User:Jodon1971/Death of Lisa Harnum

Lisa Cecilia Harnum was a Canadian former ballerina who died after falling from a 15th floor balcony of an apartment opposite Hyde Park, Sydney, on the morning of July 30, 2011. On November 27, 2013, her former fiancé, Simon Gittany, was convicted of murdering her by throwing her from the balcony. He was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years with a maximum of 26 years. Gittany's defense team and conflicting reports suggested the possibility that her death was a suicide. The case attracted public attention for highlighting the dangers of domestic abuse.

video footage
New videos submitted to the NSW Supreme Court during the trial showed Gittany's role in Harnum's death.

Simon Gittany was in jail when he asked his brother to remove an external hard drive from the ceiling of a Sydney unit. He told the NSW Supreme Court he asked his brother to remove the hard drive because he did not trust the police.

Claims of suicide
Gittany maintained he tried to save Harnum when she fell from an awning in front of a balcony but the prosecution argued he unloaded Ms Harnum. Gittany’s defence team described his former fiancée’s behaviour as “schizophrenic” before she fell to her death from their inner Sydney apartment. Defence barrister Phillip Strickland QC reiterated evidence given earlier in the trial about Harnum suffering from anorexia nervosa, telling the court those with the condition have a tendency towards impulsive behaviour and to experience greater stress from interpersonal conflict.

Criticism and response
Justice McCallum noted that the trial had “attracted an unprecedented amount of public attention”. The case has been seen as vehicle for retaliation against domestic abuse.

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tabloid sources

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/14/security-camera-caught-canadian-ballerina-being-dragged-to-her-death-by-jealous-fiance-prosecution-alleges-at-murder-trial/

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/11/17/09/18/lisa-s-final-hours-played-in-court http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australians-all-want-to-know-how-did-lisa-harnum-die-8944587.html http://www.theage.com.au/comment/simon-gittanys-smile-fades-as-judge-lists-litany-of-lies-20131127-2yaa6.html http://news.sky.com/story/1209685/simon-gittany-jailed-over-high-rise-murder http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/judge-likely-to-discount-stunning-new-evidence-when-sentencing-convicted-balcony-killer-simon-gittany-for-the-murder-of-lisa-harnum/story-fni0cx12-1226818310726 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/judge-delivering-verdict-in-simon-gittany-murder-trial/5119532 http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2080152/simon-gittany-jailed-for-26-years-for-killing-lisa-harnum/ http://www.canberratimes.com.au/nsw/lisa-harnums-death-was-not-suicide-crown-tells-simon-gittany-trial-20131114-2xiaf.html

non-tabloid sources

http://angelwhite2013.tumblr.com/post/64763876507/abuse-victim-lisa-harnum-lisa-harnums

http://aussiecriminals.com.au/2014/02/05/simon-gittany-sentence-hearing-over-murder-of-lisa-harnum/

forums

http://websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=227480&page=36