Jury dismissed after failing to reach unanimous verdict in bathtub murder trial
Warning: distressing content
Jurors have been unable to reach a verdict in the murder trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend and leaving her body in a bath for eight months.
Sarah Gatt’s body was discovered by police in January 2018, but it is alleged her on-and-off again boyfriend Andrew Baker murdered her sometime in April 2017.
Police at Sarah Gatt’s home after her body was discovered in January 2018.Credit:Darrian Traynor
Justice Jane Dixon on Friday discharged 12 jurors after they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.
Jurors had notified the court on Thursday they didn’t think they could reach an agreed verdict, but she urged them to persist.
On Friday a single juror wrote a note to the judge, prompting her to discharge the whole group.
Sarah Gatt was found dead in her Kensington bathtub in January 2018.Credit:Victoria Police
She noted the high level of distress they had experienced in trying to reach a unanimous verdict and excused them from being on a jury again.
Justice Dixon urged them to part in peace and goodwill.
A retrial will be scheduled at a later date.
Prosecutors had alleged Baker killed Gatt sometime between April 19 and April 23, 2017.
Her cause of death could not be determined because of the length of time that passed before her body was found.
She was partially naked, wrapped in power cords and covered with a hair dryer, a lamp and other household items.
Prosecutor John Dickie argued her murder, a month before her 40th birthday, was motivated by Baker’s jealousy.
Gatt also had an on-off relationship with a woman named Leona Rei-Paku, who Baker’s lawyer John Saunders argued was an alternative suspect.
Both relationships were violent, the court was told.
“Andrew Baker did not murder Sarah Gatt. He is not responsible for her death,” he said.
Justice Dixon earlier had to discharge a single juror in the case after he admitted to trying to flirt with a journalist outside court.
Jurors are instructed not to speak to anyone involved with or connected to a case.
AAP
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
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