Current Trial The 2002 Disappearance of Amber Haigh *Married Couple Arrested & Charged

[BFew]

Hope so. The NSW Crime Commission needs to be expanded to seek more answers for unresolved crimes. It is completely unacceptable that people can answer “I don’t wish to answer that question.” If you have nothing to hide and are innocent, why the silence?

Yesterday in WA, a key POI (and likely Prime suspect at one time or another) in this 36 year old case (which does not yet have a BF thread of its own), refused to turn up at the Coronial Inquest of his missing wife, Sharon Fulton.

So many cases of not reporting missing person's to Police for so long.
Raises huge red flags on those close to the missing person's who eventually report them missing.

Husband of missing woman refuses to testify at her inquest

A coronial inquest into the suspected death of Perth mother Sharon Fulton in 1986 has ended in dramatic fashion – with her husband Robert refusing to testify at the inquest.

thewest.com.au

'Sharon Fulton inquest: Husband Robert Fulton fails to give evidence at coroner's court
Thu, 5 May 2022 2:39PM'

A coronial inquest into the suspected death of Perth mother Sharon Fulton in 1986 has ended in dramatic fashion — with her husband Robert refusing to testify at the inquest.

That’s despite desperate attempts by police to reach him at his Queensland home as recently as Thursday morning.

Mr Fulton — who claims to have Alzheimer’s disease — was listed as the final witness to give evidence at his wife’s coronial inquest in Perth on Thursday.

But the court was told on Thursday morning he was unlikely to give evidence about the case.'

'Her husband Robert, a member of the RAAF at the time, did not report her missing until three days later. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Police officers testified at the inquest on Wednesday they suspect Mr Fulton was “involved” in her disappearance, but no charges have ever been laid against him. They have also raised suspicions about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

He was last interviewed by police in 2017.

Mr Fulton was due to give evidence at the coroner’s inquest via video link, which began in Perth on Wednesday.

But the court was told on Thursday that despite police efforts to speak to him at his Queensland home, he had refused to answer his front door and abide by a witness summons requiring him to appear at the coroner’s court hearing.
CCTV footage had placed him at the home, the court heard.
“They (the police) have had no response from him,” Counsel Assisting Sarah Tyler told the court.

Ms Linton said she had the power to issue an arrest warrant for Mr Fulton but she told the court she would not be issuing one in this case.

She noted she had received some “medical evidence” in relation to Mr Fulton having Alzheimer’s and said the situation was a “difficult one.”

“We were all hoping he might take the opportunity,” Ms Linton told the court.
“I think we’ve done everything we can.
“I think we’ve gone as far as we can.
“At this stage it is unlikely that we will hear evidence from him at this inquest.
“It is particularly difficult given his location and also the medical evidence that is before me that I can’t just disregard.”

Despite Mr Fulton’s refusal to co-operate at the inquest, it has now concluded.'

 

[Story]

It’s pretty sad that people only come forward when there is a monetary reward to do so. It’s great crimes may be solved as a result, but it still bothers me.

It is pretty sad and bothersome, isn't it.
I have tried to look at it objectively and also putting myself into other's shoes as to ideas why someone might not come forward sooner. It's great to think that people would just speak up about such awful things but people's lives can get tricky and who knows. Here's a couple of ideas I had but I'm sure there might be way more....

1) Someone might have been frightened that the person they know, or suspect of the crime, might harm or kill their loved ones or them (or even a fear that the perp could lie and put them into the frame for the crime). I know that in abusive relationships, for example, the abuser can seem to be all powerful and there could be a feeling of knowing that the perp will fool the cops and the only result will be the harm that they are fearing or have been threatened with. What might cause this fearful person to come forward? Well I'm thinking that the relationship obviously could have broken down and over time the person gets enough strength to tell what they know or suspect. This strength might also involve getting beyond the shame they could feel at not coming forward sooner. Maybe those that they were trying to protect are now out of harm's reach? Maybe the large sum of money allows them to believe that they can get to a safe place with a new identity and the perp won't find them. Other posibilities too I'm sure.

2) Maybe someone saw or heard something that they didn't think was important, or that they didn't want to believe that someone they knew actually did such an awful thing, but over a long time period they see a side to the perp that leads them to have suspicions that maybe that thing they had pushed to the back of their mind really did mean something. It might even be something that they never thought of again but suddenly there is a news report of a reward (the reward would need to be big to get the headline) that puts the case back into the news and just the story being reported on again prompts that memory and they come forward.

There has got to be a longer list of reasons, but I am putting the arseh*le that is just holding out for a big reward way down at the bottom of the list. I hope the vast majority of people are better then that.

 

[BFew]

Chilling details emerge in court as couple refused bail over alleged murder of NSW teen

www.9news.com.au

'Chilling details emerge in court as couple refused bail over alleged murder of NSW teen​

5:48pm May 5, 2022'

'The police prosecutor told the court there was a clear motive, arguing the couple allegedly killed Haigh to obtain custody of a child.

How they ever thought they would get away with gaining custody of Amber's infant child, and be smart enough to evade being charged with Amber's murder is bizarre.

Maybe their defence will be something along the same lines.

Then all the prosecution has to do is prove the Geeves have a propensity for not being the brightest of sparks.
That shouldn't be too hard.
Although Mr Geeves Snr evading being found not guilty of a number of serious crimes might be a handy defence.

 

[BFew]

A $100k reward was first offered in August 2007.
The reward was only upped to $1m last week.

The ABC is today reporting that a witness came forward with info on the case late last year before the reward was increased to $1m.

So what new witness(s) are you specifically referring to @Story?

9news is now reporting (or misreporting) something different, depending on how you interpret the below.

Chilling details emerge in court as couple refused bail over alleged murder of NSW teen

www.9news.com.au

'The police prosecutor told Cowra Local Court the homicide squad made the arrests after a new witness came forward via Crime Stoppers, just a week after a $1 million reward for information on the case was announced.'

 

[Krusty Crab]

9news is now reporting (or misreporting) something different, depending on how you interpret the below.

Chilling details emerge in court as couple refused bail over alleged murder of NSW teen

www.9news.com.au

'The police prosecutor told Cowra Local Court the homicide squad made the arrests after a new witness came forward via Crime Stoppers, just a week after a $1 million reward for information on the case was announced.'

thought ive had is the ex wife has shopped him. it seems she is in poor health with need for heart and kidney operations from what ive read, but yet she hasnt applied for bail. seems strange for someone to not apply for bail asap, possibly a deal has been done and she gets to limit her jail time, or gets the medical help she needs, or just clearing her conscience as she expects to die soon.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It’s pretty sad that people only come forward when there is a monetary reward to do so. It’s great crimes may be solved as a result, but it still bothers me.

Same here.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

thought ive had is the ex wife has shopped him. it seems she is in poor health with need for heart and kidney operations from what ive read, but yet she hasnt applied for bail. seems strange for someone to not apply for bail asap, possibly a deal has been done and she gets to limit her jail time, or gets the medical help she needs, or just clearing her conscience as she expects to die soon.

The other article did say she is about to apply for bail though-would she be doing that if she had done a deal to keep herself out of jail?

 

[Kurve]

9news is now reporting (or misreporting) something different, depending on how you interpret the below.

Chilling details emerge in court as couple refused bail over alleged murder of NSW teen

www.9news.com.au

'The police prosecutor told Cowra Local Court the homicide squad made the arrests after a new witness came forward via Crime Stoppers, just a week after a $1 million reward for information on the case was announced.'

From the article. Are the Geeves talking over phone intercepts in the present or twenty years ago when Amber went missing? Not sure I understand when this conversation took place.

The court heard Mr Geeves allegedly bought a chainsaw in the days after Haigh's disappearance.
Police will allege they captured the couple on phone intercepts talking about the disposal of Haigh's body including Ms Geeves asking her husband, "where are we going to take the rest of her now" and "have you got rid of her?"

 

[BFew]

The Trial of both Anne and Robert Reeves by Judge only has commenced in Wagga Wagga.
The media is reporting it's expected to run for 8 weeks. Here's next week's court listings for it.

 

[BFew]

Court told couple killed teen with intellectual disability because they 'wanted' her baby boy

The opening day of a murder trial in the Riverina has heard Robert and Anne Geeves allegedly killed a teenager living on-and-off with them as part of a plot to gain custody of her five-month-old son.

www.abc.net.au

'Robert and Anne Geeves allegedly murdered Amber Haigh to gain custody of her son, Supreme Court told​

ABC Riverina / By Monty Jacka
Posted 2h ago, updated 1h ago
The opening day of a murder trial in the New South Wales Riverina has heard a married couple allegedly killed a teenager with an intellectual disability as part of a plot to gain custody of her five-month-old son.

Robert Samuel Geeves, 64, and Anne Margaret Geeves, 63, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 19-year-old Amber Haigh, who disappeared in June 2002.

The pair are facing a judge-alone trial before Justice Julia Lonergan in the Supreme Court at Wagga Wagga.

It is expected to run for up to eight weeks.
...'

 

[Kurve]

Court told couple killed teen with intellectual disability because they 'wanted' her baby boy

The opening day of a murder trial in the Riverina has heard Robert and Anne Geeves allegedly killed a teenager living on-and-off with them as part of a plot to gain custody of her five-month-old son.

www.abc.net.au

'Robert and Anne Geeves allegedly murdered Amber Haigh to gain custody of her son, Supreme Court told​

ABC Riverina / By Monty Jacka
Posted 2h ago, updated 1h ago
The opening day of a murder trial in the New South Wales Riverina has heard a married couple allegedly killed a teenager with an intellectual disability as part of a plot to gain custody of her five-month-old son.

Robert Samuel Geeves, 64, and Anne Margaret Geeves, 63, have pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of 19-year-old Amber Haigh, who disappeared in June 2002.

The pair are facing a judge-alone trial before Justice Julia Lonergan in the Supreme Court at Wagga Wagga.

It is expected to run for up to eight weeks.
...'

This is another ghastly case with Amber not much more than a kid herself at 19yo.

 

[FR0GGY]

Cannot fathom how his past charges have been dropped?
I’m assuming the two 13yo’s found in the silos were still alive?

 

[BFew]

It must feel awful for all those that have reported things to Crimestoppers over the years and never get a call back, or only get one back when it is too late and/or years or decades later.

Thanks goodness the judge today ruled that this evidence would be admissable at the trial.

Amber Haigh claimed man accused of her murder would tie her to bed and have sex with her, court hears

Woman tells court about ‘shocking’ conversation she had with missing teenager, after pair got stranded at a train station in New South Wales

www.theguardian.com

Petrina Ingram met Haigh in March 2002, after both of their trains were delayed, leaving them stranded at Cootamundra railway station for several hours together, the court heard. The pair had lunch and ice-cream together.
'...
Haigh was travelling to Sydney with her young son, still in a pram, and whom Ingram told the supreme court on Monday Haigh “was clearly besotted with”.

When Ingram complimented Haigh on her pram or blanket – “I can’t remember which” – Haigh replied that it was a gift from the wife of the father of her child.

“I found it shocking, I was shocked by that comment … I said: ‘What? Does she know about the baby?’”

Ingram told the court Haigh talked to her about her relationship with Robert and Anne Geeves.

“She told me that both the husband and wife would come to her place in Young, that they would bring alcohol with them. They would all drink the alcohol until she [Haigh] was drunk and then the wife would go home and that the husband would tie her to the bed and have sex with her.”

Ingram told the court she kept a diary in 2002 and wrote an account of the conversation in her diary that night. She also told her partner.

Ingram said three months later, in June 2002, she saw a news report saying that Haigh was missing, and asking for people with information to come forward.

Ingram told the court she rang CrimeStoppers to report her meeting with Haigh to police – including Haigh’s disclosures about being tied up – and said she was told a detective would call her back.

She said she called CrimeStoppers twice more in the years that followed – including once in 2008 when she saw another news item about Haigh’s disappearance – but never received a call back.

She said she was finally telephoned in 2024 by Snr Const Amanda Cary, a homicide detective who’d been reassigned to the case. Under cross-examination, Ingram agreed she had been “disappointed” police had not called sooner.
...'

 

[jason_recliner]

It must feel awfully for all those that have reported things to Crimestoppers over the years and never get a call back...

IKR, just ask Murderyduff.

 

[Kurve]

Missing New South Wales woman Amber Haigh wanted to make a will because she feared Robert Geeves would "end her life" after she gave birth, a witness has told the Supreme Court.

Rebecca Pisaturo-McMillan, a former legal secretary with a law firm in Young, testified that Ms Haigh attended the office in August 2001 to make the will.

Ms Pisaturo-McMillan said Ms Haigh was pregnant at the time, and claimed she needed the document "for the safeguard of her child".

"[Ms Haigh] was very straightforward and adamant that once her child was born her life would be taken," Ms Pisaturo-McMillan said.

"She described it would be the father of the child who told her if she was ever pregnant, she would not live beyond the birth of that child [and] that he would end her life."

Murder trial hears Amber Haigh made a will as she feared the father of her child would 'end her life'

A former legal secretary has told the Supreme Court that missing NSW woman Amber Haigh believed her "life would be taken" by Robert Geeves after she gave birth.

www.abc.net.au

 

[BFew]

Missing New South Wales woman Amber Haigh wanted to make a will because she feared Robert Geeves would "end her life" after she gave birth, a witness has told the Supreme Court.

Rebecca Pisaturo-McMillan, a former legal secretary with a law firm in Young, testified that Ms Haigh attended the office in August 2001 to make the will.

Ms Pisaturo-McMillan said Ms Haigh was pregnant at the time, and claimed she needed the document "for the safeguard of her child".

"[Ms Haigh] was very straightforward and adamant that once her child was born her life would be taken," Ms Pisaturo-McMillan said.

"She described it would be the father of the child who told her if she was ever pregnant, she would not live beyond the birth of that child [and] that he would end her life."

Murder trial hears Amber Haigh made a will as she feared the father of her child would 'end her life'

A former legal secretary has told the Supreme Court that missing NSW woman Amber Haigh believed her "life would be taken" by Robert Geeves after she gave birth.

www.abc.net.au

Thank goodness it's a judge only trial.

The circumstantial evidence in this 20yo case is stacked up so high, it's probably going to take a monumental prosecution stuff-up for them to lose this one. (A win IMO, would equal at least Robert Geeves guilty of murder)

 

[fake tyrone]

Has anyone else been following this case closely? I can't believe how sordid and seedy the people around this poor girl were. So many people, including members of her own family, were simply taking blatant advantage of her vulnerability. It's honestly dark stuff.

 

[Kurve]

Checking in later if it seems sad.

Amber Haigh murder trial podcast | The Guardian

Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world's leading liberal voice

www.theguardian.com

 

[PatsFitztrick]

Okay, so who did kill Amber?

Couple not guilty of murdering 19-year-old mum Amber Haigh

Robert and Anne Geeves are found not guilty of murder, following a long trial held more than 20 years after Ms Haigh's disappearance in 2002.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Kurve]

Okay, so who did kill Amber?

Couple not guilty of murdering 19-year-old mum Amber Haigh

Robert and Anne Geeves are found not guilty of murder, following a long trial held more than 20 years after Ms Haigh's disappearance in 2002.

www.abc.net.au

That's a bit of a shock. They took her son, were the last to see her alive and had a motive.

 

[CredibleSauce]

Okay, so who did kill Amber?

Couple not guilty of murdering 19-year-old mum Amber Haigh

Robert and Anne Geeves are found not guilty of murder, following a long trial held more than 20 years after Ms Haigh's disappearance in 2002.

www.abc.net.au

That's a bit of a shock. They took her son, were the last to see her alive and had a motive.

The police working on this case for over 20 years must be reeling.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Okay, so who did kill Amber?

Couple not guilty of murdering 19-year-old mum Amber Haigh

Robert and Anne Geeves are found not guilty of murder, following a long trial held more than 20 years after Ms Haigh's disappearance in 2002.

www.abc.net.au

They did but too much time has passed and theres not enough evidence to prove it. Im unsurprised by the ruling sadly.

 

[fake tyrone]

I was worried about this being the verdict over the months I followed this story. There was no strong evidence that put this case beyond reasonable doubt unfortunately. I do think it's likely the accused did take Amber's life but the prosecution just didn't have enough to get the result they wanted.

 

[Kurve]

Young women tend to die violent deaths around that man.

In 1986, two 13-year-old girls from Young went missing. After weeks of searching, they were allegedly found in a silo on Mr Geeves’s property.

The court heard that one of the girls accused him of inappropriate behaviour and rumours quickly began circulating that he had tied them up and sexually abused them over the course of the two weeks.

Robert Geeves was charged with sexual offences but was eventually acquitted.
The court also heard that in 1993, Mr Geeves had a drunken fight with his then-partner Janelle Goodwin (who was pregnant), during which she died after being shot through the nose with a rifle.

Robert Geeves would later admit he put a plastic bag over the woman’s head, covered her with a sheet, tied up her body and placed her in a wheelbarrow in his shed before cleaning the scene, the court heard.

Mr Geeves reported the incident two days later, telling officers Ms Goodwin had shot herself.

The court heard a detective would go on to testify that the scene was cleaned so thoroughly that forensic investigators could not figure out where the woman died.

Mr Geeves was initially discharged but was later charged with murder. He was found not guilty by a jury.

Allegations of forced surrogacies, tied-up schoolgirls: How Amber Haigh's disappearance brought ominous rumours into the limelight

When the young woman vanished, police stumbled across what they believed to be a sinister plot to take her baby boy. But despite a lengthy murder trial, what happened to her remains one of regional Australia's enduring mysteries.

www.abc.net.au