Dad Drowns Children: One Word Threat
Here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on key details about the case and the retrial:
The case:
* A man (Robert Farquharson) was convicted of murdering his three sons.
* The deaths occurred after his car ended up submerged in a dam.
Key Points from the Retrial:
* Mother’s Testimony: the mother,Cindy,described a strained relationship between Farquharson and his sons. She noted his seemingly detached reaction to the news of the car being in the dam.
* Inmate Testimony: An inmate testified that Farquharson had a coughing fit in prison,leading to a broken leg.
* Sister’s Testimony: His sister, Carmen Ross (an aged care nurse), described Farquharson’s declining health in the weeks leading up to the trial, stating he collapsed suddenly.
* Crash Reconstruction vs.Testimony: The clarification of Farquharson’s health issues was challenged by crash reenactment tests conducted by Victoria Police. These tests suggested the car was deliberately steered multiple times towards the dam.
* Police Examination: Senior Constable Glen Urquhart believed the driver intentionally steered the car to avoid a tree.
* Eyewitness Account: Dawn Waite, the last person to see farquharson driving before the incident, stated she didn’t observe him coughing.She saw the car veer to the right as if looking for a turn-off.
Overall impression:
The text suggests the prosecution is building a case that Farquharson deliberately drove the car into the dam, despite his claims of a medical episode (coughing fit) causing him to lose control. The conflicting testimonies and evidence from the crash reconstruction are central to the retrial.