November 13th 2024.
In the weeks leading up to her tragic death, Cindy Crossthwaite was embroiled in a bitter court battle with her estranged husband over the division of their assets. The case had been adjourned to give her husband, Emil "Bill" Petrov, time to find a lawyer, but unfortunately, Cindy would not live to see the next hearing.
On June 20, 2007, Cindy's father made a heartbreaking discovery when he found her lifeless body in the lounge room of her home in Melton South. The room was a scene of horror, with blood splatters on the blinds and windows, and a blanket covering her. The jury was told that she had been choked and shot in the head from a close range of 15 centimetres.
Nearly twenty years later, Petrov, now 60 years old, is on trial in the Supreme Court for Cindy's murder. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Mark Gibson, told the jury that the case was about finding out who was responsible for the brutal killing of a middle-aged mother in a quiet suburban area. The Crown's argument was that Petrov was the only person who had a motive and the means to commit such a heinous crime.
Gibson went on to explain that the prosecution would present a series of circumstances over the course of the four-week trial to prove Petrov's guilt. According to the prosecutor, at the core of the case was Petrov's deep-seated and enduring hatred for his estranged wife. The jury was also told that if they did not believe that Petrov had killed Cindy himself, they could still find him guilty if they believed he had arranged for someone else to do the deed.
On the other hand, Petrov's legal team told the jury that their client denied any involvement in Cindy's death. Defence barrister Ashley Halphen asked the jury to consider whether the claim that Cindy only had one enemy was enough evidence to convict Petrov. He suggested that there may have been others who had a grudge against Cindy and could have been involved in her murder.
One of the key witnesses in the trial was Brian O'Shea, who prosecutors alleged had sold Petrov a gun for $3000. Gibson claimed that O'Shea had seen Petrov in a black wig and dark clothing in his car boot, and that Petrov had asked him for help in killing Cindy. However, Halphen argued that Petrov denied most of what O'Shea had told the court and that he had not purchased a gun from him.
The court also heard that Cindy and Petrov had been involved in a long and bitter property battle since their separation in 2005. According to Gibson, the couple had been married for almost ten years before their split, and their divorce proceedings had begun in May 2007. Petrov had argued that certain properties should not be included in the divorce settlement as they belonged to his parents. The case had been adjourned to July of that year to allow Petrov to gather more evidence.
Gibson claimed that Petrov was well aware that the judge overseeing their divorce proceedings had made comments that would likely have a negative impact on his and his parents' financial interests. This, the prosecutor argued, was a significant motive for Petrov to want to kill Cindy.
However, Halphen contested this claim, stating that there were discrepancies in the extent of the couple's property battle and how much property was at stake. As the trial continues before Justice Christopher Beale, the jury will have to weigh the evidence presented by both sides to determine Petrov's guilt or innocence.
For anyone affected by similar issues, support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT.
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