Bio

Jeremy George Edward McLaughlin was born in 1978 in New Zealand. By his teenage years, McLaughlin had already become involved in serious criminal activity. At the age of 17, he was living in Perth, Western Australia, where he associated with other youths involved in violent behavior.

In November 1995, he participated in a violent attack that resulted in the death of a teenage boy. Despite the severity of the incident, he was later convicted of manslaughter rather than murder.

After serving part of his sentence, McLaughlin was deported back to New Zealand in 2001. Authorities in New Zealand were informed of his prior conviction.

Murder Story

On November 17, 1995, Jeremy George Edward McLaughlin, then a teenager, took part in a violent robbery in Perth, Western Australia. During the attack, two boys, Phillip Vidot (14) and Tyron Williams, were assaulted. Both victims were struck repeatedly with a cricket bat, and then run over with a vehicle. Phillip Vidot died from his injuries hours later, while Tyron Williams survived but suffered serious, long-term brain damage. McLaughlin later admitted to using the cricket bat. In 1996, he was convicted of manslaughter and grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

After serving part of his sentence, McLaughlin was deported to New Zealand. Years later, on November 10, 2011, he committed a second fatal crime in Christchurch. He entered the home of a former partner to carry out a burglary. Inside the house was Jade Bayliss (13), who was home sick from school. During the burglary, Jade encountered him and was killed by ligature strangulation. Evidence presented at trial showed signs of a struggle, including injuries and the presence of McLaughlin’s DNA beneath her fingernails.

After the killing, McLaughlin poured petrol through the house and set it on fire in an attempt to conceal the crime. He then left the scene and was later observed selling items taken during the burglary.

He was arrested shortly afterward. McLaughlin admitted to the burglary and arson, but denied the murder. During the trial, prosecutors presented forensic and circumstantial evidence linking him to the killing. In April 2013, a jury found him guilty of murder. On October 9, 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 23 years.