A Supreme Court trial involving four individuals charged in connection with the alleged murder of Geoffrey McLean in 2022 has been annulled.
The trial, which included defendants Sheree Glastonbury, Mark Murphy, Peter Murphy, and Lynette Sexton, was halted after two months due to a juror’s independent investigation on the subject of perjury.
Reports indicate that a new trial may not take place until 2028.
A mistrial was officially declared in the case against four accused individuals linked to the alleged murder of Geoffrey McLean, whose dismembered torso was discovered in a wheelie bin at a vacant site in northern Adelaide.
The Supreme Court proceedings began in February and lasted for nearly two months, with Ms. Glastonbury, aged 52, and Mr. Murphy, aged 53, each charged with the assault and murder of Mr. McLean, which allegedly occurred in August 2022. Both have pleaded not guilty. Peter Murphy and Ms. Sexton also face charges of aiding an offender and have similarly pleaded not guilty.
While addressing the jury on Wednesday, Justice Adam Kimber stated that the trial could not continue due to a miscarriage of justice following the juror’s admission of conducting outside research.
“For the peace of mind of some, the research was not related to any attorney or party involved in the trial,” he clarified. “However, it was revealed that a juror had looked into the topic of perjury, which could not be adequately managed to allow the trial to proceed.”
Justice Kimber noted that the juror likely feels remorse for their actions, expressing a sense of devastation over the situation.
Sources suggest that it is improbable a new trial will be scheduled before 2028, nearly five years after the defendants were taken into custody.
The judge commended the juror for their honesty in bringing the issue to light, stating, “I applaud the juror for following my instructions to report this matter. You acted correctly, and I appreciate your integrity, even though a mistake was made.”
Justice Kimber emphasized that his decision to declare a mistrial was aimed at ensuring fairness for all defendants involved. “Although significant time has been lost, it is preferable to restart the trial than to risk a verdict based on information that is not part of the official evidence presented,” he remarked.
He also expressed his apologies for the delay in announcing the mistrial, which followed several days of discussions in closed court without the jury present. “I regret that it has taken more than a couple of weeks to resolve this matter; the responsibility for that time loss lies with me,” he stated sincerely. “I appreciate your commitment to this trial.”
