GBC -- according to his sister, OBW -- sent those children off early to school after filling their minds with visions of their mother helpless down a hole. Children have active imaginations, particularly when frightened and worried. The 'hole' which GBC implanted in their minds would have become a giant, subterranean, dark place where their mother was trapped alone and probably crying out for help. They would see in their minds a big hole far from help. And their mother trapped, afraid, crying and calling. He further told the girls 'she probably wont be back'. Imagine that from a child's perspective
That guy is a sadist. He wants to hurt. He had it in his power to console and reassure the girls. But he did not. He deliberately withheld reassurance from them. He sent them to school filled with fear and dread and longing for their mother. He painted a graphic mental image and implanted it in those girls' minds and sent them off with that for the day
I want the jury to hear that, to imagine what he did to his children simply because he had the power to do it
Did police ask OBW what she had told the girls? Doesn't look like it. She could have volunteered further information but going from the Police Witness statement compiled by first attending police, it appeared she did not. Why didn't OBW say to the girls, ' Daddy didn't mean she fell in a hole. He meant she might have twisted her foot a little bit, that's all. And he just meant she wouldn't be back in time to take you to school. It will be alright, don't worry. I'm sure Mummy's fine and will be home when you get back from school. We might even go for a bar b que after school, eh? That'd be good, wouldn't it? Ok, now you run to class and remember, don't worry'. That's what anyone, let alone an aunt, would say to the girls, to try to take away the fear implanted by an idiot father
But no. It appears the girls received no reassurance
<modsnip> The jury needs to learn of what he told his girls and if prosecutors don't include it in material released to the jury, they're remiss imo
I actually remember the morning of the 20th very clearly as I was flying interstate that day. I remember being ready early (unusual for me!) and sitting in the lounge staring out the window as I felt a bit unwell. I wouldn't say it was overly foggy, but it was definitely drizzling and cool - this would have been about 8-9am anyway. I live in the area. Hope this helps?