NSW man tries to kill ex-wife and friend by driving into them

The man had stalked his ex-wife for months before he collided with her in a crash outside Goulburn.

A NSW man has been jailed for 18 years after he tried to kill his ex-wife and her friend by driving his car into their vehicle on a country road, in an attempted murder-suicide.

Shawn Marsh, 53, had stalked his ex-wife Kylie Marsh for months before he collided with her in a crash outside Goulburn, about 200km south west of Sydney, on May 6, 2023.

Marsh hoped the collision would kill him, and his ex-wife and her friend Michelle Giles, who were travelling together.

“This offender has shown no remorse or insight into his offending and blames the victim for his conduct,” Judge Julia Baly said in sentencing in Goulburn District Court, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Marsh collided with the side of his ex-wife’s car, sending her vehicle into a paddock. She and her friend Ms Giles survived, but were left with lifelong injuries and trauma, the court heard.

Marsh set out to kill the two women after six months of domestic violence and stalking that started when he and Ms Marsh split, and he learned of her new partner.

Judge Baly was sickened by Marsh’s attempt to play the ‘mental health card’, after a psychologist found he had no mental illness.

A NSW man has been jailed for 18 years after he tried to kill his ex-wife and her friend by driving his car into their vehicle on a country road, in an attempted murder-suicide.

“He has no mental illness, no mental condition, no cognitive impairment and I do not accept he has no control of his personality,” Judge Baly said.

Marsh began stalking his ex-wife after their separation in December 2022.

He texted her that it was a “bad move” to let her new partner move into her house – something he had found out by stalking the home.

Marsh also threatened to kill his stepdaughter. He sent a disturbing letter to one of Ms Marsh’s two daughters from a previous relationship, Jess. He told her what she needed to do following the crash he planned. The letter was found by his ex-wife before his stepdaughter read it.

The note warned Marsh had organised “two scenarios”. One involved Jess collecting her mother’s life insurance and giving his superannuation to her sister Stacey.

The “option that keeps you alive,” Marsh wrote. “If you choose (this scenario) … you will be raped once only and released.”

A NSW man has been jailed for 18 years after he tried to kill his ex-wife and her friend by driving his car into their vehicle on a country road, in an attempted murder-suicide.

“If you choose not to follow the above you will be kidnapped, raped for four days and killed.”

On the day of the crash, police were called to Crookwell, 45km northwest of Goulburn after reports an SUV and hatchback had collided.

Marsh had watched his ex-wife’s car through binoculars, before driving towards it.

Ms Marsh and her friend were trapped and had to be freed by Fire and Rescue crews.

They were treated at the scene, before being taken to Goulburn Hospital.

Marsh was uninjured, and told officers at the scene the incident was a “domestic situation”.

He was charged with predatory driving, use of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, and contravening a prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic).

Charges for threatening to kill his stepdaughter were added later.

“Women are not possessions belonging to men,” Judge Baly said during sentencing.

“Women have a right to live their lives free of such views and free of violence.”