Extraordinary court claims about how Sheree Glastonbury attempted to kill Geoffrey McLean with the help of ex-lovers before she allegedly succeeded
After orchestrating attacks using acid, petrol and a wood splitter, Sheree Glastonbury killed her partner with an insulin overdose before dismembering his body and dumping his torso in a bin, a court has heard.
Geoffrey McLean is the victim of a conspiracy involving two former Glastonbury lovers that ended with the 55-year-old’s death in August 2022, prosecutors told the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The first attack took place on April 10, 2022, prosecutor Mark Alessandrini said.
Glastonbury, 49, and Mr McLean were at home together when he heard the dogs barking at something in the front garden and went outside to investigate.
There he was confronted by Mark Murphy, a Glastonbury colleague of 10 years and sometimes intimate partner, armed with a sauce bottle, Mr Alessandrini said.
Geoffrey McLean (pictured) underwent a nine-hour operation on his skull and cheekbone following an attack by his partner’s ex-lover who attacked him with a wood splitter, the court heard
Mr McLean was sleeping in the living room when he was woken by something hard hitting the side of his face. Behind him stood Mark John Murphy (pictured), preparing to strike again, Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal heard
He squirted the bottle at Mr McLean and covered him in an acidic liquid that stung his eyes.
Three days later, Mr McLean was sleeping on the living room sofa when he was woken by something hard hitting the side of his face.
Behind him stood Murphy, armed with a wood splitter and ready to strike again, Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal heard.
Mr McLean deflected the second blow, shouting for Glastonbury to call the police, but she delayed giving the address to triple zero, Mr Alessandrini said.
Mr McLean was eventually taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he underwent a nine-hour operation to repair his fractured skull and cheekbone.
“Mobile phone records show that more than 100 calls and messages were made between Sheree Glastonbury and Mark Murphy on the day of the offence,” Alessandrini said.
A month later, Mr McLean went to get something for Glastonbury from the boot of her car when he was met by a man standing outside the front door holding a bucket of liquid.
A month after the first attempt on his life, another ex-Glastonbury lover threw a bucket of flammable liquid at Mr McLean (pictured) and set him on fire, the court heard.
Ultimately, Sheree Glastonbury (pictured) injected Mr McLean with a lethal dose of insulin on August 18, 2022, the prosecution alleged.
This man was Anthony Lloyd, another former Glastonbury lover.
“Without saying anything, the man threw the liquid at the victim,” Alessandrini said.
‘The victim felt burning in his face, shoulder and back. The man then pulled out a cigarette lighter and attempted to set the victim on fire.”
In the ensuing struggle, Mr McLean handed Glastonbury a phone and told her to call the police, but it was only after asking neighbors to call triple zero that police finally arrived.
Mr McLean suffered burns to his shoulder and back and required skin grafts.
Lloyd was jailed for five-and-a-half years in July after pleading guilty to the attack.
“He has made statements indicating that the attack was committed at the request and direction of Ms. Glastonbury,” the prosecutor said.
‘Glastonbury wanted the victim to be so seriously injured that he would suffer significant injuries so he would not be able to remain in the house.’
Finally, on August 18, after Mr McLean returned home from golf, the prosecution alleged that Glastonbury injected him with a lethal dose of insulin.
Murphy is said to have helped Glastonbury cut off Mr McLean’s arms, legs and head with a hacksaw. Mr McLean’s decomposing torso was found in a rubbish bin in October 2022 (pictured)
As details of her ex-partner’s alleged mutilation were read out to the court, Glastonbury (left) sobbed violently
Murphy is said to have helped Glastonbury drag Mr McLean’s body to the carport and cut off his arms, legs and head with a hacksaw.
As details of her ex-partner’s mutilation were read out to the court, Glastonbury, who appeared via audiovisual link, wept violently.
The pair then transported Mr McLean’s body to Murphy’s home and put the torso in his neighbour’s rubbish bin, Mr Alessandrini said.
Three days later they rented a truck and drove it to Cadell, 140 kilometers northeast of Adelaide.
“It is suspected that the purpose of this trip was to dispose of Geoffrey McLean’s body parts and evidence relating to the murder,” Alessandrini said.
The pair were reportedly captured by security cameras in the cab of the truck and Murphy then sent voice messages to Glastonbury asking for the truck to be returned.
‘Murderer, where’s the truck? Sheree Glastonbury, you’re a murderer, where’s the truck?’ he would have said.
Mr McLean’s decomposing torso was found in October 2022. The rest of his body has yet to be located.
Glastonbury and Murphy have yet to enter pleas to their charges, which include murder, attempted murder and aggravated assault.
She will appear in court again later in January to continue her bid for bail.
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