Andrew Michael Burke to spend a minimum of 20 years in jail
after murdering a pregnant woman (Joan Ryther) who was a staff in McDonald in a
terrible attack while she was on way to work. The attack occurred in Logan,
Brisbane on May 21 2013, when he was 17-year-old.
The who was just 2 months pregnant at the time of the
murder, had just gone half a mile from her house to her destination.
It was told the Queensland Supreme Court that Burke dragged
the pregnant woman into a front yard and got her raped with a screwdriver
before he finally kicked her in the head and stifled her to death.
Burke later told police he was wearing the same clothes he
had on in his interview on the night he killed Mrs. Ryther.
On the contrary, CCTV footage from the night in question reveals
the killer wearing a different pair of shorts and jumper to what was tested for
DNA evidence.
In court, forensic expert Jacqueline Wilson gave evidence
that DNA found on Mrs. Ryther’s clothing was “100 billion times more likely” to
belong to Burke than any other person.
Other samples revealed a range of likely DNA matches for a
number of people, whereas some results returned suggested that the DNA had not
been contributed by Burke.
It was however believed that Burke had been in the area
earlier in the day with a group who were drunk and had been apparently trying
to steal cars.
Mrs. Ryther’s husband, Cory, who she married in 2011, gave
evidence and was present throughout the entire murder trial.
The chef (husband) was still at work at the time she had
made her way to her shift.
When he later tried to drop his car off at McDonald’s so she
could drive home safely, he was anxious to discover that she had not turned up
for work.
according to News.com.au he then drove the route his wife
usually walked in a bid to find her but said there was “no sign at all”.
Later on, a dweller in the area found Mrs. Ryther’s body in
their front yard the following morning. She had obvious injuries and was incompletely
clothed.
Speaking in court ahead of Burke’s sentencing, Mr. Ryther
said to the killer: “I have learnt how to hate. Thanks for teaching me that.
“We just wanted to live. Life for me now is empty and
hollow. I feel like there’s nothing left really to live for.”
Burke was arrested 11 days after Mrs. Ryther’s body was
found.
Justice Debra Mullins said to Burke: “She was kicked,
assaulted and there [were] signs that she was strangled.”
“She died where she was left lying face down. It shows no
compassion for your fellow citizens … that you left Ms. Ryther’s body in the
state that you did.”
Burke was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his crimes,
plus five years for other charges. The judge declared that the three years
served prior to the trial counted as time already served.
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