Martha Needle

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Martha Needle
Needle c. 1880s/1890s
Born	Martha Charles 9 April 1863 (1863-04-09) Near Morgan, South Australia, Australia
Died	22 October 1894 (1894-10-23) (aged 31) Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Other names	Black widow of Richmond
Criminal status	Executed
Spouse	Henry Needle (murdered)
Children	3 (all murdered)
Conviction(s)	Murder
Details
Victims	5
Span of crimes	1885–1894
Country	Australia
State(s)	Victoria

Martha Needle was an Australian serial killer known for poisoning her husband, three children, and prospective brother-in-law. She was hanged on 22 October 1894 when she was 31. She was convicted for the murder of Louis Juncken, brother of her fiancé Otto Juncken, on 15 May 1894. Although Needle collected substantial sums of insurance money, her exact motive for murdering her family has not been determined. Several times she stated her innocence, but she was eventually hanged.