Gordon Wood Murder Case Study

On the 8th June, 1995 Caroline Byrne’s body was found at the bottom of the cliffs of The Gap in Sydney, in the early hours of the morning by her boyfriend Gordon Wood. It was presumed that she had died on the 7th June during the night by jumping from the cliff top. It was thirteen years before Gordon Wood would be put on trial for the murder of Ms Byrne. He alleged that she had originally jumped off the cliff, but evidence compiled and shown to the jury, proved them of his guilt in 2008. Gordon Wood worked as a chauffeur and personal assistant for the stockbroker Rene Rivkin. One of the motives presented to the jury for the murder of Ms Byrne was that she knew too much about Rivkin’s business and personal life. Wood was sentenced to 17 years and …show more content…
I believe that Mr Wood killed Ms Byrne because she knew too much about the Rivkin’s personal and business life. Ms Byrne was known to have tried to commit suicide before and she had told her doctor that she was feeling depressed around the time of her death. I think this is why Wood used the Gap in Watsons Bay, which was known for suicides, to cover his tracks and make her death look like a suicide. Another reason why I think that Gordon Wood is guilty is because of his extensive knowledge of what happened on the night, Gordon wood claimed in his interviews with police that he could see Ms Byrne’s car from Military Road, when actually you were not able to see her car from that street even if Ms Byrne’s car was under the light post. One more piece of evidence that convinced me that Gordon Wood was guilty was how he knew to check the Gap for Ms Byrne. Mr Wood claims “it was Caroline 's spirit that led me to The Gap” which was a suspicious and unreliable statement. Wood was also able to see Ms Byrne’s body lodged in the rocks in the dark as well, pointing the body out to police and family, which leaves me to believe that Mr Gordon Wood killed Ms