The Birnies

Sentencing

Catherine Birnie

David Birnie pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of abduction and rape, thereby sparing the families of his victims the agony of a long trial. "That's the least I could do," he told a detective. Catherine Birnie had not been required to plead as her barrister was waiting on a psychiatric report to determine her sanity. She was remanded to appear later that month.

"It was all over within a few minutes," recalled Bill Power. "And the erstwhile angelic Catherine, who moments before had acted out such a show of dedication, was dragged kicking and screaming and spitting down the wooden staircase to a prison van waiting beside the court.

"Perhaps she never wanted another man besides David to touch her."

Mr Justice Wallace sentenced David Birnie to the maximum sentence of life imprisonment with strict security. He added: "The law is not strong enough to express the community's horror at this sadistic killer who tortured, raped and murdered four women. In my opinion, David John Birnie is such a danger to society that he should never be released from prison."

David Birnie stood trembling in the dock as the sentence was passed. His bravado returned as he was led to the prison van under tight security. With the angry mob calling for his blood, David Birnie put his hand to his lips and blew them a kiss.

Found sane enough to plead, Catherine Margaret Birnie admitted her part in the murders and was sentenced on 3 March 1987 in the Perth Supreme Court. She stood in the dock, holding hands with David Birnie, the man who had led her down the path of torture, rape and murder. Through the day's hearing they chatted quietly and smiled at each other as the court was told of their 35 day reign of horror.

On occasions she would stroke and pat his arm. A psychiatrist to the court said that Catherine was totally dependent on Birnie and almost totally vulnerable to his evil influence. He said: "It is the worst case of personality dependence I have seen in my career".

Mr Justice Wallace had no hesitation in handing down the same sentence as that imposed on David Birnie. He said: "In my opinion you should never be released to be with David Birnie. You should never be allowed to see him again."

As she was taken from the court, the scrawny mother of six took one last look at the man who had influenced her life so strongly and so disastrously.