Читать книгу Don't Ever Call Me Helpless - Ruth Wykes - Страница 7

Noelene Patterson lived with her mother in the beautiful riverside suburb of Bicton, near Fremantle. The 31-year-old woman was a former Ansett airline hostess who had worked for the airline for nine years. She then went to work for entrepreneur Alan Bond for two years on his private airline, and in 1986 was working at the Nedlands Golf Club.

Described by those who knew her as elegant, beautiful and popular, Noelene was driving home from work on Saturday 1 November 1986 when her car ran out of petrol. She was stuck on the Canning Highway in East Fremantle, not far from home.

The Birnies had been out hunting that night when they came across Noelene. As it happened they knew her and, according to some reports, had even been to her house to help with wallpapering. They pulled up alongside Noelene and offered to take her to the nearest service station. Relieved to see someone she knew, Noelene accepted the offer.

As soon as she got in the car a knife was held to her throat and Noelene was taken to the Birnies' Willagee home. Bound, gagged, raped and tortured, it had been the intention of the Birnies to kill Noelene that night and dispose of her body in Gleneagle.

But David Birnie developed an emotional attachment to Noelene and kept putting off her murder. He kept her alive for three days. Catherine, on the other hand, took an instant dislike to the beautiful Patterson. In part it was because she sensed David's attachment to Noelene and felt jealous. After three days Catherine had had more than enough. She held a knife to her own breast and delivered an ultimatum to her partner: 'Her or me - you choose!'

David Birnie gave Noelene Patterson a massive dose of sleeping pills and then strangled her while she slept. The couple then followed a familiar routine - they drove to Gleneagle where they dug a shallow grave and buried Noelene Patterson, but not before Catherine drew some personal satisfaction from throwing sand in the dead woman's face.