David's sister was murdered after she was gang-raped in a despicable crime that ... trends now
WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT
Every day for the last 36 years, David Balding's life has been consumed by his 20-year-old sister's death.
He was just 10 years old when his father told him 'Your sister has been murdered...'
Janine Balding was abducted from Southerland railway station carpark in Sydney's south by a by a pack of homeless youths while she was on her way home from work in 1988.
For the rest of his life, Mr Balding has found comfort in knowing her killers are behind bars, but now that could all change.
Earlier this month, lawyer and former politician Peter Breen pushed for an inquiry into Stephen 'Shorty' Jamieson, who was convicted in 1990 for raping and killing Ms Balding.
Mr Balding has found comfort in knowing her killers are behind bars, but now that could all change
The judge declared that he, along with the others directly involved, should 'never be released' but Jamieson sought a suite of orders in proceedings against the state Attorney-General at a recent hearing in Sydney's Supreme Court.
His longtime supporter Mr Breen told the court that another man nicknamed 'Shorty' was known in the area at the time and wore a bandana similar to the one found at the crime scene.
It is understood that Mr Breen is arguing DNA testing from this bandana might cast doubt over his client's convictions.
The Attorney-General's written submissions are due May 8 in response to Jamieson's application for an inquiry.
The matter will return to court on May 13.
Mr Balding is angry and upset that these claims are being brought up again after all these years.
'This is hard to deal with again and again, but someone has to be a voice for Janine and that person is me,' he told news.com.au.
'The sentencing Judge said life recommended, never to be released, and that is exactly how it should be.'
Mr Balding believes the bandana claim is irrelevant, saying multiple witnesses agreed that Jamieson was the right person.
Wayne Wilmot, 51, who was present on the night but did not physically participate in the crime, was given a lighter sentence.
The 'serial sex offender' is housed at Long Bay Correctional Complex in maximum security, serving sentences for sexual assault and kidnap, unrelated to Ms Balding's case.
He has spent three decades behind bars, with the exception of 20 months in the late 1990's where committed multiple violent assaults and sexual offences against women.
Wilmot remained in custody under continuing detention orders but he is will be released in just a matter of weeks under an interim supervision order which was handed down by NSW Supreme Court Justice Helen Wilson.
He was deemed by the judge to have 'psychopathic personality traits, with no concern or empathy for others and continued to deny or minimise his disturbing history of sexual offences', in an assessment report conducted by a psychologist from the high-risk offender's team in November 2023
The exact date of his release and the location of his accommodation cannot be released due to an order of the court.
'Why don't we get a Sheila and rape her?' are the chilling nine words which were uttered the night Ms Balding (pictured) was murdered
