Nurse killer argues for shorter jail term

The man who killed beloved outback nurse Gayle Woodford needed to be punished and there was a clear need to protect the community from the 35-year-old serial offender, a court has been told.

Dudley Davey came before the Court of Criminal Appeal in Adelaide on Thursday seeking a reduction in his 32-year minimum jail term for the rape and murder of Ms Woodford.

Defence lawyer Nick Vadasz argued his client was not given enough discount on his non-parole period for his early guilty plea.

South Australian man Dudley David Davey, 35, will spend a minimum of 32 years in jail for the rape and murder of outback nurse Gayle Woodford

Mr Vadasz said in its sentencing legislation, state parliament intended, and offenders expected, to get a 30 per cent reduction.

The discount applied in Davey’s case was closer to 8.5 per cent.

He also told the court that the 35-year starting point for Davey’s non-parole period, before any discount, placed it in a ‘rarified area’ with only two other sentences above 30 years in murder cases where there had been a guilty plea.

But prosecutor Ian Press said it was within the sentencing judge’s discretion not to allow the full discount and the 32-year period was within an acceptable range given the seriousness of the offending.

He said to give the 30 per cent discount would have resulted in a sentence that was inappropriate.

‘There was a clear need to punish Mr Davey. There was a clear need to protect the community,’ Mr Press said.

Mother-of-two Gayle Woodford was lured from her home in outback South Australia before she was murdered and buried in a shallow grave

Mother-of-two Gayle Woodford was lured from her home in outback South Australia before she was murdered and buried in a shallow grave

The family of Gayle Woodford arrive at the Supreme Court of South Australia in Adelaide on Monday, her husband Keith picture

The family of Gayle Woodford arrive at the Supreme Court of South Australia in Adelaide on Monday, her husband Keith picture

He also pointed to the very strong case against Davey and his lack of remorse, telling the court the man’s apologies ‘count for nothing’ as they always came after he had been caught.

The Crown had previously argued that a lesser sentence would have ‘shocked the public conscience’.

Ms Woodford, 56, was found buried in a crude grave three days after she went missing from her home in Fregon, in the state’s north, in March last year.

The devastated family members sat in court as Mrs Woodford's murderer was sentenced

The devastated family members sat in court as Mrs Woodford’s murderer was sentenced

After Ms Woodford's death a review of the risks facing remote health workers found they should be accompanied on call-outs to clients

After Ms Woodford’s death a review of the risks facing remote health workers found they should be accompanied on call-outs to clients

When she imposed her sentence in June, Justice Ann Vanstone said Davey was a drug addict and serial offender, who had an ‘abnormal desire to rape women’.

He had plainly chosen Mrs Woodford as an ‘easy target, vulnerable because of her empathy’.

‘This was a cold-blooded killing of a woman who had worked with skill and compassion in your community,’ the judge said.

She said Davey’s offending was ‘callous in the extreme’ and at the higher end of the scale for rape and murder.

The appeal court has reserved its decision. 

GAYLE WOODFORD’S DEATH

March 23, 2016: Outback nurse Gayle Woodford, 56, is last seen on South Australia’s Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands, with her disappearance prompting a search. About the same time as Ms Woodford goes missing an ambulance she used for work is driven from a local health clinic.

March 24, 2016: Police use GPS data to track the ambulance and intercept it in Coober Pedy. The 36-year-old Mimili man behind the wheel, Dudley Davey, is charged with the theft of the vehicle and other driving offences.

March 26, 2016: Ms Woodford’s body is found in a shallow grave outside the remote SA town of Fregon where she lived. Calls emerge for greater safety provisions for remote health clinicians, with an online petition collecting more than 130,00 signatures.

March 27, 2016: Davey is charged with Ms Woodford’s murder.

March 29, 2016: Davey makes his first appearance at the Port Augusta Magistrates Court, losing a bid to have his name suppressed.

February 23, 2017: Davey pleads guilty to murder and rape charges and is committed to the Supreme Court.

The murder stile Ms Woodford's ambulance after he killed her 

The murder stile Ms Woodford’s ambulance after he killed her 

Gayle Woodford's family arrive at the Supreme court in Adelaide on Thursday for the sentencing 

Gayle Woodford’s family arrive at the Supreme court in Adelaide on Thursday for the sentencing 

 

 

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