Robert Rickerby jailed for 15 years after beating his girlfriend Jessica Geddes to death

The grieving mother of a woman bashed to death in Endeavour Hills after years of abuse will continue to fight for answers as her daughter’s killer was locked away for more than a decade.

Jessica Geddes’ mother Saasha Brimble and daughter Arianna-Leigh Geddes. Picture: Michaela Harlow. Picture: Michaela Harlow

The grieving mother of a woman who was beaten to death by her abusive boyfriend says she will continue to fight for answers as her daughter’s killer was locked away for more than a decade.

Saasha Brimble’s daughter Jessica Geddes died from multiple blunt force injuries after her boyfriend Robert Rickerby bashed her to death following years of extreme and violent abuse.

He left her to die in their squalid Endeavour Hills home before buying pizza from Dominos on November 6, 2020.

Police later found a munched piece of pizza on the floor next to the young mum’s starved and lifeless body.

Ms Geddes, who struggled with her mental health and was whisked to Victoria from Queensland by Rickerby, laid naked from the waist down.

Her body was left in a deplorable state, with a crescent-shaped cut to her right eye socket and partially separated left ear.

On Friday, Rickerby was sentenced to 15 years and six months in jail with a minimum of 11 years.

Rickerby bashed young mum Jessica Geddes to death.

He was initially charged with murder but on the eve of his trial, Rickerby struck a deal with prosecution and pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The confessed killer sat in the Supreme Court dock wearing a black suit, white T-shirt and glasses, staring blankly ahead as he learnt his fate.

Ms Brimble said although she was relieved with Rickerby’s sentencing, she will continue to shine a light on how her daughter was failed by the Victorian system.

“I feel like there has been justice for Jessica in the criminal matter with Robert, but I’m not finished with the system,” she told the Herald Sun.

Saasha Brimble will continue to shine a light on how her daughter was failed by the Victorian system. Picture: Michaela Harlow

“She was let down in so many ways, I’m ready to go straight into a coronial inquest.

“I hope it’s found that the police failed her, I hope they are held accountable.”

Over the course of their three-year relationship, Ms Geddes alerted police, hospital staff, friends, neighbours and even a 7-Eleven worker to Rickerby’s abuse.

But her cries for help fell on deaf ears.

Justice James Elliott said Rickerby’s abuse was a “grave betrayal of trust” and “truly shocking”.

“By your vicious assault through multiple acts of aggression, you have brutally taken the life of someone who trusted you and who had moved far away from her family to be with you,” he said.

“This case is a serious example of the manslaughter of an extremely vulnerable person who was heavily dependent upon you for support and protection.

“The scourge of domestic violence in our society is well-documented and cannot be tolerated.”

For years, the drugged up loser denied his relationship with Ms Geddes was ever abusive but last month, Rickerby finally admitted to the killing.

Ms Geddes sustained more than 50 skeletal injuries including 16 rib fractures, four fractures in the vertebrae and 10 fractures across both hands.

The injuries occurred over “days, weeks, months and possibly years”, according to a forensic pathologist.

Rickerby admitted leaving the young mum to die before he went out for pizza. Picture: Supplied

Before meeting Rickerby, the 27-year-old weighed a healthy 79kg but dramatically dropped to 46kg by the time of her death.

Justice Elliott said Rickerby’s abuse was “gross misconduct”.

“Not only was she physically weak, but you were much bigger and stronger than her,” he said.

“You told police that you would usually spend 22 to 23 hours together every day.

“You wrongly took advantage of this joint isolation, compounded by Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and your stronger physique to physically abuse her.”

Rickerby will be eligible for parole in 2033 after already spending two years in jail.