The Heartbreaking Murder Of Ebony Jane Simpson

On August 19, 1992, Ebony Jane Simpson was murdered in Bargo, New South Wales, Australia. Simpson, who was nine years old at the time, was drowned by Andrew Peter Garforth (born 5 August 1963), who then kidnapped, raped, and killed her by asphyxiation. Garforth was given a life sentence without the chance of parole after tendering a guilty plea to the offenses.

Simpson’s Abduction and Murder

Simpson started walking home on August 19, 1992, when she got off the school bus. Due to her mother's hectic schedule, who typically greeted her at the bus stop, Simpson's elder brother was sent to meet her and take her home once her bus arrived.

Her brother was sadly not present at the bus stop. As it wasn't far to get home, Simpson started walking . She anticipated meeting her brother at home.

Ebony approached a car that appeared to be broken down when she was walking home with her house in sight. She was snatched by Andrew Peter Garforth, the owner of the vehicle, and thrown into the boot. He drove to a remote dam. Once there, Garforth bound Ebony with wire, raped her, and then threw her into the dam's reservoir with her pink backpack weighted with pieces of rocks, where she drowned.

The police suspected pretty quickly that Simpson had been abducted rather than. The man who was spotted working on his automobile close to where Simpson got off the bus was the subject of suspicion. Approximately a hundred people, including police, firemen, members of the State Emergency Service, and volunteers, started looking for Simpson in the area.

Police discovered Simpson's body in a dam at a wildlife sanctuary close to her home on August 21, two days later. Still restrained were her wrists and feet. Andrew Peter Garforth, 29, who was detained later that day, admitted to the murder. Garforth took part in Simpson's body hunt on the day her body was discovered, according to the police.

Garforth’s Arrest and Detention

Garforth admitted to the crime after being taken into custody by the police and expressed no remorse for his acts during the confession and judicial proceedings. He admitted to killing Simpson, and in 1993 he was given a life sentence. Garforth's papers were ordered to be marked "never to be released" after Judge Peter Newman declined to set a non-parole period.

The High Court of Australia rejected Garforth's request for special leave despite his appeal. There were two other situations like it where special leave was denied.

In discussing the meaning of "life imprisonment" The judges stated when Garforth challenged his verdict: "the community interest in retribution, deterrence, protection of children and the community in such situations may so strongly outweigh any regard for rehabilitation that a life sentence becomes the only option."

Andrew Garforth was jailed for life for the abduction, sexual assault and murder of Ebony Simpson

With his attorneys, Garforth filed a number of claims for compensation for victims in 1995 in connection with alleged assaults that allegedly took place in prison. After widespread outcry, the accusations were subsequently retracted.

After the Serious Offenders Review Council's suggestion, Garforth's prisoner status was lowered in 2015, allowing him to enroll in courses for rehabilitation and employment inside the prison. Minister of Prisons David Elliott promptly overturned the council's decision.

The Aftermath

The Murder Victims Support Group was founded in collaboration between the parents of Anita Cobby, who was murdered in New South Wales (NSW) in 1986, Grace and Garry Lynch, and Simpson's parents, Peter and Christine Simpson. The group advocates for victims' rights and offers assistance to the relatives of murder victims.

The NSW Government implemented measures in 1989 and 1990 generally targeted at truth in sentencing in response to the 1988 state election. The case of Garforth was frequently used as a test case for how the principle of life sentences and security classification should be applied.