Anita wins Miss Western Suburbs Charity Queen.

The Anita Cobby murder was the name given to the murder of 26-year-old Australian nursing sister and beauty pageant winner, Anita Lorraine Cobby, on 2 February 1986. Image File history File links Anitacobby. ... Image File history File links Anitacobby. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... A beauty contest, or beauty pageant, is a competition between people, based largely, though not always entirely, on the beauty of their physical appearance. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

Her murder has been remembered as one of the most horrifying and violent crimes ever perpetrated in Australia. The violent nature of the crime shocked most Australians and united the public in outrage. Petitions containing tens of thousands of signatures were sent to governments, and thousands of telephones calls were made to television stations and talk back radio shows, supporting the reintroduction of the death penalty to Australia. A petition is a request to an authority, most commonly a government official or public entity. ... Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ...

Earlier life

Anita Cobby, crowned 1979 Miss Western Suburbs Charity Queen

Anita Lorraine Lynch was born on 2 November 1959. Image File history File links Anitacobbypagaentwin. ... Image File history File links Anitacobbypagaentwin. ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Anita met her future husband, John Cobby, while studying for her nursing degree. They married on 27 March 1982. At the time of her murder, though, the couple had separated and Anita was living with her parents in Blacktown, New South Wales. is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ...

Reported missing

On the day of the murder, Anita finished work at Sydney Hospital at 3pm and met friends for dinner in Redfern. She then caught a train from Central Station to Blacktown Station. She was never seen alive again by anyone but her killers. This article needs cleanup. ... Redfern is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... Central Railway Station (also known as Sydney Terminal) is the largest railway station in Sydney, Australia. ... Blacktown is a railway station on the Western railway line, Sydney of the CityRail network, servicing the suburb of Blacktown and surrounding region. ...

Anita was walking alone along Newton Road, Blacktown around 10pm, when the gang of five youths drove up alongside her and stopped their stolen Holden vehicle ^[1]. Two men leaped from the car, dragging Anita kicking and screaming into the car. She was ordered to strip off her clothes but refused, begging her attackers to let her go, saying she was married and that she was on her period. This article is about the Australian car manufacturer. ... Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes that occurs in the females of human beings and other great apes. ...

Her attackers continued to punch Anita repeatedly, then drove to a service station to purchase fuel using money stolen from Anita's purse. She was then driven to a secluded paddock, while being held down in the car whilst continuously being raped and beaten by the five attackers. Modern gas station A filling station, gas station or petrol station is a facility that sells fuel for road motor vehicles – usually petrol (US: gas/gasoline), diesel fuel and LPG. The term gas station is mostly particular to the United States of America and Canada, where petrol is known...

Anita was reported missing by her family on 3 February. is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Discovery

On 4 February, farmer John Reen discovered the naked body of a young woman on his Prospect, New South Wales farm, and Police were called to the scene. The body had been dragged through a barbed wire fence, bashed, raped and slashed twice across the throat, almost causing decapitation. There was bruising on her head, breasts, face, shoulders, groin, thighs and legs. Both shoulders and several fingers were also broken, the result of an attempt to restrain one of her attackers from causing her more pain. Her fingers were nearly severed from holding the knife away from her throat; this is why police believed the victim was still alive when her throat was cut. is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Prospect is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. ... A selection of forms of barbed wire. ... Beheading. ...

After investigations of the crime scene, police believed more than one person, possibly a gang, had committed the crime.

Hunt for the killers

On 6 February, the NSW State Government posted an AUD$50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of her killers. is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... ISO 4217 Code AUD User(s) Australia, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island Inflation 3. ...

On 9 February, police re-enacted Anita's movements on the night of her disappearance in the hope of jogging the memories of travellers or others who may have witnessed her movements. Constable Debbie Wallace wore similar clothing to Anita and travelled the 9:12 p.m. train to Blacktown. Detectives interviewed the passengers and showed them photos of Anita whilst Constable Wallace walked the length of the train during the journey. is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Following a tip-off from a police informant regarding a stolen vehicle, police started searching for John Travers, Michael Murdoch and the Murphy brothers after they discovered that some of them had a history of violence and Travers had a reputation for carrying a knife. On 21 February, police found and arrested Travers and Murdoch at Travers' uncle's house and Les Murphy at Travers' house. Murdoch and Murphy were charged with offences relating to stolen cars and released on police bail. Travers, who admitted that he had stolen a car, had also made conflicting statements about the murder. He was detained in police custody.

While in custody, John Travers requested that a friend be called so she could bring him cigarettes. This simple request was his downfall, as the phone number was handed to the investigating police who contacted the woman. Although she was terrified of Travers, she agreed to help with the investigation, and met with an officer and gave him details of Travers sadistic and violent background.

The woman, who became known as Mrs. X, talked to Travers and he confessed the crime to her. 'Mrs X' was sent back in to talk to him with a recording device, which she was able to get a confession on.

Eventually five men were arrested and charged with the murder. Police were praised for the quick response in capturing all suspects involved. In total, 22 days had elapsed from the time of the murder to the time all suspects were taken into custody.

The accused

The five accused suspects had over 50 prior convictions for offences including armed robbery, assault, larceny, car theft, breaking and entering, drug usage, escaping lawful custody, receiving stolen goods and rape. Robbery is the crime of seizing property through violence or intimidation. ... In the United States, larceny is a common law crime involving stealing. ... Breaking and entering is defined as the crime of illegally entering a residence or other enclosed property using any amount of force (even pushing open an unlocked door). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A prison escape or prison break is where a prisoner leaves their prison through unofficial or illegal ways, and almost always results in an effort to recapture them by their original detainers. ... Possession of stolen goods is a crime in which an individual has bought, been given, or acquired stolen goods some other way. ...

John Travers

Main article: John Travers

John Raymond Travers, the eldest of eight children, was considered the ring-leader of the gang of attackers. John Raymond Travers John Raymond Travers was sentenced to life imprisonment for the Anita Cobby murder. ...

Michael Murdoch

Michael Murdoch was a childhood friend and criminal associate of Travers. Murdoch had also spent a great part of his childhood in juvenile prisons where he experienced sexual assaults. He was known to write to politicians during this period of imprisonment seeking protection from such assaults.

The Murphys

Les, Michael and Gary Murphy, brothers from an Irish family of nine children were also accused of the crime.

Michael Murphy

Michael was 33 at the time of the murder. He was the eldest of the nine Murphy children. Mick was sent to live with his grandmother when 12 years of age.

Gary Murphy

Gary Murphy was five years younger than Michael. Hearing impairment affected Gary's schooling and he left early to seek work. He was noted as being an able and willing worker before the crimes. Overall it was said he was a likable person. Hearing impairment is a full or partial decrease in the ability to detect or understand sounds. ...

Gary's strong interest in cars led to him facing several automotive theft related charges in the years before the murder. Gary was also known to have a very violent temper.

Les Murphy

Leslie Joseph Murphy

Les Murphy was the youngest of the Murphy children, but was known as having the worst temperament. He faced Children's Court on many occasions for a number of theft related offences before being accused of the Anita Cobby murder. Les was 24 years old at the time of the murder. Image File history File links Lesliejosephmurphy. ... Image File history File links Lesliejosephmurphy. ... For temperament in dog fancy, see conformation point. ...

The trial

All accused pleaded not guilty; however, shortly before trial proceedings began on 16 March 1987, Travers changed his plea to guilty. In criminal law, an acquittal is the legal result of a verdict of not guilty, or some similar end of the proceeding that terminates it with prejudice without a verdict of guilty being entered against the accused. ...

The trial lasted 54 days, with the men's defense relying on convincing the jury of their minimal involvement in the beating and murder.

On 10 June 1987, all five men accused of the murder were found guilty of murder. June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

On 16 June 1987, all were sentenced in the Supreme Court of New South Wales to life imprisonment, never to be released. Justice Maxwell described the crime as "One of the most horrifying physical and sexual assaults. This was a calculated killing done in cold blood. The Executive should grant the same degree of mercy they bestowed on their victim." is the 167th day of the year (168th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court for the Australian State of New South Wales. ... Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime, nominally for the entire remaining life of the prisoner, but in fact for a period which varies between jurisdictions: many countries have a maximum possible period of time (usually seven years) a prisoner may be incarcerated, or require the...

Aftermath

Cover of Someone Else's Daughter.

Anita's parents are the founders of the Victims of Homicide Support Group, a community support group that helps families deal with heinous crimes. They are also campaigners in seeking tougher sentencing and truth in sentencing laws which eventuated after Anita's murder. Image File history File links Someone_elses_daughter_cover. ... Image File history File links Someone_elses_daughter_cover. ... Someone Elses Daughter front cover Someone Elses Daughter: The Life and Death of Anita Cobby is a 1997 Australian novel written by Julia Sheppard, based on the life and murder of Australian nurse Anita Cobby. ... Truth in Sentencing (or TIS) is a collection of different but related ideas about justice and fairness in the sentencing of criminals. ...

A book detailing the crime titled Someone Else's Daughter was written by Julia Sheppard and released in 1997 [ISBN 0-7329-0916-3]. The crime has been cited as the basis for the 1997 Australian film The Boys, although there is no actual link between the crime and the film, or the stage play on which the film was based. Someone Elses Daughter front cover Someone Elses Daughter: The Life and Death of Anita Cobby is a 1997 Australian novel written by Julia Sheppard, based on the life and murder of Australian nurse Anita Cobby. ... The Boys is a 1998 Australian drama film directed by Rowan Woods. ...

A September 2006 episode of Australian television series Crime & Investigation Australia featured the Anita Cobby murder.

The first episode of a new Channel 9 show, Crime Investigation Australia, hosted by Steve Liebmann, detailed the Anita Cobby Murder. Several police officers who were involved in the investigation and subsequent solving of the case were interviewed for the show. This show was broadcast on August 14, 2007. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney. ... Crime & Investigation Network is a brand of channels shown Worldwide mostly owned by A&E Networks. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

References

High Court entrance The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal in Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy. ... is the 150th day of the year (151st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Shortcut: WP:-( Vandalism is indisputable bad-faith addition, deletion, or change to content, made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. ... Shortcut: WP:-( Vandalism is indisputable bad-faith addition, deletion, or change to content, made in a deliberate attempt to compromise the integrity of the encyclopedia. ...

External links

• Artists put human face of tragedy in new light
• Anita and Beyond
• Find-A-Grave profile for Anita Cobby
• The Crime Web: The Murder of Anita Cobby