THe graphic of how Corryn was buried in that first link really freaks me out!!
Respectfully snipped.
Hi MD, you may be aware that I lived in Perth for 10 years (back in Brissie now). In fact I lived in Malcolm Street, West Perth, very near one of the main entrances to Kings Park.
For those who don't know King's Park it is a huge botanical garden
which doubles as a war memorial. Trees planted within it all have attached a plaque in memory of a WA serviceman from all conflicts in which Australia has been involved.
It also has a memorial to the victims of the Bali Bombing (many of whom came from Perth) as well as numerous smaller parks, picnic areas, cafes, a fancy restaurant (the name of which escapes me at present) kids playground areas, a small Tree Top Walk, fountains, spaces where live theatre happens by day and night, observation tower, etc and so forth.
Many weddings occur in Kings Park. On Anzac Day the huge Cenotaph is surrounded by thousands of people of all ages from about 3am.
I guess, what I am trying to convey here, is that King's Park is not some quiet secluded poorly lit place devoid of people, on the whole.
Even late on a week night, I struggled for some time to think where in Kings Park the alleged perp could have buried Corryn (the ground would probably not have been soft or easily yielding) without anybody noticing?
And then I recalled driving through Kings Park from the Kings Park road entrance other side of the road just above Parliament House, and wending my way down towards Crawley, near the rear of some UWA residential colleges. When I saw the pictures yesterday of where the grave was, I thought yes, that fits, I can see that area on my right (in my minds eye) heading down that particular road.
Even so, people drive through Kings Park (slowly, because there are speed bumps) day and night for all sorts of reasons. LR took a HUGE risk of being seen.
It seems his risk paid off to the extend that he does not appear to have been seen at the time (as far as we know at this stage) but then he failed to notice bollards and a minor item that had fallen out of the car. LOL
Which in turn says to me, that while the murder may have been premeditated, he was in a state of panic carrying out the burial.
For a barrister, distinct lack of method.
JMO MOO
Great description of Kings Park, GeminiGirl.
Yes, it's a huge inner city park, highly frequented but, as you know, much of it is natural bushland and at night it is VERY DARK when you drive away from the main entrance restaurants and lit up lookout area and venture deeper into the park.
I've driven through that enormous park late at night and seen very few other cars. It's quite spooky.
But still, I agree with you, whoever buried Corryn in that park took a huge risk of being seen and they would have known that. They would have been in a state of high anxiety. Hence they probably drove with their headlights off and didn't see the bollard that blocked the track leading to the burial site.
Yes, if not for that bollard, Corryn's body would probably not been found for many years, if at all.
The ground in Perth's western coastal area (where Kings Park is located) is generally soft and sandy. It isn't hard soil in Kings Park but the fact that the sandy soil in Perth tends to collapse upon itself when dug into would have made digging that deep hole a very long and difficult job in my opinion.
The person who dug the hole would have been sweating buckets alright, and not just from panic.
MOO
BBM
The following article describes the gravesite location.
http://m.watoday.com.au/wa-news/corryn-rayneys-hidden-but-oftdriven-past-grave-20120718-22aam.html
Excerpts:-
"Tucked away in thick scrub, just off a sandy track, is the place where Corryn Rayney's body was buried. The location is not remote.
In fact, thousands drive past every year as they travel along Lovekin Drive, an arterial road of Perth's Kings Park.
But it is off the well-beaten route, down a rarely-used goat track, carpeted in leaves, sticks and logs.
Three bollards mark the entrance to an arcing sand track. The middle bollard folds down allowing cars to access the crude road.
Down the track about 30 metres and on the right side is a rough foot track, covered in foliage, low bushy scrub and grass trees.
The ground is sandy and loose underfoot but looks deceptively firm owing to the carpet of leaves, sticks and silt on the ground. It crunches underfoot and low branches and fallen trees make ducking and weaving necessary.
About 20 metres in is a small clearing and in front of a tree is a patch of depressed earth the place Mrs Rayney was buried."
lease:
