Amanda Kelly

Case record: Amanda Kelly

Other details

Amanda Kelly was sentenced to life in prison with a 14-year minimum on December 9, 2013.

Amanda Jane Kelly (described as Lee's girlfriend at the time) participated in the murder of David Houston.

David Houston was a 24-year-old man. He was killed in a drug-fuelled attack at the South Fremantle house of Walker's family after he joined Lee and Kelly in a drugs binge.

The court heard that, after consuming cannabis, Walker offered to buy methamphetamine for the trio, and returned to the house with Houston, whom he'd known for a few weeks.

After Walker told Kelly he was gearing up to kill Mr Houston, she disappeared into the bathroom with Lee to have sex in the shower, returning to see Walker with a ligature around the victim's neck.

Lee then hit Mr Houston in the face as Walker continued to choke him. The pair dragged the man to the shower, then Lee repeatedly kicked him in the chest.

Walker wrapped the victim's body in a barbecue cover and then drove the corpse in a Bunnings ute to the remote site where it was buried, along with quantities of acid and building materials. The body was covered in acid, lime and concrete.

Police traced the burial site through the GPS unit in the hired vehicle, and the pair were arrested.

A shallow grave near Bunbury was mentioned, along with a shallow grave near Binningup, 130km south of Perth, where the battered body was found on June 2. The homicide was also described as having occurred on May 12 at the South Fremantle house of Walker's family.

Kelly had previously pleaded guilty to murder, and her sentencing was deferred pending the WA Supreme Court's consideration of appeals relating to the sentences for Sam Walker and Jonathan Lee.

At sentencing proceedings, Kelly sat in the dock shaking her leg and crying. Her family, including her father and sisters, were also in court.

Defence lawyer Simon Freitag said he would argue that Kelly should not be given a life sentence, and said he would argue that Kelly's role was very different to Walker and Lee. He said: "She is very much a minor player," and "She is in a manifestly different category from them."

Justice Michael Corboy said: "this was a particularly horrific crime." He accepted that Kelly played a lesser role than her two co-offenders, that she was remorseful, and that she had endured years of psychological problems. He ruled that a life sentence with a 14-year minimum was appropriate, and said she made no attempt to help Mr Houston or call the police.

The appeal judges described the murder as "gratuitous, irrational violence." They said: "The killing of the deceased was intentional, unprovoked, ferocious and sustained, and merciless in its execution."

Kelly's first eligible release date was stated as in 2026 due to time already served. Kelly's sentencing was delayed because of the appeal.

The Supreme Court was told that David Houston was strangled, kicked and stomped on in a drug-fuelled murder. The court was told the two men were under the influence of meth and cannabis when Walker announced he was going to kill the visitor. It was also told that Walker used a piece of cord to strangle Mr Houston, while Lee punched, kicked and stomped on him.

In a letter to the judge, Jonathan Lee said he continued to ask himself how he could have done what he did, but said he will never know. Walker's lawyer said Walker believed in his own distorted mind that he was protecting Mr Houston's pregnant girlfriend.

Timeline

• June 2 — David Houston's battered body was found in a shallow grave near Binningup, 130km south of Perth.
• May 12 — David Houston was killed at the South Fremantle house of Walker's family, after he had joined Lee and Kelly in a drugs binge.
• December 5, 2012 — The Supreme Court was told details of the strangling, kicking and stomping in the drug-fuelled murder at a house in South Fremantle; the two men were remanded in custody and faced life jail terms when sentenced later that month.
• January 30, 2013 — Amanda Jane Kelly pleaded guilty to the charge of murder at Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court; sentencing was set for April 5.
• April 5, 2013 — Amanda Jane Kelly's sentencing was delayed after the WA Supreme Court heard state prosecutors were appealing the leniency of the sentences for Lee and Walker.
• July 19 — Kelly was due to reappear in court.
• December 9, 2013 — Kelly was sentenced to life with a 14-year minimum.
• 2026 — Kelly's first eligible release date was stated as in 2026.