A violent serial rapist who evaded police for three decades has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he was caught using new groundbreaking DNA technology.
Michael Anthony Woodhall (52) pleaded guilty to charges stemming back to the 1990s relating to three violent sexual assaults and breaking in to another woman’s home.
WA Police body cam footage shows the moment Michael Anthony Woodhall was arrested on historical rape charges.Credit: WA Police
In the first attack in March 1995 Woodhall approached a 49-year-old woman who was walking along a footpath at the Carine Open Space. He threatened her with a knife before dragging her into bushland and sexually assaulting her.
Exactly one year later, just after midnight Woodhall struck again. This time, a 19-year-old woman was awoken by the then-23-year-old man at her Scarborough home. He then sexually assaulted the woman, while threatening her with a knife.
The third incident took place about 2am in February 1998 when Woodhall entered a student accommodation residence in Crawley. An 18-year-old woman was awoken by Woodhall, who threatened her with a knife, then sexually assaulted her.
Four months later, in the early hours of June 1998, Woodhall entered a 22-year-old woman’s residence in Kelmscott where a struggle ensued. The victim bit the accused’s hand, after which the man fled.
Thorough forensic examinations of each crime scene were conducted at the time of all four incidents which resulted in an unidentified male DNA profile being located.
Three decades on, using ground-breaking investigative genetic genealogy techniques and through the expertise of the PathWest Forensic Biology Department, the investigation was able to progress and Woodhall was identified as the suspect.
Woodhall was charged in July 2023 and pleaded guilty to 16 offences including six counts of Aggravated Sexual Penetration without Consent and three counts of Deprivation of Liberty.
This was the first time IGG was used in a criminal investigation within Australia at the time charges were laid.
Detective Sergeant Justin Meeres from Cold Case Investigations said the case was a prime example of how horrific crimes committed thirty years ago were never forgotten by the Western Australia Police force.
“This type of innovative and game-changing technology is helping bring justice to WA’s most serious, unsolved crimes,” he said.
“Every victim deserves the best possible police response and we will not stop until these perpetrators feel the full force of the law.
“No matter how much time has passed, criminals in hiding should be looking over their shoulders. It’s only a matter of time before WA Police bring them to justice.“
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