Death of Corryn Rayney

Corryn Rayney
Born
Corynn Veronica Ann Da Silva

1963
Uganda
DiedAugust 7, 2007(2007-08-07) (aged 43–44)
Kings Park, Perth, Australia
Known forMysterious death and prosecution of her husband for her supposed murder

Corryn Veronica Ann Rayney, née Da Silva, (born 1963) migrated to Australia with her Indian family in 1973 as refugees from Idi Amin's Uganda.[1][2][3] Her death occurred on or about 7 August 2007, her body being discovered a week later in a clandestine grave in Kings Park, Perth, with no clearly established cause of death.[4] Her husband Lloyd Rayney, a prominent barrister specialising in criminal prosecution, was charged with her murder, but found not guilty after a trial before a judge only.[5] The acquittal was unanimously upheld by a court of appeal in August 2013. The state's police commissioner and attorney general declined to acknowledge documented procedural mistakes, and refused to instigate a fresh search for the killers, leading to calls for a federal investigation into the matter.

The Rayneys lived in the Perth suburb of Como and had two daughters,[6] Caitlyn (born 1994) and Sarah (born 1997).[7]: 60  At the time, Lloyd Rayney was involved in a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry into the misconduct of police officers in a murder investigation.[6] Corryn Rayney was employed as a registrar at the Supreme Court of Western Australia. She was last seen alive at 9.30 p.m. on 7 August 2007 at a boot scooting class.[6][8] A week later, police discovered her abandoned car and followed a trail of oil from it to the grave in Kings Park.[9]

  1. ^ Christiana Jones (13 July 2012). "The victim: Corryn Rayney". The West Australian. Retrieved 27 May 2023. (Subscription may be required or content may be available in libraries)
  2. ^ Anne-Louise Brown (13 July 2012). "Who are The Rayneys?". WA Today (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  3. ^ Christiana Jones (25 July 2012). "Pain is clear as proud dad tells of memories". The West Australian. Retrieved 27 May 2023. (Subscription may be required or content may be available in libraries)
  4. ^ Anne-Louise Brown (16 July 2012). "No cause of death revealed in Rayney case". WA Today (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Lloyd Rayney found not guilty of murder". ABC News. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  6. ^ a b c "Lawyer appeals for info on missing wife". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 August 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ^ Bennett & Co. The First Nine Years: Litigation Analytics, 2011 to 2020, Volume Two
  8. ^ "Police concerned for missing mum". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Police scour Perth for missing mum". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2012.