the High Court because the evidence was so limited. "It's awful thinner than (Andrew) Mallard.. He was never convicted of wilful murder but murder, which means he killed her but didn't mean to by causing her serious harm, back in the day when wilful murder was still a charge. How do you deliver a guilty verdict based on that?," Mr Percy said. "It was the most ridiculous verdict ever known. It's been a devil that has perplexed legal experts for years. "We find the conviction absolutely bewildering."

Karen Margaret KELLY

Personal Details
Last seen: Sunday, 18 April 2010
Year of birth: 1964
Height: 171cm
Build: Slim
Eyes: Green
Hair: Shoulder lenght brunette
Complexion: Fair caucasian
Gender: Female
Distinguishing Feature:
Circumstances
 Karen Margaret KELLY aka BROOK disappeared from her family residence during the afternoon on Sunday 18th April 2010. 

Karen was last seen driving a green or aqua coloured Toyota Corolla hatchback, with Northern Territory registration ‘700’ similar to picture below.
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Darwin woman probably drowned in river, police say
Kristy O'Brien ABC
Posted October 14, 2011 16:59:22

Northern Territory Police are almost ready to close their investigation into the disappearance of Darwin woman Karen Kelly, after concluding her death was an accident.

The 46-year-old mother of three went missing last year and police treated the case as a possible homicide.

But last month they found her body in her car, which was submerged in the Darwin River not far from her home.

Detective Sergeant Tony Henry says the conditions would have been bad on the night Ms Kelly tried to drive across the bridge.

"The crossing on that particular day, the 18th of April, 2010, the river was probably at a point where a car similar to what Karen was driving would be unlikely to make that crossing."

Detective Sergeant Henry says it appears she drowned.

"We believe, ultimately, the cause of death will be determined by the Coroner," he said.

But police believe the car was swept off the crossing on Lenino Road, he says.



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NT police say missing woman probably dead

Larine Statham

April 15, 2011  SMH

AAP

A lot can change in a year.
Since Karen Margaret Kelly, 46, disappeared in the Northern Territory 12 months ago, one of her three children has started planning their wedding and her second grandchild, her namesake, has been born.
NT Police on Tuesday revealed they were now treating her disappearance from Darwin River, about 70km south of Darwin, on April 18 last year as a homicide.

"There is nothing to suggest she is working, utilising or accessing her bank accounts ... life insurance or trust accounts," Detective Sergeant Sonia Kennon told reporters on Friday.
She said Mrs Kelly would never leave without making contact with her family.
"There has been no activity on her phone.
"She has always been really close to her children and I have no doubt in my mind that if she was able to, she would contact her children."
Mrs Kelly's husband, Darren Kelly, said it was hard not knowing what had happened to her.
"It's getting harder every day to believe that something bad hasn't happened to Karen," he said.
Det Sgt Kennon said there was nothing to indicate anyone may have wanted to harm Mrs Kelly, adding that she believed it may have been a crime of opportunity.
"She had made forward appointments for after (the day she went missing), so there is nothing to suggest she would commit suicide.
"Normally when you think about missing people, their vehicles are normally located.
"We have had no sightings of her vehicle since the time of her disappearance."
Police are hoping someone may have information about the whereabouts of Mrs Kelly's green 2001 Toyota Corolla hatchback, and its distinctive NT registration plate: 700.
"Her vehicle has been locked down completely nationally and anyone trying to re-register her vehicle, or if there's any action on the serial numbers contained in her vehicle - police will hopefully be notified."
Mrs Kelly failed to arrive at a friend's house after telephoning her to say she was on her way.
"We have done extensive investigations, speaking to quite a number of people, and we still have not located Karen Kelly or identified what may have happened to her after she left her residence," Det Sgt Kennon said.
Police have, during the past year, conducted aerial, river and foot searches of the local and surrounding areas.
Despite a number of anonymous calls so far proving to be false leads, Det Sgt Kennon said she remained positive the matter would be solved.
"We need public support to find her.
"Please come forward if you have information - don't wait for police to come to you!
"Anything you have to offer could give us vital pieces of information to put the jigsaw pieces together."
Mrs Kelly, whose maiden name is Brook, is of slim build and about 171cm tall.
At the time of her disappearance, she had shoulder length dark brown hair and was last seen wearing a black denim skirt and a white top with a floral motif.

© 2011 AAP
Husband pleads for help to find wife

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THE husband of a woman who went missing about seven weeks ago said he has had sleepless nights since the sudden disappearance.

Darren Kelly's voice was shaking as he spoke to reporters at the police headquarters in Darwin yesterday in a bid to find his wife of three years - Karen Margaret Kelly.
The 45-year-old Darwin River man was sitting next to his step sons Jamie Brook, 17, and Adrian Brook, 19.
But the boys remained silent throughout the press conference.
Mr Kelly said the family was "extremely worried" about the woman's safety.
"It's pretty hard getting up in the middle of the night, every couple of hours, just to see if her car is pulled back in the yard," he said.

Mrs Kelly, 46, who worked at the Territory Insurance Office in Darwin's CBD, was reported missing on April 18.
The mother-of-three had phoned a friend about 1.45pm to say she was on her way to her house on Leonino Rd, in Darwin River.
She was last seen leaving her home on Mira Rd in a green Toyota Corolla hatchback.
"It's quite a shock that she didn't turn up at the party that she was meant to go to," Mr Kelly said.
Mrs Kelly's bank account and phone have not been used since she disappeared and the car she was driving is yet to be found.
The woman's family said she had no enemies, no stress at work and she didn't take any medication.
Police initially thought Mrs Kelly decided to visit her daughter in Victoria. But she never showed up.
The Major Crime Unit has now taken over the search for the missing woman.
Detective sergeant Sonia Kennon said all leads had run dry and help from the public was desperately needed.
Mrs Kelly is described as Caucasian, slim, about 171cm tall with shoulder-length dark brown hair and green eyes.
She was last seen wearing a black denim mini-skirt and a white top with a floral motif.
Her 2001 Toyota has the distinctive NT registration plate "700".
Anyone with information is urged to phone police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Rista CHANTHAVIXAY

Personal Details
Year of Birth: 1993
At Time of Disappearance on 24 March 2009
Age: 15
Height (cm): 160.0
Build: Thin
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Brown
Complexion: Medium
Nationality:
Racial Appearance: Cambodian/Laos background







Circumstances:Rista was last seen in the Mount Pritchard area. Rista is missed by her whole family especially her little sister Alpha.


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Clues sought for two still missing

ANNE TARASOV

5/08/2009 2:52:00 PM

NOT seeing a loved one for months or years can be tough. For most people, not knowing whether they were dead or alive would be unimaginable. But some locals experience this pain every day.
This week is National Missing Persons week. Police are asking anyone who knows the location of a missing person to contact police and those that could be believed missing to contact their families.
At least two local families are waiting for the return of their relatives after lengthy absences.
Green Valley detective David Hatchwell said there was no more information on Rista Chathavixay, 16, of Heckenberg, who has been missing since March. ``Her family are still looking for her, but haven't heard from her or learned anything about her whereabouts,'' Senior Sergeant Hatchwell said.
``She had been fighting with her father for some time, so she moved into her boyfriend's house in Mount Pritchard around November 2008.
``But they had some sort of argument too and decided to take a `break', according to the boyfriend, around March and she hasn't been seen by anyone since then.''
Rista is of Asian appearance, about 160 centimetres tall, of thin build with brown eyes and long black hair.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Rista can contact Green Valley Police, 96071799 or Crime Stoppers, 1800333000.

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Gone and Fairfield families left baffled

BY CHRIS BOULOUS - Fairfield City Champion

29/07/2009 5:50:00 AM

NOT knowing is like living in darkness. That is the theme for this year's National Missing Persons Week which begins on Sunday, August2.
There are approximately 35,000 people reported missing in Australia every year, including 900 people in NSW every month.
As the theme suggests, the worst part is not knowing not knowing where they are, not knowing if they're safe. Not knowing if they are alive.
That is the situation facing the family of Rista Chathavixay, who was last seen by her ex-boyfriend at his home in Mount Pritchard on March 24 this year.
It is believed the pair had an argument about the status of their relationship.
Police are concerned that Rista could have been the victim of foul play, as she has not accessed any of her bank accounts and has no known source of income.
She has also failed to attend school and the fast-food restaurant where she worked part-time.
``We have concerns about Rista's welfare and encourage anyone with information to contact the police,'' Green Valley detective Mark Kneipp said.
``We have heard rumours she may be in Campbelltown but we need more help from the community. The family just needs to know they need closure.''
Rista's case is one of several unsolved in NSW, with 80 long-term missing persons reported in the south-west alone.
Missing persons unit manager Kelly Kortlepel said National Missing Persons Week was a chance to rekindle the search for long-term missing persons and raise awareness about the growing problem.
``The week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the growing problem of wandering especially for older people who may go missing due to the effects of dementia or memory loss,'' she said.
``Just as sightings from the public helped police locate British backpacker Jamie Neale when he wandered off the track in the Blue Mountains, we hope this week will remind people that our ageing population need us to keep an eye out for them too.''
National Missing Persons Week is from August 2 to 8.

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Sweet sixteen and missing: plea to find Rista

Arjun Ramachandran - SMH  22 July 2009

Missing ... Rista Chathavixay.

Schoolgirl Rista Chathavixay had fallen out with her parents and had been living with her teenage boyfriend just before she went missing, police say.
She has not been seen since March 24 in Mount Pritchard, near Liverpool, and police are concerned for her welfare.
The 16-year-old has no source of income and has not accessed her bank account, used her mobile phone, contacted family or friends or been to school or work (at a local McDonald's), said David Hatchwell, acting crime manager at Green Valley police.
"We do have concerns for her wellbeing, she's a young Asian girl ... and [we don't know] whether she's found another boyfriend and being kept by him or whether she's met [with] some foul play," he said.
Rista was reported missing by her boyfriend a few days after she broke up with him on March 24 at his Mount Pritchard home, Detective Sergeant Hatchwell said.


She had been living there with him and his family since last November after a "run in" with her father at their Heckenberg home, he said.
The boyfriend reported Rista missing a few days after the break-up, after he did not see her at their school - Ashcroft High - or at nearby hang-outs, he said.
"She was a fairly quiet girl. She used to go to Liverpool shops and Mount Prichard," he said.
"There was no history of disappearance, only that she had a run-in with her dad.
"We have contacted all her known friends and the people she used to hang out with, and also people that the ex boyfriend might know."
Rista's ex-boyfriend had been helpful in the investigation and was not considered a suspect, Detective Sergeant Hatchwell said.
The pair had argued and Rista had suggested the pair take a break from the relationship, he said.
"There were no major dramas. It was a fairly amicable break-up from our investigations."
Prior to her disappearance, Rista had only limited contact with her parents, mainly with her mother, he said.
There was an alleged sighting of Rista in the Campbelltown area a few months ago, but this could not be verified, Detective Sergeant Hatchwell said.
Rista's manager at Bonnyrigg Heights McDonald's said she was working there only once a week, and had been there for only a few weeks before her disappearance.
Since making Rista's case public earlier this week, police had received no new leads, Detective Sergeant Hatchwell said.
Teenage girls frequently went missing from their family homes in the Green Valley area, but Rista's case was of concern because she had not been sighted in a long time, he said

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Hunt for Rista: missing teen has 'no source of income'

July 20, 2009 -  SMH 

 Missing ... Rista Chathavixay.

A teenage schoolgirl has been missing from her suburban Sydney home for almost four months, police say.
Rista Chathavixay, 16, was last seen by her boyfriend on March 24 at Mount Pritchard, in Sydney's south-west.
"At the time [of] her disappearance, Rista failed to attend school and the fast-food restaurant where she worked part-time," police said in a statement.

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"She was reported missing ... by her family after she failed to contact her friends or family for several months."
Rista has not accessed her bank accounts and has "no source of income", police said, sparking serious concerns for her welfare.
She is described as being of Asian appearance, about 160 centimetres tall, thin, with brown eyes and long black hair.
Anyone with information about Rista's whereabouts is urged to contact police.
AAP

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Helen Karel MUNNINGS

Personal DetailsLast seen: Wednesday, 23 July 2008
Year of birth: 1988
Height: 160cm
Build: Slim
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Brown
Complexion: Fair
Gender: Female
Distinguishing Feature:







Circumstances: Helen is described as 20 years of age, 160 centimetres tall and of slim build. She was last seen on 23 July 2008 and she was observed wearing a long sleeve light blue cotton top and dark black slacks, trousers and black slip on shoes. Helen was last seen near south Burnie beach, but has not been in touch with her two year old son and family since last Wednesday the 23rd of July 2008
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Inquest into Tasmanian mother's fate

From: AAP  January 27, 2011 4:01PM  news.com.au

THE Tasmanian coroner will investigate the disappearance of a young mother last seen in the state's north two-and-a-half years ago.

Helen Karel Munnings, of Burnie, also known as Helen Black, was last seen in South Burnie in July 2008 when she was aged 20.
She was due to pick up her two-year-old from child care but failed to arrive and has not contacted the boy or relatives since.
Her disappearance sparked an intensive air and ground search along the beach at South Burnie.
A coronial investigation will be held into Ms Munnings' disappearance, it was announced on Thursday.
A date has not been set, but it is envisaged that the inquest will start later this year and hear evidence for about two weeks, a statement from the coroner's office said.
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Munnings' mum wants Burnie detectives sacked

BY SEAN FORD 03 Jul, 2010 12:00 AM The Advocate

THE case of missing Burnie mum Helen Munnings will soon go to the Coroner, about two years after she vanished.
Ms Munnings, then 20, was last seen on July 23, 2008, in Burnie.
Her family believes she was murdered by a particular person.

Her mother, Karel Black, wants Burnie detectives sacked over their handling of the case.

"What good are they?" she asked this week.

The Coroner has power to summon people to any hearing, supported by the possibility of arrest warrants and/or extradition from interstate if required.

Police, who are continuing a two-year investigation, believe Ms Munnings is dead, possibly at the hands of another.

Detective Sergeant Richard Chugg said: "The views of Mrs Black are hers to make.

"As the community would expect, Tasmania Police are committed to determining the whereabouts or the circumstances of the disappearance of Helen Munnings and will continue to actively work to do so."

He said the file would be provided to the Coroner at a date suitable to the Coroner after the two-year anniversary of Ms Munnings' disappearance.

"This is to ensure that the full benefit of renewed public attention that an anniversary in such a case tends to lead to can be fully explored in terms of new information that may be received.

"The matter is being prepared for the Coroner, who, by virtue of his office, has several roles, one of which is the ability to look into the circumstances surrounding missing persons such as Helen."

Mrs Black said police had not done anything about various allegations the family had made to police.

She said the CIB had also given out "unsubstantiated information", being that Ms Munnings had been dropped off and was last seen outside the Burnie paper mill.

Det-Sgt Chugg said the investigation had been unable to confirm or disprove that account of events.

He said police were continuing to investigate any information received and again called for help from the public.

A $100,000 reward is on offer for information that could determine Ms Munnings' whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact Burnie CIB on 6434 5291 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Sally Cheong

Personal Details
Last seen: Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Year of birth: 1985
Height: 162cm
Build: Slim
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Complexion: Tanned
Gender: Female
Distinguishing Feature:






Circumstances: Sally was last seen at 3.00am on Wednesday the 2nd of April, 2008, at her home in Oakleigh South Victoria. Concerns are held for her as no contact has been made with the family since this date.


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Fears for missing woman
Lucy Battersby The Age April 18, 2008
Missing: Sze Wan (Sally) Cheong, 22.
Picture: Supplied

Police are appealing for information about a missing 22-year-old woman who disappeared from her home two weeks ago.

Sze Wan (Sally) Cheong left her Oakleigh South home during the early hours of April 2, police said.

Ms Cheong, the eldest of five children, left her car behind but took her wallet, mobile phone, car keys, iPod and a "security" blanket. She has not accessed her bank accounts nor made any contact with friends or family.

Moorabbin police said her disappearance was uncharacteristic and are concerned about her safety.



Her family believe a person known to Ms Cheong entered the house and that she left with them and is being held against her will.

Ms Cheong is 162 centimetres tall with a slim build and long, darkish hair. She was believed to have been wearing a red T-shirt and dark blue track pants at the time of her disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or http://www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Merry Jane FAUSTD

Personal Details
Sex: Female
Year of Birth: 1973
At Time of Disappearance on 18 February 2008
Age: 34
Height (cm): 165.0
Build: Thin
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Brown
Complexion: Olive
Nationality: Filipino
Racial Appearance: South East Asian
Circumstances Merry Jane was last seen in the Roseville area