Australia Australia - Jenny Cook, 29, Townsville, Qld, 19 Jan 2009

[BatWoman]

DS Osborn isn't looking too good in the coroner's report. Very very sloppy work.

 

[BJsleuth]

From the coroners report I don't understand the lack of blood or splatter

That is why the sheet over her head, it would have contained it!

 

[catswhiskers]

Thanks for starting this thread Marly. I just read about this in the SMH magazine. Sounds very dodgy IMO.

Here are the coronial findings:

http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/217931/cif-cook-jl-20131206.pdf

Still reading here, but it's all very sketchy that's for sure. There are some very strange findings and admissions in the coronial findings doc.

 

[BatWoman]

At the time DS Osborn ceased investigations the following matters had not been
considered and/or investigated by police:
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jenny Lee Cook 26 Verification of the version of events provided by Mr Cook, including:
o his whereabouts on 19 January 2009 including;
 statements from work colleagues;
 phone records;
 evidence of payment of bill at lunch time;
o Ms Cook’s medical history and propensity for suicide;
o The status of Ms Cook’s WorkCover claim;
 The relationship between Ms and Mr Cook including content of text and email
messages;
 The relationship between Mr Cook and other female persons including identifying
that his phone records contained numerous contacts with the NIFP and obtaining
content of text messages and emails between them;
 The financial benefit to be gained by Mr Cook on the death of his wife;
 DNA results of the blood on the knife;
 DNA results of the initial testing of the string on the knife;
 Further DNA testing of the string on the knife;
 Fingerprint testing of the knife;
 Formal opinion from SOCO Bardell on blood stain pattern analysis;
 Search for and location of the string and tape used to wrap the knife;
 Examination of Ms Cook’s diaries;
 Examination of Ms Cook’s phone and email records;
 Investigations in relation to the whereabouts of the plywood board prior to that
day and whether Ms Cook could have moved it into place beneath her;
 Consideration had not been given as to whether the plywood board should be
seized and examined;
 There had not been an organised and thorough search of the house.

:facepalm:

 

[BJsleuth]

One thing about the knife angle though -- I can see how a person's body weight might drag the angle of the knife downwards as they fell.

RSBM. Her chest injury was consistent with the knife being at that angle and entering from above.

A question, not directed to you Ausgirl, but with her back injury and the (rods? Inserted presumably) could she have manouvered herself into that position to force herself up onto the knife?

 

[BJsleuth]

It's possible he could have set it up prior (no fingerprints on the window or frame, no evidence of recently being cleaned - fine dust all over it). Comes home from work "Honey, I have a surprise for you! Let's put this sheet over your head so you can't peek!" He takes her around the side and forces her onto the knife?

 

[PrimeSuspect]

It is a highly suspicious death and the police in charge did not do their job. Arnold/Leahy all over again.

The way Jenny died seems like a prison type death to me, interestingly the husband was a prison guard. :waitasec:

The slight knife wound to the neck, she may have been held hostage with knife to throat by another person and blindfolded, forced to drive herself into the knife. jmo

 

[BJsleuth]

How can it be prosecuted with no evidence whatsoever?

 

[Ausgirl]

Just some notes from the inquest findings:

- ephedrine (for asthma/bronchial issues?) and antihistamine found in her system, with a small amount of alcohol - a glass of chardy, and some anti-allergy pills? Sounds like my friend who has pollen allergies, when she plans a day of relaxation in the garden. It certainly does not amount to being 'out of it' in any way, IMO.

-- I *have to * wonder whether DS Osborn personally knew Paul Cook. Why else would she push so hard for a suicide, botch things at the scene badly, lie about aspects of the crime scene and also be evasive when questioned on it (this is stated in the document) and act in many ways in a most unprofessional manner (disposing of the knife, etc). It was HER investigation, yet she a/ did not examine the weapon at all, b/ did not even examine photographs of the scene, c/ did not file the correct paperwork - on and on.....

-- Interesting detail -- according to DS Osborne..

It would appear she has died whilst still being impaled on the knife before body weight has caused her to fall to the ground due to the blood located at the scene ‘(no splatter on wall/window behind knife and minimal on clothing/ground/deceased)

-- and from another officer:

Kraatz said that there was minimal disturbance in the stones around Ms Cook and he could see no indication that the board had been dragged to its position underneath her.
There was no blood on the wall and the only blood near to it was a drop on the stones which had come from the tip of the knife blade.

-- YET there was blood on Jenny, blood in her lungs and mouth, it was a substantial wound! One that didn't bleed more than a drop until she was lying down on the board? Not even when she allegedly pulled her own body or fell OFF the knife?

-- Jenny was moved after death, though no-one admits to moving her:

Mr Bardell examined the body of Ms Cook and came to the conclusion that she had been moved slightly after death as the lividity was not consistent with her position when he saw her.


... but it was so *quickly* called a suicide...before ANY of the tests came back....

I call shenanigans.

 

[Ausgirl]

Oh boy, you guys post fast! I'm amazed at all the posts while I have been typing! Awesome!!!!!! So glad there's interest in this one.

Does anyone think it *could have* been a suicide?

 

[MsAnais]

At the time DS Osborn ceased investigations the following matters had not been
considered and/or investigated by police:
Findings of the inquest into the death of Jenny Lee Cook 26 Verification of the version of events provided by Mr Cook, including:
o his whereabouts on 19 January 2009 including;
 statements from work colleagues;
 phone records;
 evidence of payment of bill at lunch time;
o Ms Cook’s medical history and propensity for suicide;
o The status of Ms Cook’s WorkCover claim;
 The relationship between Ms and Mr Cook including content of text and email
messages;
 The relationship between Mr Cook and other female persons including identifying
that his phone records contained numerous contacts with the NIFP and obtaining
content of text messages and emails between them;
 The financial benefit to be gained by Mr Cook on the death of his wife;
 DNA results of the blood on the knife;
 DNA results of the initial testing of the string on the knife;
 Further DNA testing of the string on the knife;
 Fingerprint testing of the knife;
 Formal opinion from SOCO Bardell on blood stain pattern analysis;
 Search for and location of the string and tape used to wrap the knife;
 Examination of Ms Cook’s diaries;
 Examination of Ms Cook’s phone and email records;
 Investigations in relation to the whereabouts of the plywood board prior to that
day and whether Ms Cook could have moved it into place beneath her;
 Consideration had not been given as to whether the plywood board should be
seized and examined;
 There had not been an organised and thorough search of the house.

:facepalm:

OMG!!!:facepalm: This really is outrageous.

And in answer to the earlier question (sorry, can't remember who asked it!) - I suspect prison guards and cops are extremely tight in that part of the world!!MOO.

 

[Ausgirl]

^ and most of those omissions are thanks to Osborn.

Maybe 'tight' with one cop in particular... is my thinking.

 

[Ausgirl]

How can it be prosecuted with no evidence whatsoever?

I think there could maybe a case to be made with circumstantial evidence? There seems to be a LOT of it that suggests foul play, in any case.

eta: sorry, meant to add -- at least there should be a thorough and impartial investigation into Osborn and her actions, as well as the husband. If she wasn't complicit in some way, she was unfeasibly incompetent (on ALL cases, I wonder, or just this particular one?) and has no business being a police officer.

 

[MsAnais]

Ahem.....

Mr Cook was asked if he played a role in his wife's death. He said "no".

He was questioned about his relationship with a female colleague, *referred to only as the "unnamed *female".

Phone records show he made 52 texts or calls to the woman in the six weeks before his wife's death. He made only 14 contacts with his wife, by text or call, between November 3, 2008 and January 19, 2009.

He denied having an extra-marital affair with the unnamed woman but a friend confirmed they had a physical relationship in the weeks after his wife's death.

It was revealed police never investigated Mr Cook's movements on the day his wife died, or confirmed his version of events, whether he had any financial motive, or if he was having any extra-marital affairs.

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/how-did-jenny-cook-die/story-fnjfzs4b-1226771779492

 

[Ausgirl]

He also outright lied to police about how much contact he'd had with the 'other woman'. He was clearly having an affair. Maybe more than one.

 

[MsAnais]

Nice guy, huh?:

Paul tells the interviewing detectives that while they "never fought", Jenny Lee would have "a sook" about her chronic back problems "hundreds of times" and would "crack the " and be "a moody *****". Only the night before, he explains, he'd arrived home to find Jenny Lee sitting on the toilet in the bathroom crying. Ignoring her tears, he asked where his earbuds were, put them on, went to bed and fell asleep.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/knife-edge-20140714-3bvp7.html#ixzz384HumioY

 

[MsAnais]

How weird is this comment from him?? (not that I have a problem with him or anything!!!:floorlaugh

After Lorraine [Jenny's mother] arrived at the house, Cook took her outside and showed her where Jenny Lee had died. ("He said he didn't want any ghosts in the house," adds Lorraine.)

http://www.smh.com.au/national/knife-edge-20140714-3bvp7.html#ixzz384I9H2Kf

 

[Ausgirl]

Nice guy, huh?:

Reminds me of a certain other highly suspicious husband, eh?. :waitasec:

 

[BJsleuth]

Just some notes from the inquest findings:

- ephedrine (for asthma/bronchial issues?) and antihistamine found in her system, with a small amount of alcohol - a glass of chardy, and some anti-allergy pills? Sounds like my friend who has pollen allergies, when she plans a day of relaxation in the garden. It certainly does not amount to being 'out of it' in any way, IMO.

-- I *have to * wonder whether DS Osborn personally knew Paul Cook. Why else would she push so hard for a suicide, botch things at the scene badly, lie about aspects of the crime scene and also be evasive when questioned on it (this is stated in the document) and act in many ways in a most unprofessional manner (disposing of the knife, etc). It was HER investigation, yet she a/ did not examine the weapon at all, b/ did not even examine photographs of the scene, c/ did not file the correct paperwork - on and on.....

-- Interesting detail -- according to DS Osborne..

It would appear she has died whilst still being impaled on the knife before body weight has caused her to fall to the ground due to the blood located at the scene ‘(no splatter on wall/window behind knife and minimal on clothing/ground/deceased)

-- and from another officer:

Kraatz said that there was minimal disturbance in the stones around Ms Cook and he could see no indication that the board had been dragged to its position underneath her.
There was no blood on the wall and the only blood near to it was a drop on the stones which had come from the tip of the knife blade.

-- YET there was blood on Jenny, blood in her lungs and mouth, it was a substantial wound! One that didn't bleed more than a drop until she was lying down on the board? Not even when she allegedly pulled her own body or fell OFF the knife?

-- Jenny was moved after death, though no-one admits to moving her:

Mr Bardell examined the body of Ms Cook and came to the conclusion that she had been moved slightly after death as the lividity was not consistent with her position when he saw her.


... but it was so *quickly* called a suicide...before ANY of the tests came back....

I call shenanigans.

I agree!

 

[MsAnais]

Reminds me of a certain other highly suspicious husband, eh?. :waitasec:

Yeah, exactly!!!