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Wood to be sentenced next week

Posted November 27, 2008 14:02:00
Updated November 27, 2008 14:16:00

Gordon Wood (right) with friend Peter Cameron at The Gap, after Caroline Byrne's body was found.

Gordon Wood (right) with friend Peter Cameron at The Gap, after Caroline Byrne's body was found there in 1995. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

Gordon Wood will be sentenced for the murder of Sydney model Caroline Byrne next Wednesday, the same day as he celebrates his 46th birthday.

The former chauffeur was last week found guilty of murdering his girlfriend by throwing her off The Gap, in Sydney's east, in 1995. He is facing a possible life sentence.

The Supreme Court in Sydney today heard sentencing submissions, including a victim impact statement from Ms Byrne's brother Robert.

Robert Byrne said no remorse or compassion has been shown for his sister's death, but the family is not after revenge.

He said the jury gave the family the answers it needed about the tragic death of Caroline Byrne.

Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC said Wood had shown no remorse, but defence barrister Winston Terracini SC pushed for an appeal against the conviction.

Outside the court, Gordon Wood's sister, Jacqueline Schmidt, spoke to the media.

"Gordon is a victim of diabolical injustice, miscarriage of justice," she said.

"He should be freed and we should somehow ensure that the conviction of an innocent man can never again happen in our country."

Ms Schmidt said the family will fight to prove her brother's innocence.

"I would have to say that Gordon is holding up incredibly well,' she said.

"He's an optimistic person by nature, he's happy, he knows he's innocent and, despite what has happened today, he still believes that justice will in the end prevail."

Tags: law-crime-and-justice, crime, courts-and-trials, murder-and-manslaughter, australia, nsw, sydney-2000, watsons-bay-2030

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