Networked Knowledge - Media Report

[This edited version of the report has been prepared by Dr Robert N Moles]

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On 20 August 2007 Colleen Egan of the Sunday Times reported “Corryn Rayney murder: police hunt killer”

Special Blog on the Mallard case by award winning journalist Colleen Egan - details here

She said the barrister who has just taken over representation of Lloyd Rayney's client lives in the same street where murder victim Corryn Rayney's car was found last week. Mark Trowell QC, a well-known Perth lawyer, resides just three houses down the road from the parking space where Mrs Rayney’s silver sedan sat for a week in Subiaco. Mr Trowell had taken over Mr Rayney’s duties at the CCC while police conducted a nationwide hunt for the car. He had no idea he was eating, sleeping and working just metres away from the biggest clue in what has become a tragic murder case. The bizarre coincidence has been the subject of discussion in the media room this afternoon at the inquiry.

Earlier, the commissioner of the Mallard inquiry declared "exceptional circumstances" for the policeman client of Mr Rayney. Commissioner John Dunford has made an exception to the rule that all targets of the inquiry be separately represented, allowing Superintendent John Brandham to share counsel with one of his fellow officers. Commissioner Dunford extended sympathies to Mr Rayney, who was representing Supt Brandham at the CCC's hearings until his wife, Corryn, disappeared almost two weeks ago. "I'd like to extend both the Commission's and my own personal sympathies to Mr Rayney and his daughters for the recent death of their wife and mother," he said. "Due to the exceptional circumstances, I consider it's appropriate to make an exception."

Mark Trowell QC, who is representing Acting Inspector Alan Carter, told the commission today that he had been looking out for Supt Brandham's interests since Mrs Rayney disappeared and had been expecting Mr Rayney to return to work. "It's impossible for him to continue," Mr Trowell said.

Items tested as police probe 'persons of interest'

Items from the gravesite of murdered West Australian Supreme Court registrar Corryn Rayney will be tested this week as police continue their hunt for her killer. Police are refusing to reveal if they have any suspects, saying only that there are “persons of interest”' in their inquiry into the fate of the prominent lawyer whose body was found buried in Perth's King's Park last week. Ms Rayney, 44, had been missing since August 7, when she failed to return home to her 10- and 12-year-old daughters after a bootscooting class. Police found the bushland grave after discovering Ms Rayney's car in nearby Subiaco on Tuesday and following an oil leak from the vehicle.

Police spokeswoman Ros Weatherall said today forensic tests would be carried out this week on items taken from the car and gravesite. "There are a number of exhibits they want to go through,'' Ms Weatherall said. "A preliminary autopsy was also done on Friday, but further tests need to be carried out.'' Ms Rayney's younger sister, Sharon, yesterday appealed for anyone with any information to come forward, no matter how ``trivial'' they might feel it to be. "She was a daughter, a wife, a mum and my sister, caring, fun and trusting in everyone she met,'' Sharon said. "Now she is my murdered sister, and my family and I want to know why.''

Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said there were a number of persons of interest with whom police would like to talk but he was not prepared togive out information about potential suspects. Police confirmed they were investigating any possible threats Mrs Rayney may have received through her work as the court's registrar, as they continue to try to piece together her movements following a 9.30pm bootscooting class in suburban Bentley, 10 minutes' drive from her home. Sister Sharon, who did not want her last name used, said Mrs Rayney's two daughters, aged 10 and 13, were devastated by the news of their mother's death, as was the whole family. "At first they were just expecting her to walk straight back into the house. It is unthinkable," she said. "She was always devoted to her two daughters, making their school lunches every morning, taking them to and from social events and sporting events, shopping for special outfits at any opportunity. "Girls of their age need their mother most. How will they cope?''

Mr O'Callaghan appealed to people to come forward with information about any sightings of Mrs Rayney's 2005 silver Ford Fairmont, which was abandoned in the nearby suburb of Subiaco when it ran out of oil, and any unusual implements within the park that could have been used to dig a grave. Detective Sergeant Paul Robinson said the major crime squad taskforce set up for the case was examining hundreds of exhibits, investigating taxi calls to the area where the car was found, sightings by rubbish truck drivers and anyone from bootscooting classes who might be familiar with Mrs Rayney's routine. "Every person who has been involved in Mrs Corryn Rayney's life is a potential person of interest until those people are eliminated from the inquiry," Det-Sgt Robinson said. He said there were no known threats against Mrs Rayney but it was an avenue of investigation. Ms Rayney's sister Sharon said Corryn was "caring, fun and trusting". "She always had her iPod on and her love was bootscooting. (She had) hundreds of pairs of different boots. That was her escape - that was what she enjoyed," she said.

Ms Rayney had been a Supreme Court registrar since 2002, earning more than $240,000 a year for preparing cases before they were heard before a judge. Her estranged husband Lloyd Rayney is a prominent Perth lawyer and a former senior prosecutor with the Director of Public Prosecutions. As police stepped up the hunt for the mother-of-two's killer, Mr Rayney said: "Words escape me because it's such a torturous time.'' Police said yesterday it was too early to consider a reward to encourage people to come forward with information. They said it was still not clear if Mrs Rayney, a Supreme Court registrar, knew her killer or if it was a random slaying.

They have refused to say whether they are examining legal cases the Rayneys have worked on, to determine if anyone is disgruntled or has cause for grievances against them. But a close friend of Mrs Rayney said he believed she might have been singled out. "I think she was targeted for whatever reason,'' said the man, who did not want to be named. ``It was just all too coincidental with some of the things she said and told us. "It's known that their marriage was on the rocks and that they were going through divorce procedures. "I think that side of it was on her mind . . . she used the dancing as an outlet, something she could just express herself.'' Police said forensic tests at Mrs Rayney's bush grave, her car and searches of Kings Park could take another week.

Anyone with information is urged to call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: 20 August 2007 Colleen Egan Sunday Times “Corryn Rayney murder: police hunt killer”. Reporting by Nicole Cox, Liza Kappelle, Janine MacDonald and Louise Pemble.

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