Natalie Maher found guilty of smothering mother to death

A woman who drained her victim’s bank account and fled the state has been found guilty of killing her mother, with the victim’s sister saying hearing the verdict was like “a punch to the face”. LATEST >>

LATEST: THE sister of a Launceston woman who was killed by her own daughter said the moment the guilty verdict was handed down was like “a punch to the face”.

West Australian Natalie Maher, 48, was sentenced on Monday to 23 years behind bars after smothering her mother Veronica Corstorphine, 71, with a pillow on October 3, 2019, in her home on Keane St in South Launceston.

A Launceston Supreme Court jury took six and a half hours to return the unanimous guilty verdict.

Maher had been living with her mother since August 2019 and purchased two airline tickets to Perth using Ms Corstorphine’s credit card on the night of the murder and drained more than $11,000 from her mother’s account, transferring the money into her own.

In sentencing, Justice Robert Pearce said the primary motivation of the murder was an escalation of Maher’s long-held antagonism towards her mother and carried out in “a loss of control or passion”.

“Financial gain may have played a role, but was not the motivation for the crime,” Justice Pearce.

The severely decomposed body of Ms Corstorphine was discovered by police conducting welfare checks nearly a month after the murder.

Around the time of the murder, Maher found text messages from her mother’s phone discussing her daughter’s behaviour with friends, including concerns about her drinking.

Justice Pearce said Maher had held the cushion over her mother’s face with the intention of killing her.

“The deceased was a small and very slightly built person, you were younger and stronger,” he said.

Pauline Robinson, the sister of murdered woman Veronica Corstorphine. Picture: Rosemary Murphy

Pauline Robinson, who attended every day of the four-week trial, said she did so to represent her sister.

“I knew that it was going to come to this, but the minute you hear the result it’s a hit … it’s a punch to the face,” she said.

“The fact that we’ve lost our sister and I’ve also lost my niece is a double whammy.”

Ms Robinson described her sister as beautiful, kind and vivacious.

In sentencing submissions, crown prosecutor John Ransom said there had been a “lack of remorse” from Maher, significant conduct after the murder to avoid detection and her prior offending showed a history of dishonesty.

During his submission, defence counsel Evan Hughes said Maher had no history of violent crimes and had been industrious during her time in custody.

Maher will be eligible for parole after serving 13 years of the sentence, backdated to November 2019.

EARLIER: A Launceston Supreme Court jury has found Western Australian Natalie Maher guilty of murder by smothering her mother with a pillow.

Maher, 48, killed her 71-year-old mother Veronica Corstorphine on October 3, 2019, in her home on Keane St in South Launceston, then transferred more than $11,000 from Ms Corstorphine’s account to her own account through multiple transactions, leaving her mother’s balance at zero.

At 9.07pm on October 3, Maher used her mother’s credit card to book a flight to Perth for October 12 and at 9.14pm booked a second flight for October 5 which she flew on.

Ms Corstorphine’s badly decomposed body was found in her bed by police on October 29, 2019.

She was found partially covered by a blanket, with a pillow on her head and wearing the same clothes she was seen on CCTV footage wearing on October 3, 2019, at Coles on Wellington Street.

During his evidence state forensic pathologist Donald Ritchey said he was unable to determine a cause of death because of the level of decomposition, but found no inconsistency with smothering.

Dr Ritchey said the pillow would have been held to Ms Corstorphine’s face for at least a minute to cause her death.

Maher had pleaded not guilty to murder and said the last time she had seen her mother she had been alive.

The jury had heard Maher had been living with her mother since August 2019 and that her drinking had led to arguments between them.

Maher admitted stealing her mother’s tablet computer saying she did it for “spiteful reasons,” but denied taking Ms Corstorphine’s mobile phone and jewellery including a $5000 brooch.

She said during her evidence the last communication she had from her mother had been a text message after she returned to WA.

Her defence argued Ms Corstorphine had died by suicide, natural causes or due the actions of an intruder.

Jury begins deliberation in Launceston murder trial

A LAUNCESTON Supreme Court jury will return on Monday to continue deliberating their verdict in the murder trial of Natalie Maher.

Prosecutors allege Ms Maher, 48, smothered her elderly mother Veronica Corstorphine in her Launceston home in October 2019 and fled the state two days later.

In his summing up Justice Robert Pearce said jurors had to put aside emotional reactions when considering the evidence, including the photos from when the body of Ms Corstorphine was discovered by police which were confronting, and consider it impartially.

The jury spent about an hour and a half deliberating on Friday afternoon.

Ms Maher was arrested in the WA city of Bunbury in November 2019 and has pleaded not guilty to the murder.

The trial has been running since mid October and is a circumstantial evidence case.

During his closing address crown prosecutor John Ransom suggested Ms Corstorphine might have fallen asleep on her bed ahead of the attack “making her an easy target.”

Defence has put forward alternative causes of death suggesting that Ms Corstorphine could have died by natural causes, suicide or was killed by someone else.

Justice Pearce said a unanimous guilty verdict could be returned at any time and alternative majority verdicts of not guilty or not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter after six hours.

Jury retires to consider verdict over alleged Launceston murder

A Launceston Supreme Court jury has retired to consider their verdict in the murder trial of Western Australian woman Natalie Maher.

Prosecutors allege Ms Maher, 48, smothered her elderly mother Veronica Corstorphine in her Launceston home in October 2019 and fled the state two days later.

In his summing up Justice Robert Pearce said jurors had to put aside emotional reactions when considering the evidence, including the photos from when the body of Ms Corstorphine was discovered by police which were confronting.

Ms Maher was arrested in the WA city of Bunbury in November 2019 and has pleaded not guilty to the murder.

The trial has been running since mid October and is a circumstantial evidence case.

During his closing address crown prosecutor John Ransom suggested Ms Corstorphine might have fallen asleep on her bed ahead of the attack “making her an easy target.”

Defence has put forward alternative causes of death suggesting that Ms Corstorphine could have died by natural causes, suicide or was killed by someone else.

Justice Robert Pearce said a unanimous guilty verdict could be returned at any time and alternative majority verdicts of not guilty or not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter after six hours.

Defence questions alleged murder weapon during trial

The defence counsel for murder accused Natalie Maher has questioned whether the pillow allegedly used by his client to smother her mother was a probable murder weapon.

Prosecutors allege West Australian Natalie Maher, 48 killed her 71-year-old mother Veronica Corstorphine on October 3, 2019 in her home on Keane St in South Launceston, before fleeing the state two days later.

She has pleaded not guilty to murder and is on trial in the Supreme Court.

During closing address Evan Hughes used gloves to hold up the pillow that is the alleged murder weapon and instructed the jury to “look at its size, really look at it” and “consider the size of the human head.”

“I ask you to consider how reasonable is it that a person wielding this object is capable of stopping breath for 1 to 10 minutes if there is a struggle,” he said.

“It’s not a large object in the context of what it’s supposed to do. It’s not probable.”

Mr Hughes used bank records to suggest Ms Corstorphine had been a heavy smoker.

He said given she had a family history of stroke, her smoking and her stress it was possible she had a stroke.

He said Ms Maher’s evidence had been “not only been strong, clear and compelling, but very, very detailed.”

During her evidence Ms Maher said the last time she had seen her mother she had been alive and two flights booked in her name on October 3 were booked by her mother.

Mr Hughes said if with the totality of the evidence it was not possible to exclude theories that Ms Corstorphine died from natural causes, that someone else had entered the house or she took her own life, and it was reasonable and possible, it meant that Ms Maher was not guilty.

“You may find that Ms Corstorphine was not the perfect mother, you may find that Ms Maher was not the perfect daughter, but Ms Maher is not guilty of causing her mother’s death,” Mr Hughes said.

In the conclusion of his closing statement crown prosecutor John Ransom said: “Did Veronica Corstorphine’s death involve another person? Yes.”

“Who was the other person? It was Natalie Maher,” he said.

“What was her intent? Intention to kill, that is murder.”

Justice Robert Pearce will begin summing up on Friday.

Potential motive for alleged murderer revealed

Crown prosecutor John Ransom has told a Launceston Supreme Court jury the actions of Natalie Maher after the alleged murder of her mother could be inferred to have been conducted in a consciousness of guilt.

Westtern Australian Natalie Maher, 48, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 71-year-old mother Veronica Corstorphine in her South Launceston home.

Mr Ransom said in his closing address it was the state’s case Ms Maher smothered her mother on October 3, 2019 before fleeing to Western Australia two days later.

“It’s the state’s position that there was absolutely nothing inconsistent with smothering, and no other anatomical reason why Veronica died,” he said.

He spoke of the evidence of state forensic pathologist Donald Ritchey who had said it was likely someone other than Ms Corstorphine had a role in her death.

Mr Ransom said Ms Maher is alleged to have used her mother’s credit card to purchase two plane tickets to WA, stolen a brooch worth $5000 and transferred more than $11,000 from her mother’s account to her own across October 3 and 4, 2019.

The jury was told that the balance of Ms Corstorphine’s bank account was reduced to zero as a result of the transfers.

Mr Ransom said Ms Maher is also alleged to have stolen her mother’s phone in order to “monitor any inquiries about her (mother’s) welfare and cover up the crime”.

He highlighted a text message sent from Ms Corstorphine to her friend Dale Mason on about October 2 in which she said: “If I died in one of her drunken rampages, so be it. I will go out on my own choices.”

Mr Ransom said messages from Ms Corstorphine to Dr Mason and also her friend David Nguyen had been sent to Ms Maher’s phone.

“The accused blamed her mother for her life circumstances and found out her mother was informing others about what was going on at Keane Street.”

He said this, in addition to Ms Corstorphine asking her daughter to go after having enough of her behaviour had provided a motive.

Ms Corstorphine’s badly decomposed body was found in her bed on October 29, 2019.

Defence had argued other potential causes of death were suicide, natural causes or it involved by an unknown person.

The trial continues.

Murder accused asked ‘did you smother your mother?’

A Western Australian woman on trial at the Launceston Supreme Court has denied killing her mother.

Prosecutors allege Natalie Maher, 48, smothered her mother Veronica Corstorphine with a pillow on October 3, 2019 in her Launceston home.

During questioning, defence counsel Evan Hughes asked Ms Maher “did you smother your mother?”

“No, certainly not,” she said.

“Did you cause her death?” Mr Hughes asked.

“No,” she said.

“Did you in a fit of anger and fuelled by alcohol smother her and cause her to die?” he asked.

“No,” she said.

Ms Maher had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

During cross examination crown prosecutor John Ransom asked if she had contacted her mother about $11,000 that was transferred from Ms Corstorphine’s account to Ms Maher’s account.

“You knew there was no point thanking her because you knew she was already dead,” he said.

“That’s not true,” she said.

The court heard that while she was in custody after being arrested by police she called her friend David Nguyen and asked him to contact her aunt Pauline Robinson.

Mr Ransom asked if it was about what (friend of Ms Corstorphine and executor of her estate) Dale Mason was doing with her mother’s will and “if it was ruining your life”?

“I thought he was interfering with Veronica’s business and I didn’t want him to … I wanted Pauline to protect her (Ms Corstorphine) from Dale,” Ms Maher responded.

The jury heard that Ms Maher had previously sought treatment for problems with alcohol.

During his cross examination Mr Ransom went through transactions on Ms Maher’s bank records, outlining payments made at various pubs in Launceston since she moved to Tasmania in August 2019 and began living with her mother.

The court heard Ms Maher’s drinking was a cause of arguments between her and Ms Corstorphine while they were living together.

“Why didn’t you stop?” Mr Ransom asked.

“I didn’t think it was an issue, she thought it was,” she said.

The jury was told she had been receiving the Newstart payment from Centrelink and her mother had also transferred money to her including $150 on August 20, 2019 and $300 on August 22, 2019.

Defence has submitted during the trial that Ms Corstorphine died from natural causes, suicide or from the acts of an unknown intruder.

The trial continues.

Woman accused of the murder of her mother takes to the stand

October 28:

THE Western Australian woman accused of killing her mother has taken to the stand in her murder trial in the Launceston Supreme Court.

Natalie Maher, 48, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Veronica Corstorphine in Launceston on October, 3, 2019.

Prosecutors allege she smothered Ms Corstorphine with a pillow.

During her evidence Ms Maher said she had asked to borrow money from her mother in 2019 because she was struggling to make rent and was looking for work in Western Australia.

“She preferred to spend more money than I was looking to borrow to get me here (to Launceston),” Ms Maher said.

“I didn’t have a choice, I felt like.”

Ms Maher lived with her mother in her home in South Launceston from August to October 2019.

“We had arguments about me not getting a job quick enough, she expected me to get out and start work immediately.”

She said Ms Corstorphine had been drinking every night and had discussed using pills and alcohol to take her own life.

“She was sick of being old, she wouldn’t want to get end up like her mother and she would knock herself off,” Ms Maher said.

She said her mother had told her she had dengue fever, macular degeneration and also said she had cancer.

“My entire life with my mother was her talking about how sick she was and I didn’t ask too many questions because I was sick of it.”

The court has previously heard about $12,000 was transferred from Ms Corstorphine’s account to Ms Maher’s following the alleged murder and Ms Maher flew to Western Australia on October 5.

Mr Hughes asked if she had used the computer in her mother’s office or any other to transfer money into her account.

She responded “no.”

Ms Maher said her last communication from Ms Corstorphine was text message she received from her when she got to Western Australia.

She said she had messaged her on October 14 or 15 when she hadn’t heard from her.

The jury was also played recordings of telephone conversations between Ms Maher and her partner Mark Bartolo from 2019 when he was in Bunbury Regional Prison.

In a conversation from October 4, 2019 she said “she’s a f**king nightmare”.

“She’s basically kicked me out.”

“What kind of mother can’t keep her daughter for a couple of week?” Mr Bartolo said.

“She’s not a mother … she doesn’t give a f***,” she said.

Ms Maher said she was “shocked” when she received a phone call from police on October 30 saying her mother was dead.

Defence has suggested Ms Corstorphine died from natural causes, suicide or from the acts of an unknown intruder.

The trial continues.

Shock details emerge during police interview played in murder trial - Wednesday, October 28

A jury has heard during a police interview a woman accused of murder said her mother had been drinking and was aggressive the last time she saw her alive.

Natalie Maher, 48, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her mother Veronica Corstorphine on October 3, 2019 and is on trial at the Launceston Supreme Court.

The prosecution allege Ms Maher smothered her with a pillow and then flew to Western Australia two days later.

The court heard two flights were booked in Ms Maher’s name, the initial flight to Perth booked for October 12 and a second flight from Launceston to Perth later booked for October 5.

The jury was played a police interview from November 9, 2019 in which Detective Senior Sergeant Bob Baker put it to Ms Maher that the second booking had been made after Ms Corstorphine had been killed.

“An altercation led to her death and you booked a second flight to leave earlier,” he said.

“She must have made a mistake, she used my email,” Ms Maher said.

“She wanted me gone that weekend, she must have mixed up the dates.”

During the police interview she said the last time she had seen her mother was on October 4, 2019 she had been aggressive and had been drinking.

Ms Maher had been living with her mother since she moved to Tasmania in August 2019.

During the interview Ms Maher also denied transferring about $12,000 through several payments from her mother’s account to her own, saying her mother had done it.

“You killed your mother,” Detective Senior Sergeant Baker said.

“No,” Ms Maher said.

“You smothered her with a pillow,” he said.

“No,” Ms Maher said.

“You held it there until she stopped breathing,” he said.

“No,” she said.

“Then who did?” he said.

“I don’t know,” she said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Baker said during the interview Ms Corstorphine’s phone had travelled with Ms Maher to Western Australia.

“The last text message (from my mother) was when I was back in Perth,” she said.

Constable Sophie Malone, who was one of the police officers who attended Keane St house on October 29, 2019, told the court Ms Corstorphine’s body was found in the middle of the bed with a pillow or cushion covering her face, fully clothed and a blanket partially covering her.

Defence has argued Ms Corstorphine died from natural causes, suicide or it was an intruder who had killed her.

Detective Senior Sergeant Baker was recalled to give evidence on Wednesday.

When questioned by Mr Hughes if two pillows with butterflies at the back of the bed head where Ms Corstorphine’s body was found were seized and tested for DNA he responded “no”.

The trial continues.

Originally published as Natalie Maher found guilty of smothering mother to death