Craig Henry Rumsby on trial for allegedly murdering Michelle Bright and raping a girl in late 90s
A man is on trial for allegedly murdering 17-year-old Michelle Bright and raping an 18-year-old girl in the state’s Central West more than two decades ago. Warning: graphic.
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A man who steadfastly denies murdering teenager Michelle Bright and attempting to rape another teen in 1999 and 1998 allegedly confessed to the crimes to undercover police, a court has heard.
The trial for Craig Henry Rumsby, 56, has now begun in the NSW Supreme Court sitting at Dubbo Courthouse, more than 20 years since the crimes allegedly unfolded.
The Crown alleges Rumsby murdered Ms Bright and attempted to choke and rape an 18-year-old girl in 1999 and 1998.
Rumsby has pleaded not guilty to both offences and will defend the matters.
On Wednesday, 15 jurors were empanelled – with three alternatives on top of the standard 12 to hear the case to ensure the lengthy trial can continue even if a juror is afflicted by illness.
Acting Justice Robert Allan Hulme addressed the jurors, informing them the trial is expected to unfold over eight weeks.
Ms Bright’s family were present in court with most wearing a purple and yellow ribbon pinned to their shirt.
The Crown prosecutor Lee Carr alleged the attempted rape occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day in 1998 and the murder occurred in the early morning on February 27, 1999.
The court heard Ms Bright attended a friend’s birthday on February 26, 1999, then went to the Commercial Hotel before walking home.
Her family reported Ms Bright to be missing on February 28, before her body was discovered on March 2.
The court heard Ms Bright’s partially naked body was covered by long grass on Barneys Reef Road 400m away from her residence.
Police found her shirt was pushed over her bra with her jeans and underwear down around her ankles, while her jacket and purse were located near her body.
The Crown stated Rumsby was interviewed three times by police in 1999, and that he denied any involvement in the incident each time.
He then moved to Sydney in April following the incident.
According to the Crown, Rumsby allegedly told undercover police in August 2020 that he struck Ms Bright and covered her mouth to stop her breathing, and described himself being on top of her.
When he allegedly confessed to the undercover police – who he did not know were police – he said he thought a man was following him.
Rumsby was then arrested by homicide detectives in Mudgee in August 2020.
The Crown alleged Rumsby also attempted to rape an 18-year-old girl on the morning of New Year’s Day while she was waiting for a friend to deliver some cannabis to her near her residence.
The complainant was in an isolated area near her residence in Gulgong when Rumsby allegedly walked towards her.
The Crown stated the woman felt “uncomfortable” and was walking away, when the accused allegedly grabbed her by the neck and “struck her in the face” with his other hand.
He allegedly threw her to the ground, pulled her white dress up, and tried taking her undergarments off.
The Crown stated the victim was screaming while the man alleged to be Rumsby struck her to the face again and placed a hand over her mouth saying, “if you don’t stop screaming, I’m really going to hurt you – I’ll kill you – you’d prefer to be awake, wouldn’t you?”
The Crown said her screaming caught the attention of her boyfriend, at which point the man alleged to be Rumsby ran away.
The defence barrister Nicholas Broadbent addressed that when Rumsby confessed to police it “simply” was not true.
“He did not kill Michelle Bright - he did not come across her the day she died,” Mr Broadbent said.
Rumsby provided voluntary DNA samples but there was “no evidence linking Craig Rumsby to the scene”, Mr Broadbent said.
“What the Crown says happened to Michelle Bright on that morning is very much in dispute.”
The trial continues.
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