PDA

View Full Version : Wood charged with murder



OMEN
05-03-2006, 08:18 PM
http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,5148500,00.jpg
Extradited ... Wood (r) is expected to apply for bail today
FORMER Sydney man Gordon Wood has been charged with the murder of his ex-girlfriend Caroline Byrne after being extradited from Britain.
Wood, 43, flew into Sydney about 7pm (AEST) last night and was taken directly to the Surry Hills police station in the custody of two NSW detectives.

He has been charged with one count of murder and will remain in police custody until he faces Sydney's Central Local Court today, where he is expected to apply for bail.

Ms Byrne was found dead at the bottom of The Gap at Watsons Bay, in Sydney's east, on June 8, 1995.

Wood, who was chauffeur to stockbroker Rene Rivkin at the time of the model's death, has repeatedly denied murdering her.

Family friend and deportment icon June Dally-Watkins yesterday said Ms Byrne's father Tony finally hoped to get some answers to the many questions that remained unanswered.What her family need to know is, what happened, who was concerned and why?" Ms Dally-Watkins said.

"If only her dad could find out the answers to those three things, he would be able to get on with his life.

"He hopes that some light now may be thrown onto the darkness and something will be resolved.

"It's the terrible thing of not knowing, that's what's been so hard on him."

NSW Police Detective Inspector Paul Jacob and Detective Senior Constable Paul Quigg boarded a flight to London on April 25 to bring Wood back to Australia.

Wood moved overseas following a 1998 inquest into Ms Byrne's death, at which the coroner delivered an open finding that she may have jumped, fallen or been pushed to her death.

He has lived mainly in London and also in Europe since, working as a fitness instructor and sometime masseur.

British police arrested Wood in early April after he agreed to meet them at his London home on his return from France.

British Home Secretary Charles Clarke approved the extradition order in London late last month.

NewsAU