Ashley Coulston

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Ashley Mervyn Coulston

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conviction = Murder x 3 Robbery False imprisonment x2 Reckless conduct endangering life x 2
penalty = Life imprisonment 30 year non-parole period
status = Imprisoned
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Ashley Mervyn Coulston is an Australian sailor and triple murderer, currently serving life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 30 years for the 1992 murders of three people in Burwood, Victoria and the attempted abduction and robbery of a couple in St Kilda Road several months later.

It would be the abduction attempt that would lead police to his involvement in the triple murders which had previously remained unsolved.

Trans-Tasman voyages

In 1988, Coulson came to media attention when he attempted to sail his custom built 8 foot vessel which he named "G'Day 88" from Australia to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea.

On January 26, 1988, Coulston left Port Stephens in "G'Day 88", a vessel he designed and built himself [http://www.geocities.com/aerohydro/microyachts/gday88.htm G'day 88] , "Microyachts in the Tasman"] however he ran into troubles and on March 12th, 2008, activated his vessels emergency beacon.

He was rescued by a passing tanker just north of New Zealand's North Island after spending 46 days at sea in stormy weather. The remains of his vessel washed up on the New Zealand shore several months later [http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23494549-952,00.html Balaclava Killer case reopened] , Courier Mail, April 7, 2008] .

On October 25, 1988, Coulston attempted his voyage once again sailing from New Zealand to Australia, successfully arriving in Brisbane on January 6, 1989.

Triple murder

On July 29, 1992 [http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Court-told-to-speed-up-murder-trial/2006/11/14/1163266538719.html R v Ashley Mervyn Coulston VSC 97] , Supreme Court of Victoria, April 12, 1995] , a group of students had advertised for a tenant to share their home in the Herald Sun newspaper as one of them had decided to leave the premises and return home to live with their parents. Coulston visited the students at their home and upon arriving at the apartment, shot all three, killing them. No motive has ever been offered for the killings.

Kerryn Henstridge, Anne Smerdon, both 22, and Peter Dempsey, 27, a relative of one of the women were forced into separate rooms and tied using cable ties. Coulston then proceeded to shoot them once to the head killing them .

Attempted abduction

On September 1, 1992, Coulston armed himself with the same weapon used to commit the earlier murders and some cable ties, then drove to St Kilda Road and parked his car nearby to the National Gallery of Victoria .

He then approached a couple and attempted to abduct them. The couple offered Coulston their money, which he took. He then proceeded to restrain the couple using the cable ties. Whilst attempting to restrain one he was overpowered by the other allowing the couple to escape and raise the alarm with nearby security guards .

The security guards gave chase however Coulston fired at the guards, hitting one in the hip . Coulston was eventually arrested by police at the scene and taken into custody. The gun used in the abduction attempt would later link Coulston to the triple murders in Burwoord several months earlier .

Balaclava Killer suspect

Coulston is a suspect in the case of the "Balaclava Killer" who stalked, raped and killed victims in Queensland over a 10 month period during 1979 and 1980. The killings stopped abruptly in 1980, coinciding with the time Coulston left the area and moved to Melbourne. Coulston also shares a rare blood type with the person believed to be responsible for the crimes [http://www.tweednews.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3768916 Masked murderer and rapist may be revealed] , "Tweed Daily News", April 8, 2008] .

References

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