AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2001
Qld: Man convicted of babysitter murder
BRISBANE, Aug 3 AAP - A man was today convicted of murdering his children's teenage
babysitter and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment.
Derek Bellington Sam, 28, a supervisor on a property for troubled Aboriginal youth
at Kenilworth in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Jessica
Gaudie, 16, at Nambour, between August 28 and 29, 1999.
The Brisbane Supreme Court jury deliberated for a day before bringing in the guilty
verdict after a 10-day trial.
Jessica had been hired by Sam's estranged de facto to babysit their three young children
overnight while she went to a party.
Her body has never been found.
Supreme Court Justice Richard Chesterman said Sam took Jessica from the house where
she was minding his children for his own sexual gratification.
"On the evidence, the little girl you killed who stood on the threshold of life, was
an uncomplicated girl, who was clearly one of warmth and friendship," Justice Chesterman
said.
"She was of a trusting nature. You took her from the house for your own sexual gratification."
AAP smk/sc/apm/bwl
KEYWORD: SAM GUILTY
2001 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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