Murder of Michelle Bright

Michelle Bright
Born	Michelle Loraine Bright (1981-06-02)2 June 1981 New South Wales, Australia
Died	2 February 1999(1999-02-02) (aged 17) Gulgong, New South Wales
Cause of death	Undetermined. Homicide
Body discovered	5 February 1999
Resting place	Gulgong General Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia 32°22′32″S149°31′52″E / 32.37554°S 149.53111°E / -32.37554; 149.53111 (approximate)
Occupation	Student

Michelle Bright was a 17-year-old girl who was found raped and murdered in New South Wales, Australia.

Last known sighting

Michelle Bright was last seen at 12:45 am on 2 February 1999 by a friend who dropped her off in Mayne Street, Gulgong following a friend's 15th birthday party that day. ^[1] The Minister for Police, Michael Daley, announced that the NSW Government was offering a reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Bright, which at the time was the highest reward offered in NSW (the current highest being the reward offered for the recovery of William Tyrrell). ^[2] The police regarded Bright's death as a horrific crime. ^[3]

Arrest of suspect

On 10 August 2020, the reward was raised to $1,000,000. ^[4] The following day, 53-year-old Craig Henry Rumsby, a former neighbour of Bright's, was arrested for her murder, as well as an additional charge of assault with intent to rape; committed in 1998 against an 18-year old. ^[5]

Trial by jury

On 30 June 2023, Rumsby was found guilty of Bright's murder and the assault on the 18-year-old. ^{[6] [7]}

On 7 August 2023, Justice Robert Allan Hulme sentenced Rumsby to 32 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 24 years: Rumsby will be eligible for parole in 2044, at the age of 77.

References

1. "Who killed Michelle? A family needs closure". Tim Barlass, The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 March 2014.
2. O’Neill, Marnie (25 February 2017). "Aussie mother begs daughter's killer to break 18-year silence and turn himself in". News.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
3. "Reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Michelle Bright". NSW Government of Australia.
4. Austin, Madeline (3 June 2022). "Man to face trial over 1999 murder of Michelle Bright in Central West". ABC News. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
5. Emma Partridge and Mary Ward (12 August 2020). "Former neighbour charged with murder over Michelle Bright's murder". The Sydney Morning Herald.
6. "Craig Rumsby found guilty of murdering teenager Michelle Bright more than two decades after her death". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 30 June 2023. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 30 June 2023.
7. Marlan, Zaarkacha (30 June 2023). "Michelle Bright, 17, was murdered in 1999. On Friday a jury found Craig Rumsby guilty of killing her and dumping her body". ABC News. Retrieved 30 June 2023.