The murder of Leigh Leigh, born Leigh Rennea Mears, occurred on 3 November 1989. She was attending a 16-year-old boy’s birthday party at Stockton Beach, New South Wales, on the east coast of Australia. Leigh was assaulted by a group of boys after she returned distressed from a sexual encounter on the beach that a reviewing judge later called non-consensual. After being kicked and spat on by the group, Leigh left the party. Her naked body was found in the sand dunes nearby the following morning, with severe genital damage and a crushed skull. Matthew Grant Webster pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a 14-year non-parole period. He was released on parole
About Murder of Leigh Leigh in brief
The murder of Leigh Leigh, born Leigh Rennea Mears, occurred on 3 November 1989. She was attending a 16-year-old boy’s birthday party at Stockton Beach, New South Wales, on the east coast of Australia. Leigh was assaulted by a group of boys after she returned distressed from a sexual encounter on the beach that a reviewing judge later called non-consensual. After being kicked and spat on by the group, Leigh left the party. Her naked body was found in the sand dunes nearby the following morning, with severe genital damage and a crushed skull. Matthew Grant Webster pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a 14-year non-parole period. He was released on parole in June 2004, after serving 14½ years. The investigation of Leigh’s murder proved controversial, as several people who admitted to various crimes, including assaulting Leigh, were never charged; nor was anyone ever charged with her sexual assault. The media coverage of the murder has been cited as an example of blaming the victim. The murder inspired a theatrical play entitled A Property of the Clan, which was later revised and renamed Blackrock, as well as a feature film of the same name. Leigh’s parents divorced when she was about seven years old. She lived with her sister, mother and stepfather Brad Shearman on Fullerton Road, Fern Bay, having moved there nine months earlier from a housing commission flat near the Stockton ferry terminal. She had attended three primary schools successively: St Patrick’s in Swansea, Hamilton North Public School, and St Peter’s in Stockton.
She spent most of her weekends and school holidays with her grandmother at her house in Kilaben Bay. Her cousin and best friend Tracey stated she and Leigh enjoyed going to the cinema together. According to her aunt, Leigh had wanted to be a veterinarian. Both Leigh’s mother and her grandmother described her as a \”typical teenager\”. Leigh was a Year Eight student at Newcastle High School who enjoyed school, according to her grandmother. Police estimated that about 60 people had attended the party, though figures as high as 100 were reported in the media. Many were drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana,: 23 and some were having sex. Leigh had a invitation to attend the party and permission from her mother to stay there until 11 pm; mother assured her that responsible adults would be present at the party; Leigh was also one of several under-age girls who were invited to the party for the purpose of getting them intoxicated and having sex with them. The party was said to be very excited, as it was the first teenage party she had attended, and she was very excited to go through with it. The only people over 18 at theparty were Matthew Webster and Guy Wilson, who acted as bouncers. Webster’s confession did not match the forensic evidence. Guy Charles Wilson, the other bouncer and only other person aged over 18, pleaded guilty to assault.
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