Monday, March 28, 2011

Dad "in custody dispute" found guilty of murdering 4-year-old daughter (Melbourne, Australia)

With the conviction of  dad ARTHUR FREEMAN, the evidence continues to pile up on what a disaster Australia's near mandatory shared parenting policies have been for children. Even a father as volatile and unstable as Freeman got visitation--and we can see the deadly results.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Australian-Dad-Arthur-Freeman-Throw-His-Daughter-Off-A-Bridge-In-Melbourne/Article/201103415961560?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_4&lid=ARTICLE_15961560_Australian_Dad_Arthur_Freeman_Throw_His_Daughter_Off_A_Bridge_In_Melbourne_

Father Guilty Of Daughter's Bridge Murder 12:57pm UK, Monday March 28, 2011

Ian Woods, Australia correspondent

An Australian man who threw his four-year-old daughter off a bridge has been found guilty of murder.

Arthur Freeman was involved in a custody dispute with his wife.

He was driving his daughter Darcey to what was going to be her first day at school when he pulled over on Melbourne’s West Gate Bridge.

He asked her to climb into the front seat, then carried her over to the railing and dropped her 58m (190ft) into the Yarra River.

His two young sons, aged six and two, were also in the car at the time.

The older boy, Ben, told police that his sister "didn't even scream" in her fall.

"I said 'Go back and get her. Darcey can't swim'," he said.

"But he kept on driving. He didn't go back and get her."

Darcey was pulled from the river alive but died later in hospital from massive internal injuries.

Just before he threw her from the bridge Mr Freeman called his estranged wife Peta Barnes who was waiting at the school and told her "Say goodbye to your children. You'll never see your children again."

Afterwards, he drove to a court building to hand over his sons to staff who then called the police.

Mr Freeman admitted killing his daughter, but denied murder on the grounds that he was mentally ill.

The jury in his trial spent five days deliberating the verdict, and weighing conflicting evidence from psychiatrists.

He showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered, and will be sentenced at a later date.