Perth Psychologist Luke D. Fawcett Jailed 34 Years for Double Murder

February 11, 2022

A Perth psychologist who murdered his neighbour in a pre-meditated, frenzied attack and then killed her brother when he came to check on her has received one of the longest minimum jail terms ever handed out in Western Australia.

Luke David Fawcett, 29, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a 34-year-minimum for what prosecutor Justin Whalley SC described as the "brutal," "merciless," and "terrifying" murders of 66-year-old Marie Collins on Easter Saturday in 2020 and her brother, Wayne Johnson, 62, the next day.

(Psychcrime note: Per his LinkedIn profile, Fawcett earned a BA in Psychology from University of Western Australia in 2016 and a Graduate diploma in psychology from Murdoch University. He was employed as a mental health worker.)

Ms. Collins was repeatedly stabbed and her body left in the entrance of her apartment wrapped in a blue tarpaulin.

When her family could not contact her on Easter Sunday, Mr. Johnson went to the apartment, where he also was attacked and fatally stabbed.

In his submissions, Mr. Whalley said as Ms. Collins's body lay on the floor, Fawcett "made himself at home" in her apartment, describing his actions as "callous indifference of the highest order".

"[It shows] a level of depravity that defies adequate description," Mr. Whalley told the court.

A selfie of a young man wearing graduation garments.

Justice has been served: Family

Outside the court, the victims' sister Helen Batina, who discovered their bodies, read a statement on behalf of the family saying justice had been served.

"But it hasn't brought back the two people we've lost, nor will it erase the pain and suffering so many of us have suffered since the Easter weekend of 2020," Ms. Batina said.

She said the family had been living its "worst nightmare for 22 months, and it will continue forevermore."

"As we still remain without answers or a reason why, we'd like to thank the [Department of Public Prosecution] … and the WA Police … and the many experts who worked tirelessly to ensure no stone was left unturned, ensuring justice for both Marie and Wayne.

"The empty seats at our table will always be a constant reminder of the absence at our family gatherings."

"… The void left by Marie and Wayne will never be filled but we will endeavour to move on with our lives and honour them by walking in love, compassion and faith."

The trail that led to Fawcett

Following the murders, the usually immaculate apartment was covered in blood and there were items including knives, latex gloves, bottles of beer, and a distinctive smoothie drink strewn about the place.

Police found two sets of handcuffs and a taser that had Ms. Collins's DNA on the probe and Fawcett's DNA on the handle and trigger.

Fawcett was arrested later that day after a police officer looked through the window of his car, which was parked at the apartment block, and saw a receipt from a hardware store that included the purchase of a blue tarpaulin.

Bottles including two smoothie bottles on a table.

He was in hospital where he had been taken by his grandmother after claiming he had injured his shoulder when he fell down some stairs while holding a knife.

His mobile phone was seized and on it was a video believed to have been recorded two weeks earlier, in which he was wearing a black suit and mask and holding a knife in one hand and a taser in the other.

Video was a 'rehearsal' for attack

The video was described by Mr. Whalley as "a rehearsal video" for the attack on Ms. Collins and in it he was heard saying, "we can do this the easy way or the hard way."

"If it's the hard way, you will be severely caught and I will eventually kill you."

Other evidence found on his telephone included a screenshot of a map, which led police to a forest about 200 kilometres south of Perth, where they found a partially dug grave, a shovel and a black bag containing the same smoothie containers as those found in Ms. Collins's apartment.

Two handwritten notes were found in his car, which were described in the Supreme Court as "to-do lists."

One of them was entitled "equipment" and included items such as "quiet shoes," "baseball bat," and "cable ties."

The other was called "interrogation" and talked about “pummeling,” “pepper spray to the eyes” and “potential locations.”

Killing may have been part of “fantasy”

While Mr. Whalley submitted it was not known exactly why Fawcett killed Ms. Collins, it may be been part of "a fantasy" to make her disappear, access her bank accounts and take over her beautifully renovated apartment.

Fawcett denied he was responsible for Ms. Collins' death, claiming an unknown male, who also assaulted him, was the real killer.

He did admit stabbing Mr. Johnson, but claimed he had acted in self-defence, because Mr. Johnson had attacked him after assuming he was responsible for Ms. Collins' death.

He testified the so called "rehearsal video" was actually an audition for a couple who had posted online they wanted to do "home invasion role playing" while the "to do lists" were related to video games he played.

Victims' families 'shattered': Judge

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Jennifer Smith said while she accepted that Fawcett had plotted Ms. Collins' murder the week before, she was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt the so-called rehearsal video and to-do lists had formed part of his plan.

Justice Smith described Fawcett's evidence at his trial as "a litany of lies."

She said victim impact statements from the victims' family members revealed they had been left heartbroken and shattered.

She said they were both much loved and had lived good, faithful lives.

Fawcett 'was a lovely child': Grandparents

Fawcett's grandparents, Heather and Phillip Rogers, also attended the sentencing.

Mrs. Rogers said they were devastated by what had happened, but they were still supporting Fawcett because he was family.

"He was a lovely child, but he became more and more troubled as he got older," she said.

"We were out of touch with him for two years prior to the murders, and we had no idea where he was or what he was doing...we were all terribly, terribly shocked.

"But we just to have to deal with it, and we will."

"We are a family who believe that you love your family regardless, and we do love Luke and we always will.

"What he has done is just unbelievable, none of it can understand it."

Jail term one of longest in WA's history

The jury deliberated for only a few hours in September last year before convicting Fawcett of both murders.

The 34-year-minimum term is one of the longest ever imposed in Western Australia.

Source: Joanna Menagh, “Luke Fawcett gets life sentence for murder of Marie Collins and Wayne Johnson in Victoria Park,” ABC News, Feb. 3, 2022, URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-04/luke-fawcett-life-sentence-murder-of-marie-collins-wayne-johnson/100803894  

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