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TEN years after the mysterious death of Moe toddler Jaidyn Leskie, a kit has been launched giving parents tips on choosing a safe babysitter. In June 1997, Bilynda Williams left her 14-month-old son with her then boyfriend Greg Domaszewicz, while she went to a party and then the pub in Moe, eastern Victoria. But when she came home, Jaidyn was gone, a pig's head was on the front lawn and several windows of her home were smashed. It was six months before Jaidyn's body was found in a nearby dam. Mr Domaszewicz has continually denied being responsible for Jaidyn's death and was acquitted of his murder in the Victorian Supreme Court. But Victorian Coroner Graeme Johnstone last year released a finding into the child's death, pinning some blame on Mr Domaszewicz. He also criticised Ms Williams for leaving Jaidyn in Mr Domaszewicz's care and recommended that information be made available to parents about choosing a safe babysitter. Today the Victorian government released that information kit, prepared by Victoria's Child Safety Commissioner Bernie Geary. "He (Mr Johnstone) recommended that information designed to help parents about safety and other issues when they were selecting an appropriate babysitter would be useful and I was happy to meet that challenge," Mr Geary said. "We had a range of resources out that revolved around what parents should consider when placing children in creche and kindergarten and so on. "But we didn't have anything as drilled down as advising parents, who in some cases are under pressure for a variety of reasons, about having to find a babysitter in an informal way for their child." Mr Geary said the package asks parents to think about things like whether their babysitter has a temper, drug or alcohol problems, knows how to comfort a child, is mature and trustworthy. "It's not rocket science but it's on about people stopping and thinking," he said. "It's the taking a chance with a babysitter that we are trying to get parents to think more carefully about." AAP (11-5-2007) Kellee Nolan |
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GREG Domaszewicz – the man accused and acquitted of murdering Moe toddler Jaidyn Leskie – was mentally unfit to give evidence at the third inquest into the child's death, the Victorian Coroner's Court was told today. Jaidyn vanished while in the care of Mr Domaszewicz, the then boyfriend of his mother, Bilynda Williams, at Moe in southeast Victoria in June 1997. His partly decomposed body was found in Blue Rock Dam near Moe on January 1, 1998. In July this year, Coroner Graeme Johnstone ordered Mr Domaszewicz, who had been acquitted of Jaidyn's murder in a Supreme Court trial, to give evidence at the inquest today. But Mr Domaszewicz's barrister Colin Lovett QC produced reports from a general practitioner and a forensic psychologist who were both of the opinion his client was unfit to give evidence. He said his client was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, nightmares and panic attacks after the intense media attention surrounding Jaidyn's death. "The rank-and-file person thinks in this case... that he got away with murder, to put it bluntly," Mr Lovett said. "The effect it has had on my client has been devastating. "He is afraid to go out, he is afraid of everything." Mr Lovett said even if his client gave evidence today it would be unreliable due to his psychological state. The hearing continues. AAP (1-9-2005) |
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PIG'S head team leader Kenny Penfold has made new claims implicating Greg Domaszewicz in the death of Jaidyn Leskie. But the brother of slain suspected hitman Andrew "Benji" Veniamin has refused a request from the State Coroner to discuss his dealings with Mr Domaszewicz. Steven Veniamin ripped up material from the Coroner in front of the two police officers who delivered it to his home. Mr Penfold recently told police he saw Mr Domaszewicz put a bag in the boot of his car and drive off with it the night Jaidyn disappeared. State Coroner Graeme Johnstone has called Mr Penfold to give evidence at the third Leskie inquest, which resumes today. He has also issued a subpoena ordering Mr Domaszewicz to attend. Mr Penfold - the brother of Mr Domaszewicz's former girlfriend, Yvonne Penfold - made a new statement to police on August 9. He and three others were named the pig's head team during Mr Domaszewicz's 1998 murder trial after they admitted being involved in throwing a pig's head at Mr Domaszewicz's house the night Jaidyn was reported missing. "On the night that I threw the pig's head through the window I did see Greg Domaszewicz on this night walk out of his house several times and walk to his wheelie bin," Mr Penfold's new statement said. "He was putting something in the bin each time but I could not see what it was he was putting in the bin. He went back inside his house and come out with a bag. "He put the bag in the boot of his car and drove off. The area was well lit and I could see pretty well. I can't describe the bag, but he was definitely carrying some sort of bag." Police searched Mr Domaszewicz's bin after Jaidyn was reported missing in June 1997 and found five bloodied tissues. DNA tests confirmed it was Jaidyn's blood. Jaidyn's body was found in Blue Rock Dam, near Moe, six months after the 14-month-old disappeared. His weighted-down body was dumped in a sleeping bag. Mr Domaszewicz was charged with murdering Jaidyn but was acquitted by a Supreme Court jury in 1998. Herald Sun (1-9-2005) Keith Moor |
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GANGLAND killing taskforce detectives secretly taped Greg Domaszewicz discussing Jaidyn Leskie's death with hitman Andrew Veniamin's brother. Mr Domaszewicz laughed while talking about the Moe toddler's 1997 death. The chilling Victoria Police Purana taskforce tape was played yesterday during the opening day of the new Leskie inquest. "I don't like people tormenting things," Mr Domaszewicz said to Steven Veniamin on April 7 last year. Mr Veniamin said: "What about when you tormented that kid?" Mr Domaszewicz laughed and replied: "Yeah, that was different, it was a long time ago." Jaidyn's mother Bilynda Williams yesterday told the Herald Sun she was appalled Mr Domaszewicz was able to treat Jaidyn's death as a joke. "How dare Greg think that my son's death is something to laugh about," she said. "I feel disgusted in myself that I ever knew him." Mr Domaszewicz -- who was acquitted of murdering Jaidyn -- was babysitting the toddler the night he vanished. The inquest was also told yesterday that Mr Domaszewicz recently said to police that he had guns and marijuana in his house the night Jaidyn vanished. In a statement made to the corruption division of the Victoria Police ethical standards department, Mr Domaszewicz accused police of taking his guns and drugs. He said the missing pistols were a Beretta automatic, a Browning 9mm automatic and a Ruger Blackhawk double-action. Mr Domaszewicz also used the statement, made in February this year, to withdraw his earlier allegation that police were involved in the abduction and murder of Jaidyn, either directly or indirectly. "I have no evidence that a policeman killed Jaidyn," his statement says. The police tape played at the inquest yesterday has Steven Veniamin accusing Mr Domaszewicz of dropping his car "on it" -- a reference to the theory put forward during the trial that Jaidyn's arm was broken when Mr Domaszewicz's car fell off its jack. Mr Domaszewicz replied: "I'm telling you now there's a big difference from that and f------ murder, that, that, for a start that's accidental death." The Herald Sun revealed in May last year that Mr Domaszewicz was one of the last people to speak to Andrew "Benji" Veniamin before he was shot dead on March 23 last year. Carlton identity Mick Gatto was recently cleared of murdering Veniamin, who was a suspect in several of Melbourne's underworld murders. It was an accusation by a female underworld figure that Mr Domaszewicz "did it" that prompted him to ring Steven Veniamin in April last year. Mr Veniamin said: "But when you see (name deleted for legal reasons) apparently that's what she said, she reckons you did it." Mr Domaszewicz is recorded saying he intended speaking to the woman about her accusation. "But she did say it though, yeah," Mr Domaszewicz said. Mr Veniamin replied: "Yeah." Counsel assisting the coroner, Jim Kennan, SC, yesterday said he was not suggesting the content of the recorded conversation pointed to the commission of any offence. Mr Kennan said its content was equivocal and could be construed one way or another. The coroner's office recently invited Mr Domaszewicz to attend the inquest to give evidence. He refused and his lawyer, Michael Rafter, will fight any attempt to force Mr Domaszewicz into the witness box. State Coroner Graeme Johnstone said he would be issuing a subpoena ordering Mr Domaszewicz to give evidence at the inquest. Herald Sun (12-7-2005) Keith Moor |
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A THIRD inquest will be held into the death of Victorian toddler Jaidyn LesKie, the state's coroner saying new facts could shed light on the case. Jaidyn's mother, Bilynda Williams, has welcomed what she says is a chance to finally achieve justice for him. The 14-month-old vanished while in the care of Greg Domaszewicz in 1997 and his body was found in Blue Rock Dam, near Moe, 140km west of Melbourne, on January 1, 1998. Later that year, Mr Domaszewicz was acquitted of his murder. Ms Williams has posted a message on a website dedicated to her son welcoming Victorian Coroner Graeme Johnstone's decision to open the inquest almost eight years after the boy went missing. "It's Jaidyn's birthday on Saturday, and the coroner has given him an early birthday present," the message says. "The coroner will hold an inquest into Jaidyn's death! Thank you, thank you. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank every single person that signed the petition, who gave me support and when the going got tough, helped me back on track. Jaidyn will finally have his day in court and it's all thanks to everyone involved, thank you." Mr Johnstone said a fresh inquest was needed to investigate new facts relating to the case. He said they warranted "further exploration in order to shed light on the questions of the cause of death, how death occurred, and as to whether some person, other than the individual who was acquitted, contributed to the cause of death". The decision comes after a long campaign by Mrs Williams. Initially, then coroner lain West closed the case on Jaidyn's death, laying no blame and deciding against a public inquest in June, 2002. But following pleas by Mrs Williams, a second Inquest commenced in November, 2003. This was stopped after 22 days when the Supreme Court found that Mr Johnstone was acting outside his jurisdiction. Mr Domaszewicz, who avoided testitying during that inquest and at the time described it as a "turkey shoot", said yesterday he was glad a fresh inquest had been called. "I am happy it's going to be done. It should be done the way they said it would be done originally," he said. He said his lawyers were originally told they would be able to call their own witnesses and this had not occurred at the last inquest. Mr Johnstone said additional evidence would be heard at the new inquest and written submissions and replies would be considered. A date has not been set. AAP (June 2005) |
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A prisoner who claimed to have overheard Greg Domaszewicz confessing to killing Moe toddler Jaidyn Leskie was an inveterate liar who manipulated police, an inquest was told yesterday. Colin Lovitt QC, appearing for Domaszewicz, called for "the other side of the story" to be told about Prisoner F, who cannot be identified. The inmate, who is still in prison, has alleged Domaszewicz admitted to killing Jaidyn in "an accident that he tried to fix". Prisoner F this weeek refused to testify to Jaidyn Leskie's inquest, citing fears for his own safety and the safety of his family. Mr Lovitt's accusations against the prisoner's credibility yesterday came after a former Ethical Standards Department inspector, who originally interviewed Prisoner F, was recalled to the stand. "(Prisoner F) is an inveterate liar. He's a manipulator of the system. He's a user of the police and admitted such," he said. "He's man who has rorted the system and the well has dried up for (prisoner F)," he said. The inquest resumes before State Coroner Graeme Johnstone on Tuesday. Adelaide Advertiser (29-11-2003) |
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