NSW: New coronial inquest seven years after family triple murder

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2000
NSW: New coronial inquest seven years after family triple murder

A new inquest has opened into the murders of three members of a Sydney family, with
the coroner's assistant saying it will raise doubts about how the killings happened seven
years ago.

STEVEN GILHAM was stabbed 29 times and his wife HELEN was stabbed 17 times in August
1993. Their 25-year-old son CHRISTOPHER was also found dead, with 17 stab wounds, at the
family home in Woronora in Sydney's south.

The only surviving son, JEFFREY GILHAM, said he'd chased and stabbed his brother after
discovering that CHRISTOPHER had killed both his parents.

He was sentenced to a five-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

The first inquest found that Mr and Mrs GILHAM were killed by a person deceased, but
now MARK HOBART, who's Counsel Assisting Coroner Dr ELWYN ELMS, says there's new evidence
that raises doubts about the first inquest's findings.

Sergeant JEFFERY AVERY, who interviewed JEFFREY GILHAM after the killings, has told
the inquest that he'd been puzzled by the state of the murder weapon at the time, as the
knife didn't appear to be bloodstained.

Also, JEFFREY GILHAM told police that his brother CHRISTOPHER had arguments with his
father usually about money.

But Sergeant AVERY told the inquest bank account records showed CHRISTOPHER GILHAM
had a total of about $8,500 at the time of his death, while JEFFREY GILHAM had only $23.

AAP RTV mjh/sb/amt/jn5

KEYWORD: GILHAM (SYDNEY 10 )

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.