Shocking criminal cases in Grafton and the Clarence Valley

Grafton has seen its fair share of dark crimes. See the criminal cases that shocked the Clarence community.

Grafton has been home to its fair share of criminals and we have trawled through the archives to uncover three crimes that rocked Grafton.

1. Reporters contact hostages live on air from Hanging Rock Siege

In 1993, murderers Leonard Leabeater, Robert Steele and Raymond Bassett went on a nine-day rampage across Queensland and New South Wales.

Taking hostages – including children – the story is infamous and particularly shocking as news reporter Mike Willesee contacted the gunman and children who were taken hostage live on air.

Another reporter, Mike Munro landed a helicopter close to the homestead despite an exclusion on such flights.

Mike Munro recently said he no regrets over 1993 Cangai siege live broadcast.

The hostages were kept in a farmhouse at Hanging Rock Station, Cangai, near Grafton – and the men were threatening to kill indiscriminately.

Leonard Leabeater, Robert Steele and Raymond Bassett.

The trio had boasted having killed five people in a two-state murder spree.

While on the run for five days, the trio murdered five people after kidnapping Trevor and Tonia Lasserre, then 11 and 9.

During the 26-hour siege, numerous shots were fired by the trio at police officers.

Leabeater killed himself the following day; Steele and Bassett surrendered to police, and Steele was later sentenced to five consecutive life sentences plus 12 years without parole.

He hung himself in prison on December 23, 1994.

Bassett was later sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with a non-parole period of 34 years for his part in the killings.

2. Jealousy and lies

John Wallace Edwards, 65, murdered his wife and then tried to cover up the heinous act with a series of “incredible lies”- landing him with a jail sentence of 24 years.

Edwards attempted to have his murder conviction overturned in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on February 14, 2022.

The court had then heard Edwards killed his wife of 33 years in a jealous rage after learning she wanted to move on with a man she had previously had an affair with earlier in their marriage.

Mr Edward’s grounds for appeal were that there was an availability of a verdict of manslaughter and that the trial judge could have taken some actions to improve his chances of being given a manslaughter verdict.

John Wallace Edwards, 65 killed his wife and then tried to cover up the crime with a series of “incredible lies”- landing him with a jail sentence of 24 years.

The appeal was Edwards last ditch attempt in the extraordinary case -with no body, handbag or mobile phone ever found for Mrs Edwards.

The court revisited key evidence from the trial, including that Edwards provided “13 versions” of what had really happened the night Mrs Edwards disappeared, never to be seen again.

Edwards’ son gave evidence in the murder trial, recounting a conversation with his father after his mother‘s disappearance which the court found could have constituted one of many versions of events with respect to Mrs Edwards’ death.

He was found guilty and was sentenced to 24 years with a non-parole period of 18 years.

3. “Mad Max” shootout

In 2015, a family feud shootout left one man with a gunshot wound and three men facing serious charges, which was described as something out of a Mad Max film.

Lloyd Death, 41, his 37-year-old brother Wade Death and 29-year-old Kurtis Young had a “long history of animosity”, according to the facts.

The confrontation began when Lloyd Death rode his motorcycle past Wade’s parked vehicle on Stockyard Creek Rd, near Copmanhurst, on his way home.

The pair exchanged “hand gestures” before Wade got into the car and followed him dangerously close.

On overtaking the motorcycle, Wade threw a half-full Jack Daniels stubby at Lloyd and for the next four kilometres he threw bolts and screws from the car.

The police facts stated on arriving home, after hearing his brother’s car doing burnouts, Lloyd took a Winchester rifle out of his gun safe and placed it on his bed with ammunition.

Wade, accompanied by Young, then drove up Lloyd’s driveway, both men holding rifles.

When they started shooting at Lloyd he loaded his gun and fired back, hitting Wade’s vehicle.

After a dangerous exchange Lloyd ran to the house and reloaded while Wade and Young moved into scrub down the road where they continued to fire shots at Lloyd and his property.

When police arrived to investigate they found bullet holes in a tractor, Jeep, shed and caravan on the property, as well as shattered windows.

Wade Death was sentenced to two years’ jail with a non-parole period of 12 months for the shooting, which, due to time already served, saw him sign his parole papers the day of the sentencing.

The defence counsel dismissed allegations Lloyd was firing a gun at them while riding a motorbike as fanciful.

The defence said while the facts read like a “Mad Max movie”, he indicated the charges against Lloyd Death would be defended.

Lloyd Death walked away from court with a nine-month good behaviour bond.