Robert Whitwell murder: Granddaughter exchanged chilling messages with friend about ‘killing at rave parties’
A TEENAGER who admits murdering her grandfather discussed with a friend about killing other people at rave parties and “going on rampages”, it can be revealed.
- Court lifts suppression order on identity of alleged grandfather killer
- Robert Whitwell’s alleged murderer told friend he ‘might have to die’
- Brittney Dwyer, Bernadette Burns extradited to Adelaide over death
A TEENAGER who admits murdering her grandfather discussed with a friend about killing other people at rave parties and “going on rampages”, it can be revealed.
Brittney Jade Dwyer and Shelby Lee Angie Holmes, both 19, exchanged the chilling electronic messages just months before Robert Whitwell, 81, was killed in his northern suburbs home last year.
The messages, which can be reported today after court-imposed secrecy orders were revoked at the request of The Advertiser, also revealed a plan to steal drugs and money.
They are among 19,000 texts sent between the pair over two years that prosecutors say details events leading up to Mr Whitwell’s killing.
Dwyer has already pleaded guilty to murder and was on Friday ordered to face the Supreme Court where she will receive a life sentence in jail.
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court yesterday she also pleaded guilty to the aggravated serious criminal trespass charge between April 30 last year and May 2.
Holmes last week admitted to the home invasion.
She helped “scope” Mr Whitwell at his Craigmore home for several days before they would rob him of $30,000 in May. She admits jumping his fence and opening a roller door.
Magistrate Paul Foley yesterday revoked suppression orders that banned publication of the messages detailing the pair’s discussion about “killing others”.
During a bail hearing last year, prosecutor Amy Fisher revealed police concerns about the contents.
“There are numerous messages between the two of them where they talk about slicing the throats of people, going on mass rampages and killing people at rave parties,” Ms Fisher told the Supreme Court in September last year.
“I appreciate that may well be just a flippant conversation between two friends but in the circumstances where an elderly man has, in fact, been murdered, police have no choice but to take these conversations very seriously.”
In another message, Dwyer warned her flatmate not to get attached to her grandfather because he “might have to die”.
Another stated that an unidentified friend had “come into a large amount of money”, Dwyer jokes “maybe they beat us to poppers (sic)”.
They also discussed stealing drugs from Holmes’ veterinary nurse mother, Jody.
Holmes deleted all of the messages but police retrieved them from Dwyer’s phone.
Another murder co-accused, Bernadette Burns, 21, has yet to plead to the charges but has indicated she will contest the allegations.
Her case was yesterday delayed further as further evidence is filed.
Holmes, who was extradited to SA in September following her arrest south of Brisbane, remains on bail at her parent’s Ormeau home on the Gold Coast.
The trio, all of Redbank Plains, 30km south of Brisbane, were arrested by Major Crime detectives after Mr Whitwell’s body was found inside his house on August 8.
They will reappear in court later.
