Top of page
Misc

Man jailed over cold-case murder of disability pensioner in South Australia

Hands of the prisoner

A South Australian man has been jailed for life after he murdered a disability pensioner, whose payments were siphoned for several years after his death.

The 31-year-old killer, who cannot be named because he was 16 at the time, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to murdering Martin Meffert at Terowie, in the state’s mid-north, sometime between February and October 2005. Justice David Peek on Monday sentenced him to life behind bars, but the court is yet to set a non-parole period.

“This man is obviously going to be in jail for a very substantial period of time,” Justice Peek said.

Mr Meffert was last seen in February 2005, when he boarded a bus to travel from Adelaide to Terowie.

Police believe the 23-year-old may have lived in the town for as little as a few days or for as long as a few months. He had been living on a disability pension and between 2005 and 2013 about $130,000 was siphoned from his account at ATMs in the mid-north. Justice Peek ordered a pre-sentence report and remanded the man in custody to reappear before the court in March.

You might also like

Young female caregiver helping a senior man in a wheelchair in a nursing home at night smiling Young female caregiver helping a senior man in a wheelchair in a nursing home at night smiling

HHS announces new rule to bolster disability protections under Federal law

The US Department of Health and Human Services unveiled a…

man in a wheelchair at a pedestrian crossing man in a wheelchair at a pedestrian crossing

EU Commission to introduce Disability and Parking Card

The European Commission delivered a legislative proposal that will facilitate access to…

Rear view of person with blindness disability using computer keyboard and braille display Rear view of person with blindness disability using computer keyboard and braille display

People with vision disabilities demand e-voting in Switzerland

The Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (SBV)…

woman in wheelchair talking with colleageues during a break woman in wheelchair talking with colleageues during a break

UK unveils plans to boost employment for people with disabilities

People with disabilities and those with health conditions, who have…