Melbourne man Thomas Bednar has been found guilty of murdering his mother in her home in May last year.
Judy Bednar, 78, suffered a number of blows causing significant rib fractures and died as a result of injuries that compromised her respiratory system.
She was found naked on the floor of her bedroom in her Chelsea home by police after friends were unable to reach her for several days.
Jurors returned a guilty verdict in Bednar’s murder trial on Tuesday afternoon after weeks of evidence in the Supreme Court, finding he killed her sometime between May 12 and May 15, 2021.
Prosecutor Mark Rochford, KC, alleged Bednar’s motive was that he believed his mother was to blame for four involuntary mental health admissions in the year leading up to her death.
In a candid conversation with homicide detectives after his arrest on the day Mrs Bednar’s death was discovered, the 54-year-old admitted he had “a past” with his mother and wasn’t upset about her death.
“I’ll be straight up with you about that because she’s been an absolute bitch to me,” Bednar said.
But he also claimed he had been set up and didn’t know how Mrs Bednar had died.
Bednar’s barrister John Desmond acknowledged Bednar had breached an intervention order Mrs Bednar took out against her son by making a nuisance of himself.
Bednar admitted going through garbage and turning off mains power and taps.
“That undeniably caused great stress and upset and angst to Judith,” Desmond said.
“But as I’ve said, he walks away on every occasion without any threat of injury or killing being made. They in fact show … a pattern of him not being prepared to physically hurt his mother.”
He argued there was an alternative suspect for the killing – family friend Danny Cohen.
Cohen gave evidence in Bednar’s trial, describing himself as having a duty of care to Mrs Bednar.
He denied having framed Bednar for the murder.
Bednar will be sentenced at a later date.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
Most Viewed in National
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
