GUILTY Australia - Brendan Bernard, 32, found dismembered, Melbourne, Vic, 27 Jan 2015

[TootsieFootsie]

Maribyrnong River murder victim Brendan Bernard an 'itinerant', estranged from family

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/m...nt-estranged-from-family-20150220-13kj76.html


"Fairfax Media can now reveal Mr Bernard was the eldest of four children. He is described by police as having been a couch-surfing "itinerant", who stayed with different friends.

Mr Bernard, 32, lived in North Melbourne, but it is unclear whether he was in contact with his two Melbourne-based siblings. Another sibling lives in Europe.

All three of his siblings are active on social media, but appear to have made little mention of Mr Bernard online.

His family has declined to comment on his death"

 

[TootsieFootsie]

"Three men have been charged with the murder of a man whose remains were found in the Maribyrnong River, in Melbourne's western suburbs, last month"


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-...after-remains-found-maribyrnong-river/6324056

 

[spiritualdreaming]

"Three men have been charged with the murder of a man whose remains were found in the Maribyrnong River, in Melbourne's western suburbs, last month"


http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-...after-remains-found-maribyrnong-river/6324056

Well done VicPol in catching these inhumane people...now it's up to the justice system to do the correct thing and punish them appropriately

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I imagine there will first be a trial to determine their innocence or guilt before any punishment is considered.

 

[spiritualdreaming]

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-...aribyrnong-river/story-fni0fee2-1227265440398

 

[Ausgirl]

It is understood Mr Bernard was a heroin and ice dealer who had begun cutting the ice he provided with other substances to make his dealing more lucrative.

The long-term heroin user, who had been living on and off the streets for about five years, is believed to have owed several people money over his drug dealings.

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-...aribyrnong-river/story-fni0fee2-1227265440398

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

From June 2016:

Three guilty over murder of man whose limbs they dumped in the Maribyrnong

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/three-guilty-over-murder-of-man-whose-limbs-they-dumped-in-the-maribyrnong-20160609-gpf0qw.html

Before his dismembered limbs began floating to the surface of the Maribyrnong River last year, few people outside Brendan Bernard's circle had heard of him.

The 32-year-old Melbourne man's short life had been marked by hardship, and he had struggled with drug addiction and periodic homelessness.

But on Friday there were cries of glee in the Victorian Supreme Court as Mr Bernard's housemate, Matthew David Brennan, and two other men, Con Spaliaras​ and Edward Lionel "Nippy" Hill, were found guilty of Mr Bernard's murder.

The three had pleaded not guilty to murder, despite admitting to throwing hacked up pieces of Mr Bernard's body into the river, arguing that they did not intend for him to die.

I'm not sure if they have been sentenced yet.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Trio sentenced for murder, dismemberment of Melbourne man Brendan Bernard

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/trio-sentenced-for-murder-dismemberment-of-melbourne-man-brendan-bernard/news-story/3c9b947aa420b237cd33da6c0324279d

Three drug addicts who murdered, dismembered and threw parts of a man’s body in the Maribyrnong river over a $60 drug debt will spend at least 15-19 years in jail for their “brutal and cowardly” crime.

Con Spaliaras, 33, Matthew Brennan, 38, and Edward Hill, 48, were found guilty by a jury of murdering Brendan Bernard in January 2015 and on Friday were sentenced in the Victorian Supreme Court to non-parole periods of 19, 17 and 15 years respectively.

Justice Christopher Beale said he was not satisfied the men were remorseful.

“This was a protracted, brutal and cowardly assault by the three of you,” he said.

Vic killers jailed but family 'tormented'

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/vic-killers-jailed-but-family-tormented/news-story/a9ee7e7bbc2f9e7cc1dde139ade39991

As Brendan Bernard's killers begin hefty jail time for his murder, dismemberment and river dumping, his family remains tormented that some of his body parts, including his head, are yet to be found.

"Where is the rest of my son's body?" grieving father Ronald Whitmore pleaded following the jury trial that found the men guilty last year.

"He was a human being, he was my son. He died for what?"

The judge said Mr Bernard's family suffered ongoing physical and mental ill-health as a result of the senseless murder and were "tormented" they still only had pieces of their loved one.