Two mums slain as bungling hitmen target wrong women
Two Australian women — both much-loved mothers — gunned down at their own homes, just weeks apart. If that wasn’t shocking enough, neither was the intended victim.
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They were two women — both much-loved mothers — gunned down at their own homes.
If that wasn’t shocking enough, police believe neither was the intended victim.
The killings just weeks apart in Sydney and Melbourne in 1997 were allegedly both cases of mistaken identity murders by bungling hitmen.
More than 20 years on, no one has faced justice over either death.
PAULINE GILLARD
Pauline Gillard was sitting in bed playing Tetris on a Nintendo when she was shot six times in the head through an open bedroom window.
Days after her murder, the 57-year-old Sydney grandmother’s partner Russell Baxter told of her family’s shock at the Mafia-style killing.
“It’s totally incomprehensible,” he said. “There is no way she had any enemies and (she) had lived in the Balmain area all her life.’’
Detective Sergeant John Pendergast, said it was a “premeditated and deliberate, cold and calculating” murder and had “the hallmarks of a professional operation”, something “completely at odds” with the victim’s character.
“The method used in Mrs Gillard’s death is something you wouldn’t normally associate with a lady of her background.”
Police established Mrs Gillard was shot from about three metres with a .22 calibre rifle fitted with a silencer.
While there was no obvious motive, police were initially unable to confirm it was a case of mistaken identity because her killer would have had an unobstructed view.
Thirteen months after the September 1997 murder, police released images of a potential suspect, saying one or possibly two men were seen sprinting from the house shortly after the shooting.
Then in May 1999, a breakthrough seemed to have been made with the arrest of 29-year-old Guiseppe “Joe” Agostino, but the prosecution later withdrew the conspiracy to murder charge against him in court because of insufficient evidence.
At a 2002 inquest, police told the coroner Mrs Gillard had been shot in error and the real target was her son’s partner Maria Gioia who lived in an adjoining property.
Police alleged market worker Mr Agostino or an unknown person carried out the botched $15,000 contract killing, and later Mr Agostino told his girlfriend: “I f---ed up. I shot the wrong person.”
The inquest was told Ms Gioia’s ex-husband Neal had conspired with his cousin, wealthy Flemington markets stall owner Andrew Musumeci, to murder her over a child custody dispute.
But, after a lengthy delay for a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, Mrs Gillard’s family was left with no real answers when the hearing closed in 2005.
Deputy NSW Coroner Carl Milovanovich found Mrs Gillard died from gunshot wounds inflicted by a person unknown.
He said it was unsatisfactory no one was brought to justice but pointed to several factors, including the unreliability of some key witnesses and reluctance to make further statements.
“I hope there might be some light at the end of the tunnel, some day.”
A $250,000 reward remains on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the Adolphus Street killing.
A NSW police spokesperson told True Crime Australia: “The investigation into the 1997 murder of Pauline Gillard remains under the responsibility of the Homicide Squad.
“It is expected the case will undergo a formal review under the unit’s new processes in due course.”
JANE THURGOOD-DOVE
While the cases are completely separate, the murder of Jane Thurgood-Dove just seven weeks after Mrs Gillard has tragic similarities.
The Melbourne mum was shot twice in the back of the head in front of her three young children after pulling up in her driveway after doing the school run.
No one had any reason to put out a contract on the 34-year-old housewife, but she had the misfortune to share a resemblance with criminal’s wife Carmel Kypri who lived in the same Niddrie street and drove a similar car.
Twenty years after her death, the Herald Sun was on the trail of a disgraced lawyer suspected of being behind the bungled hit as he sought revenge on Mrs Kypri’s husband.
But so far no one has been brought to justice for the November 6 killing despite a $1 million reward.
Ms Thurgood-Dove had just pulled up at her home after collecting her two older children from school when a blue Commodore sedan drove in behind her and a pot-bellied gunman jumped from the passenger seat.
He confronted the terrified mother and chased her around the car before shooting her at close range in broad daylight.
Police believe the gunman was former Rebels bikie Stephen Mordy from Geelong, now long dead. Another ex-bikie — who has not been named — is believed to have driven him to the murder scene and then away before they torched the Commodore.
In 2012, leading homicide detective Ron Iddles told that veteran crim he could be indemnified for his role as getaway driver in the murder if he testified against the man who ordered the hit, but to no avail.
Another person believed involved was Ballarat man Jamie Reynolds, suspected of waiting for the two ex-bikies at the spot where they dumped the Commodore and driving them away in another vehicle.
But as he came to police attention, resources were being poured into the gangland wars and weren’t made available to gather evidence against him.
“Had I got the resources, there’s no doubt I would have done a considerable amount of work on Reynolds,” Mr Iddles later told the Herald Sun. “I was in a holding pattern for nine months.”
Before he could act Reynolds died in a boating accident and a much-needed chance for answers was lost.
Victoria Police told True Crime Australia: “The investigation into the murder of Jane Thurgood-Dove in Niddrie in 1997 remains open.
“Any new information provided to police will be examined thoroughly and a $1m reward remains in place.”
• Information on either case can be provided in confidence to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Crime Stoppers NSW | Crime Stoppers Victoria
Originally published as Two mums slain as bungling hitmen target wrong women
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