Phillip Baldwin: Former police officer assisted wife’s death in Bomaderry suicide pact

The full details of a “twisted” suicide pact on the NSW south coast have been revealed, after a former police officer who killed his wife in the deadly agreement pleaded guilty in court.

Phillip Baldwin pleaded guilty to assisting in his wife's death in a "twisted" suicide pact in Bomaderry on the NSW south coast last year. Picture: Supplied.

A former NSW Senior Constable has admitted he assisted in his wife’s death during a “twisted” suicide pact gone wrong, following major family and financial disputes.

The incident saw Phillip Baldwin mentioned in the Nowra District Court on Friday with his lawyer Claire Carpenter pleading guilty on his behalf to aid or abet suicide of another.

The 72-year-old appeared via audio visual link from his home in Victoria and remained silent as the guilty plea was entered.

Documents tendered to the court state the former Bomaderry man assisted in his wife Joanne Maree Baldwin’s death on the morning of July 4 in Bomaderry last year, after the pair agreed to kill each other in a suicide pact. She was 68-years-old at the time.

Police documents reveal Baldwin was employed as a senior constable in the Sydney Police force between 1971 and 1996.

Joanne Maree Baldwin was found dead in the backyard of her Bomaderry home. Picture: Supplied.

Agreed facts state the decision between the couple to kill each other arose due to family and financial issues between his biological children and stepchildren.

The issues and complexities became so intense, the couple made the decision to end their lives.

Emergency services were called to the home on David Pl in July last year. Picture: Tom McGann.

Agreed facts state a final text message was sent from Ms Baldwin to their children, simply stating “goodbye” days before her death.

Documents revealed on June 5, the pair signed their will and power of attorney documents.

On July 2 – two days before the suicide – Baldwin emailed his former employer, telling them to go his property on July 3 for a welfare check.

By this point, the pair had also organised their funeral.

Phillip Baldwin will be sentenced in Nowra District Court on August 5. Picture: File.

At 12.30pm on July 4, the day of the pact, Baldwin called triple-0 and informed officers his wife had died in the backyard that morning.

Agreed facts state once paramedics arrived, Baldwin informed them to stay calm, before revealing his wife was dead.

Paramedics found Ms Baldwin’s body sitting in a camp chair in a blue gown.

Next to the deceased was a letter in Baldwin’s handwriting detailing multiple failed suicide attempts with different methods before deciding to take “no more hit or miss chances”.

“This was done today between 10.30am and 11am,” the letter read.

The paramedics determined the 68-year-old had been dead for 20 minutes.

Baldwin informed the paramedics and officers the pair had agreed to a suicide pact where he attempted to kill himself as well, albeit without success.

However, police found Baldwin uninjured at the scene.

Baldwin was taken to the Nowra Police Station while a crime scene was set up at his home.

While at the station, Baldwin informed police he helped prepare his wife for the suicide.

“You can write that down,” he said.

“I’m not trying to hide that fact, I’m not trying to sugar coat anything and if it means I get charged with something, then so be it.”

Following investigations, Baldwin was arrested and charged on August 25.

In court on Friday, Baldwin’s lawyer asked the court to adjourn the matter for a sentencing assessment report to be completed.

The request was not opposed by Magistrate Lisa Viney, who said – given the seriousness of the offence – a report was needed to meet an appropriate punishment.

Baldwin will return to the Nowra District Court on August 5 for sentencing.

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