Gayle Woodford's killer Dudley Davey to spend 32 years behind bars

from ABC News

By Rebecca Opie and Nicola Gage

Gayle Woodford

Dudley Davey has been sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 32 years for the murder of outback nurse Gayle Woodford in South Australia's APY Lands.

The 56-year-old's body was found in a shallow grave near the town of Fregon in March last year.

Davey, 35, pleaded guilty to the murder and rape of Ms Woodford and to stealing her ambulance.

Dudley Davey

Prosecutor Ian Press previously told the court Davey had a history of violent assaults against women, and that they had increased in severity over the years.

He said "the obvious motive" of the murder was to cover up the rape.

The court previously heard Davey had abused alcohol, cannabis and petrol sniffing, and was high on methylamphetamine — or ice — when he attacked Ms Woodford.

Justice Ann Vanstone said applying a discount of 30 per cent to his sentence for his early guilty plea to murder would be inappropriate and disproportionate to the seriousness of the offending.

"She was chosen by you as an easy target, vulnerable because of her empathy for your community," she said.

For the crimes of rape and theft of the ambulance, Justice Vanstone imposed a sentence of eight years and two months.

"Even the theft is a serious offence; you targeted the vehicle which was earmarked with helping the weakest and most needy members of your community," she said.

"You took it from them and in the saddest irony and used it to facilitate rape and murder."

Ms Woodford was the nurse on call for the Fregon clinic on the night of her murder.

The court heard Ms Woodford had a security cage around her verandah for added protection.

The Nganampa Health Service ambulance was parked outside her home and the outside light was on to indicate she was on call.

She went to bed that night with her husband and when he woke up in the morning she was gone.

The court heard exactly what Davey said to lure Ms Woodford from the safety of her home would never be known, but there was some inference that he made a false claim about his grandmother requiring medical assistance.

"You must have tricked her into opening the security cage," Justice Vanstone said.

"She would not have left willingly with you, dressed as she was [in her pyjamas] and without her nurses bag or even her house keys.

"I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that you must have immediately overpowered her."

When Ms Woodford's body was found and Davey confessed to her murder he told police "Sorry, I hit the wrong spot," and pointed to the side of his head.

When asked during an interview with a psychologist why he killed Ms Woodford he said he had "a bad head from ice".

Davey showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down.

Outside the courtroom, members of Ms Woodford's family wailed and sobbed.

Her husband, Keith Woodford, said Davey should never be released from prison.

"We will always mourn Gayle but so many people have helped us to cope with her tragic and senseless death," he said.

"I wish to express a heartfelt thanks to the police involved in this case, especially to Major Crime officers.

"Without the loving care of my children and our extended family and friends, I would not be here today."

Woodford family push for 'Gayle's Law'

Ms Woodford's death sparked debate about the dangers of nurses working in remote areas.

A petition called "Gayle's Law" was created to abolish single-nurse postings.  Mr Woodford said he would devote the rest of his life to supporting the welfare of remote area nurses.

"I want every nurse to feel like when they go to work, they can go to work without fear of being raped, murdered, beaten," he said.

The petition also called for a minimum of two people to answer after-hours call outs, so nurses would not be alone.

"We must act to adequately protect nurses and medical staff to ensure the crime that took Gayle away from us never be allowed to happen again," Mr Woodford said.

Mr Woodford also thanked the "good people" of Fregon in the APY Lands, to whom his wife was devoted to.

"I want every nurse to feel like when they go to work, they can go to work without fear of being raped, murdered, beaten," he said.

The petition also called for a minimum of two people to answer after-hours call outs, so nurses would not be alone.

"We must act to adequately protect nurses and medical staff to ensure the crime that took Gayle away from us never be allowed to happen again," Mr Woodford said.

Mr Woodford also thanked the "good people" of Fregon in the APY Lands, to whom his wife was devoted to.