Phillip Baldwin: Former police officer sentenced over Bomaderry suicide pact

A former police officer of 25 years is now a convicted criminal after he was sentenced for assisting in his wife’s death during a “twisted” suicide pact on the NSW south coast.

Phillip Baldwin outside Nowra District Court. Picture: Tom McGann.

A former NSW Police officer, with 25 years on the force, will not spend a day behind bars despite leaving his family “hurting like hell” following his involvement in his wife’s death during a “twisted” suicide pact.

The pact took place in Bomaderry on the NSW south coast last year, after Baldwin, 72 and his wife, Joanne Maree Baldwin, 68, agreed to take their lives following prolonged family drama.

A letter written by Mrs Baldwin before her death was read by Judge Jennifer English in the Queanbeyan District Court during the sentencing on Thursday, stating “I have no more tears left. My heart can’t take anymore. It hurts like hell”.

The sentencing of Baldwin – who now resides in Tumut – follows him pleading guilty in the Nowra Local Court earlier this year to aiding and abetting the suicide of another. 

Court documents reveal the elderly duo endured “intense” family discourse across multiple years, leading to their children cutting ties with them.

Mrs Baldwin was 68. Picture: Supplied.

The drama resulted in the “extensively planned” suicide pact, which took place on July 4 last year in their David Place backyard.

Sources close to the investigation previously labelled the pact “twisted”.

The pact took place at a David Place, Bomaderry unit. Picture: Tom McGann.

Despite making funeral, will and power of attorney arrangements, only Mrs Baldwin died.

Her husband, who insisted he too attempted to take his life, instead contacted emergency services, who arrived to see him “crying and distressed”.

“The officers followed (Baldwin) to the backyard, where they observed the deceased sitting upright in a camp chair,” Judge English said on Friday.

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”.

Baldwin is 72. Picture: Tom McGann.

He was charged with aid and abet suicide of another. Picture: Tom McGann.

“This was done today,” the letter read.

Despite Baldwin informing officers he had attempted to take his life to no avail, agreed facts reveal the 72-year-old experienced no pain and refused help from paramedics.

Baldwin later made full admissions to the pact at the Nowra Police Station.

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

Baldwin was arrested and charged on August 25, 2023.

Baldwin was sentenced at the Queanbeyan District Court. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

During a sentence hearing in the Nowra District Court on August 19 this year, Baldwin’s defence barrister Scott Fraser urged a community-based sentence be imposed given his client’s lack of a criminal record and the danger his former employment would have behind bars.

The concerns were shared by Judge English during Baldwin’s sentencing on Thursday.

However, Judge English labelled the case “rare”, questioning Baldwin’s remorse and emphasising there was no justification for anyone’s death.

She also noted Baldwin had since blamed the pact on his deceased wife.

“(Baldwin) says he felt quite stupid for being manipulated to the extent they were forced to do what they did,” she said.

Despite Crown prosecutor Nerissa Keay’s call for full-time custody, Judge English opted for a community-based sentence, given safety concerns and Baldwin’s rehabilitation prospects.

Baldwin was sentenced to an 18-month intensive correction order, during which he must seek mental health treatment and complete 200 hours of community service.

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