Lynne Mowbray|
The sentence hearing in the John Edwards murder case began in the Supreme Court, Coffs Harbour before Justice RA Hulme, on Monday.
John Wallace Edwards was found guilty on 22 November, 2019 of the murder of his estranged wife, Sharon Edwards.
During Monday’s sentence hearing the court heard the victim impact statements of both Josh Edwards (one of Sharon’s three sons) and Billy Mills (Sharon Edward’s partner).
Son Josh fought back tears as he described his mother’s beautiful attributes. “She was the best mother, who was kind and loving, with a legendary sense of humour. She was very accepting of everyone and loved by everyone. Her biggest passion was her family and friends. She also had a passion for tennis, travelling and her job as a teacher,” Josh said.
He went on to describe the impact that his mother’s murder has had on him.
“My mother was murdered by someone in this courtroom,” he said.
“The grief is so overwhelming. I lay awake in bed at night thinking about the things I’ll never be able to tell her and how much I miss her and love her.
“He stole from his grandchildren – their grandmother.
“Mums murder has shaken this community to the core,” he said.
“To the offender – You took a piece of me; of all of us.
“I’m here to give mum a voice and to see justice delivered,” he said.
Justice RA Hulme stood the sentence over until Wednesday morning, for sentence.
Sharon Edwards was last seen alive on Saturday 14 March, 2015, after arriving home at Riverdale Court, Grafton, following an evening out with friends at the Good Intent Hotel, South Grafton.
At the time of her disappearance, the 55-year-old mother, grandmother and dedicated local teacher, was reported to be ‘the happiest she’d ever been’.
Strike Force Burrow was established by the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command, to investigate her disappearance.
On 1 April 2015, police appealed to the public for more information regarding the disappearance of Mrs Edwards, with the police now treating the case as a homicide.
In June 2017, detectives from Queensland Police Services Homicide Squad arrested 60-year-old John Wallace Edwards at a home in Redcliffe, Queensland. He was extradited to NSW, where he was charged with murder.
The trial of John Edwards began in the NSW Supreme Court in Coffs Harbour on Monday, 28 October 2019 and ran for four weeks. On Friday, 22 November 2019, the jury delivered a guilty verdict.
Mrs Edward’s body has never been found.