Gold Coast man to be sentenced after driving wife to her death
A Gold Coast man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife after he drove their car into a river, killing her.
Edward Kenneth Lord is awaiting sentencing in the NSW Supreme Court over the death of his wife Michele in October 2015.
According to court documents, Lord had a loud argument with his wife before he drove their Nissan coupe into the Tweed River in northern NSW.
A week before the incident, Michele Lord went to police alleging her husband had attempted to drug her by putting a sleeping tablet in her wine. She said he did it so he could have sex with Siew Ping “Margaret” Fong, AAP reported.
Lord met Fong while she was working at a Thai massage parlour in Broadbeach. The 56-year-old concreter had been having an affair with Fong for months before he moved her into the couple’s home as a maid.
He told his wife considering her long working hours and breast cancer, Fong could stay in the home to help with housework.
Queensland Police did not investigate Michele’s claim any further, despite her providing evidence including a glass with white residue.
A week later, the couple was driving back from Byron Bay to their Bonogin home in the Gold Coast hinterland on October 18 after a day of shopping when they stopped at a car park off Tweed Valley Way.
A fisherman overheard the pair having an argument, with Lord telling his wife in an aggressive manner: “I’ve had f***ing enough of your s***.” Michele was heard saying: “Just take me home.”
A short time later, Lord veered the car off a road into the river. His wife died in hospital two days later after she was taken off life support due to non-survivable brain injuries.
Lord told the police at the time they were “driving along having a laugh” when “the front left wheel slipped on the verge”.
Justice Ian Harrison said in a Sydney courtroom Thursday that Lord had failed to accept responsibility or display any remorse.
Lord will be sentenced on February 21.
In Australia, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner on average.
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or abuse, you can contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.