NSW: Whelan 'satisifed' with Burrell verdict

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2006
NSW: Whelan 'satisifed' with Burrell verdict

(EDS: Reissuing, with pix advisory)



SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - Bernie Whelan says he is satisfied his wife's killer will spend
the rest of his life in jail but says he wants to find her body so he can lay her to rest.

The Sydney businessman was speaking after Bruce Burrell, 53, was jailed for life for
murdering and kidnapping 39-year-old Kerry Whelan more than nine years ago.

Mrs Whelan was last seen on May 6, 1997, at a hotel carpark in Parramatta, in Sydney's
west. Her body has never been found.

Burrell was sentenced today in the NSW Supreme Court to life imprisonment for murder
and 16 years for kidnapping. The penalties are to be served concurrently.

Mr Whelan said the sentencing had given some relief to him and his family but he wanted
his wife's body found so she could be properly laid to rest.

"It's been horrific, you can't put it in words, some of the things that happened, outside
this crime, the copycat things, the other things that have happened to my family as a
result of what Burrell did," Mr Whelan told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"We are satisfied with the judgment, however we would still like to lay her to rest.

"I'd like to remind everybody ... that there is still a substantial reward there for
information leading to the recovery of her remains."

Mr Whelan said the lengthy trial had been made even more difficult by a number of personal
accusations made against him by defence counsel during evidence.

"As you know they tried to smear my character and that hurt me a lot," Mr Whelan said.

"I'm 68 years of age and my integrity is very important to me and he mentioned that,
I was very pleased of that."

Mr Whelan today also praised the efforts of Detective Chief Inspector Dennis Bray,
who headed the investigation into the disappearance

"It was remarkable police work, Mark Tedeschi from the DPP made the comment that if
hadn't been for Dennis this criminal would not have been brought to justice," he said.

Burrell was found guilty in June by a a NSW Supreme Court.

AAP nr/klw/grc/sd

KEYWORD: BURRELL WHELAN (REISSUING)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.