Arthur Phillip Freeman

Arthur Phillip Freeman (born 1972) is an Australian man charged, tried and convicted of murdering his daughter, Darcey Iris Freeman, aged 4, on 29 January 2009 by deliberately throwing her off the side of the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, Victoria.[2]

Arthur Freeman
Born
Arthur Phillip Freeman

1972 (1972)
Australia
Criminal statusFound guilty
Spouse(s)Peta Barnes (divorced)
Children3 (1 deceased; victim)
Criminal chargeOne count of murder
PenaltySentenced to life imprisonment with a 32-year minimum[1]
Details
Victims1
CountryAustralia
State(s)Victoria
Killed1
Date apprehended
29 January 2009

The case was high profile because of its nature and also as it happened during rush hour traffic when there were many witnesses to the incident. These included Darcey's two brothers who were young at the time, who watched this happen from Freeman's car.[3]

On 11 April 2011, Freeman was sentenced to life in prison for the murder with a minimum non-parole period of 32 years.[4]

Incident

At approximately 9:15 am on 29 January 2009, Freeman, en route to Melbourne from his parents home at Aireys Inlet, pulled his white Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD into the then Emergency Stopping Lane on the West Gate Bridge. He got out of the vehicle, removed his daughter from the back seat, took her over to the railing and dropped her 58 metres into the water below. He then drove off.[5]

At 10:30 am, Freeman walked into the Commonwealth Law Courts in Melbourne. He was said to be hysterical, crying and sobbing. Upon it being discovered, he was arrested and charged with murder.

Darcey died in the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, at 1:35 pm.

It is thought the incident led to the subsequent decision to place anti-suicide barriers along the whole length of the bridge. Soon after the incident temporary barriers were placed alongside the existing railing.[6]

Trial

It emerged during the trial that Freeman was under pressure due to a custody battle with ex-wife Peta Barnes. Barnes had recently been granted more custody provisions and this angered Freeman. As a result, Freeman was alleged to have said to Barnes minutes before the incident, "Say goodbye to your children." [7]

Lawyers acting on behalf of Freeman had claimed Freeman was suffering from mental health conditions; however, this was dispelled by the custody battle revelation.[8]

On 28 March 2011, the jury found Freeman guilty of the murder of Darcey Iris Freeman. On 11 April 2011 Freeman was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 32 years. Justice Paul Coghlan called the killing a "fundamental breach of trust", saying “What Darcey’s last thoughts might have been does not bear thinking about, and her death must have been a painful and protracted one”. Freeman attempted to appeal this sentence in May 2011 but was unsuccessful.[9][10][11]

The murder was featured on Crimes That Shook Australia.[12]

References
  1. Schulz; Mawby (April 11, 2011). "Arthur Freeman jailed for a 32-year minimum for Darcey Freeman murder". Herald Sun.
  2. Carlyon; Anderson (March 29, 2011). "Explaining the inexplicable: How could Arthur Freeman kill Darcey?". Perth Now.
  3. Petrie; Silvester; Kissane (January 30, 2009). "Last moments of Darcey Freeman". Sydney Morning Herald.
  4. Schulz; Mawby (April 11, 2011). "Arthur Freeman jailed for a 32-year minimum for Darcey Freeman murder". Herald Sun.
  5. https://www.coronerscourt.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-12/darceyiris_044709.pdf
  6. Scott (April 14, 2011). "Suicides on West Gate drop by 85 per cent". Sydney Morning Herald.
  7. Anderson (March 16, 2011). "Arthur Freeman case: Say goodbye to your children". Courier Mail.
  8. https://theconversation.com/the-fraught-issue-of-how-we-deal-with-mentally-ill-offenders-466
  9. Petrie (March 28, 2011). "Arthur Freeman guilty of Darcey's murder". Bendigo Advertiser.
  10. "Freeman sentenced to life". The West Australian. April 11, 2011.
  11. http://netk.net.au/Psychology/Freeman2.asp
  12. Darcey Freeman (Documentary, Biography, Crime), Stan Grant, Patricia Winker, 2016-06-19, retrieved 2020-10-11CS1 maint: others (link)
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