A man who bludgeoned his family so savagely that pathologists said they looked like victims of a plane crash will be released from jail in less than a month.
Triple murderer Matthew Wayne De Gruchy has been granted parole more than 23 years after he brutally killed his mother and two siblings at their home in NSW’s Illawarra region.
De Gruchy was jailed for at least 21 years in 1998 for murdering his mother Jennifer, 42, brother Adrian, 15, and sister Sarah, 13.
They were bludgeoned to death at their Albion Park Rail home in 1996 – probably with a tyre lever or jack handle.
He has never admitted to the heinous crime, and insists he was with his girlfriend on the night of the murders before returning home to find their bodies.
Triple murderer Matthew Wayne De Gruchy has been granted parole more than 23 years after he brutally killed his mother and two siblings at their home in NSW’s Illawarra region
Justice Michael Grove said the attack involved ‘brutality that beggars description’.
The NSW State Parole Authority on Friday granted the 41-year-old parole under numerous conditions.
He must participate in psychological counselling and not contact his victims’ family – except for his father and any paternal relation.
‘In making its decision, the authority considered advice from the Serious Offenders Review Council and Community Corrections that release to parole was appropriate and any risks could be appropriately managed in the community,’ a parole authority spokeswoman said in a statement.
In March 1996, De Gruchy, then 18, ran outside his home one afternoon frantically calling for help.
When police entered the home they were met with a bloody crime scene that left one officer so scarred they never returned to work.
His mother and siblings were so disfigured, pathologists later said they looked like the victims of a plane crash.
Jennifer was found lying on bloodstained sheets and had suffered severe head and facial injuries.
De Gruchy (top middle) was jailed for at least 21 years in 1998 for murdering his mother Jennifer(top), 42, brother Adrian(middle), 15, and sister Sarah (right), 13
The coroner could only identify her remains through blood tests.
Sarah was found in her bedroom and also suffered head and facial injuries during her brother’s brutal attack.
Adrian had 21 wounds on his face and neck, and his body was covered in petrol.
De Gruchy claimed he came home the next morning after spending a night at his girlfriend’s home and found the bodies of his mother and siblings.
De Gruchy claimed he came home the next morning after spending a night at his girlfriend’s home and found the bodies of his mother and siblings
He was taken to hospital in shock. During his mother and sibling’s funerals, he appeared visibly upset.
He was arrested three months later and said during his first police interview that he ‘didn’t know what had happened’ to his family and he ‘broke down’ after discovering their bodies.
Former police officer Belinda Neil, who worked on the case, told news.com.au that De Gruchy should never be released.
‘He is a sociopath. I saw the damage to those bodies and their faces,’ she said.
‘He wrote notes, disposed of evidence and never ever admitted or showed any remorse.
‘It’s really worrisome. I don’t think he should be let out at all. I think he’s a very dangerous person.’
At a parole hearing last month, De Gruchy’s lawyer said he was not a risk to the public and had appropriate plans in place for his release.
De Gruchy has acquired a bank account, tax file number, Medicare card, birth certificate, a photo id, a forklift license and a Learner drivers license.
The lawyer said De Gruchy is ‘motivated to do nothing else than live a normal community life’ and all he wants is to do is get a job and live independently.
He is scheduled to be released from custody in mid-August. He’ll remain on parole until his maximum 28-year sentence expires in June 2024.
He is scheduled to be released from custody in mid-August and will remain on parole until his maximum 28-year sentence expires in June 2024