Duo jailed over NSW beach death

LYNETTE Daley died from injuries sustained in a violent sexual assault. Today the two men responsible have been sentenced to jail.

THE two men found guilty over the death and violent sexual assault of Lynette Daley on a remote northern NSW beach in 2011 have been sentenced to jail.

Adrian Attwater has been sentenced to 19 years prison — with a non-parole period of 14 years, three months prison — and Paul Maris to at least six years, nine months for their roles in Ms Daley’s brutal rape and death.

During sentencing at the Supreme Court in Coffs Harbour this afternoon, Justice Elizabeth Fullerton described the men’s actions as “extremely serious, reflecting a very high level of moral culpability”. She said they had not shown any remorse.

Ms Daley, 33, died on an Australia Day camping trip to Ten Mile Beach near Iluka from injuries sustained in the sex act with her boyfriend Attwater and his friend Maris.

A jury in September this year found Attwater, 43, guilty of manslaughter and aggravated sexual assault, and Maris, 47, guilty of aggravated sexual assault and hindering the discovery of evidence.

The five-week trial heard the trio had been drinking heavily and driving up and down the beach in Maris’ troop carrier before Ms Daley was “repeatedly and vigorously” sexually assaulted on a mattress in the back of the vehicle.

Paul Maris.

Adrian Attwater.

The court heard Attwater only stopped the assault when he noticed blood on his hand.

Maris later burnt Ms Daley’s bra and the bloodstained mattress “because it stank”.

The Crown alleged Ms Daley was bleeding to death and Attwater didn’t seek medical attention until it was too late.