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was unable to be heard by the jury. This included allegations that
Unumado had threatened to kill Yann, and Jeff Yann's claim that his mother had told her Unumadu had assaulted her by grabbing her around the throat. The prompted Yann's family to lobby the Victorian Government to quickly pass proposed
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The coroner was also told during the inquest that
Unumadu had manhandled and harassed Yann in the months leading up to her death. Pauline Yann told the inquest that while her mother once had a struggle with Unuamdu, she had never feared for her life. Yann's son Jeff Yann told the inquest that Unumadu
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in
Nigeria was contacted by Unumadu two months before Yann's murder. According to a witness, Yann had told her that Unumadu had handed her his mobile phone while driving and told her that his witch doctor was on the line. According to the witness, the witch doctor then told Yann that something
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In 2005, Yann's family issued a $ 100,000 reward in the hope the killer would be brought to justice. At that time, Detective Acting
Inspector Jeff Maher said the community should be outraged at Yann's murder considering her community work and the fact she didn't appear to have any enemies.
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spokesperson that the cold case was in the process of being reviewed "in line with current investigation practices and in light of changes to legislation." If new and compelling evidence is brought to light, a person could now be charged with the same crime a second time due to changes to
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who attended the murder scene said Yann had been repeatedly struck more than 20 times in a quick series of blows that had left a large amount of blood splattered throughout the loungeroom. When her body was found, the television was still on and the security door was unlocked.
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During the trial, police alleged
Unumadu killed Yann after she took her daughter's side after her marriage with Unumado broke down. A witness during the trial claimed Unumado had confessed to murdering Yann and boasted that the police had no evidence to prove that he did it.
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Yann's body was discovered in an armchair at her Juliet
Crescent home by her gardener at approximately 9:00 AM on 30 September 2003. Her last known contact with a family member was a telephone call with her daughter in Queensland at approximately 9:30pm on 29 September 2003.
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Yann's former son-in-law Joseph (James) Unumadu was charged with her murder in
February 2006 but was acquitted when he was found not guilty by a jury after a two-week Supreme Court trial in February 2008. He continues to maintain his innocence.
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Unumadu was then arrested and charged with Yann's murder on 8 February 2006 and remanded in custody. After
Unumadu's arrest, Yann's son Jeff Yann thanked the Victorian Homicide Squad for their "diligence" and "faith".
210:'s law school said that while there could be no guarantee, the proposed changed could have potentially enabled the jury to hear evidence of Unumadu's alleged assault on Yann and his alleged threats to kill Yann.
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225:, he is quoted as saying: "For years I was persecuted for a vile murder I did not commit... I spent two years of my life in remand, while the police and members of the family smeared my name. On
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In 2021, Yann's sister Deanne Green said she had always been "bewildered" by the fact that so much of "a very good case" had to be thrown out due to the inadmissibility of hearsay evidence.
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while his mother's murder remained unsolved. He said if his mother's murder investigation had been better funded, it may have led to an expeditious arrest of his mother's killer.
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revealed her death was caused by significant injuries to her upper body. Her murder took place just weeks before she was due to celebrate her 70th birthday in
November 2003.
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The murder remains unsolved. A $ 1 million reward is currently being offered to anyone who provides information which leads to a person being convicted of Yann's murder.
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that he would like to see Marea Yann's murder solved before he retires. Describing the murder as "solvable", Day said Yann's murder always comes back to him.
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In May 2023, Victoria Police announced a $ 1 million reward for anyone who provides information that leads to a person being convicted for Yann's murder.
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Yann's daughter Ronda
Chagoury said she hoped the proposed changes could spare other families from the "shocking" ordeal hers had gone through.
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Unumadu was a sheet metal worker who had migrated to Australia from Nigeria in 1976, marrying Yann's daughter Pauline five years later.
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in February 2006. During the inquest, it was revealed Victoria Police suspected her former son-in-law Joseph (James) Unumadu.
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Evidence pertaining to Unumadu using his witch doctor to allegedly intimidate Yann was banned by Justice
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Unumadu refused to give evidence during the inquest on the grounds that he might incriminate himself.
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229:, my name remains as the suspect. I am innocent and the police needed to look elsewhere but didn't."
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After five hours of deliberations, the Supreme Court jury found Unumadu not guilty of Yann's murder.
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376:"Victoria Police hope $ 1m reward could be the tipping point in helping solve the Marea Yann case"
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Yann's son Jeff Yann was critical of the way extensive resources had been deployed to resolve the
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518:"Million dollar reward offered for information over 2003 murder of Victorian mother-of-three"
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was an Australian nurse and charity shop worker who was murdered on 30 September 2003.
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715:"New Sky News documentary sheds light on final days of Marea Yann before her murder"
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on 17 May 2023, which would investigate the circumstances surrounding Yann's death.
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new laws regarding the admissibility of hearsay evidence during murder trials.
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Unumadu continues to maintain his innocence. In a newspaper article in
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had threatened his mother with a knife months before she was killed.
345:"Who killed Marea Yann? Police review unsolved 2003 murder case"
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In May 2023, it was announced a television documentary entitled
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Yann was known for her charity work. She volunteered at an
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and had helped reformed alcoholics and drug addicts.
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559:Lucas, Clay; Silvester, John (2 February 2006).
446:"Joseph Unumadu walks free in witch doctor case"
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658:"Heartbroken family backs hearsay rule change"
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305:"Death notice: YANN, Marea Bambina Alice"
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589:"$ 100,000 bid to find mum's killer"
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784:People murdered in Victoria (state)
622:"Son-in-law suspect in murder case"
343:Murray, David (11 September 2021).
198:Yann's family was frustrated that
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687:Wood, Renee (29 September 2021).
444:Hunt, Elissa (18 February 2008).
173:A two-week trial was held at the
141:The inquest was told a purported
689:"Police review cold case murder"
88:in 1995 after having moved from
53:retired nurse and charity worker
656:Oakes, Dan (27 February 2008).
516:Attanasio, Joe (16 May 2023).
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713:Wigney, James (13 May 2023).
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741:"Airdate: Who killed Marea?"
739:Knox, David (11 May 2023).
117:Melbourne gangland killings
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374:Kaila, Jon (15 May 2023).
133:Coroners Court of Victoria
779:Australian murder victims
774:2003 murders in Australia
175:Supreme Court of Victoria
693:Mountain Views Star Mail
60:Marea Bambina Alice Yann
794:Australian women nurses
208:University of Melbourne
271:Television documentary
34:Healesville, Victoria
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237:In September 2021,
42:Cause of death
285:Sky News Australia
177:in February 2008.
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799:Australian nurses
628:. 2 February 2006
595:. 24 October 2005
414:. 8 February 2003
277:Who killed Marea?
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746:TV Tonight
719:Herald Sun
451:Herald Sun
380:Herald Sun
291:References
186:Betty King
73:Background
23:Marea Yann
522:Nine News
667:15 March
626:ABC News
411:ABC News
45:Homicide
662:The Age
593:The Age
565:The Age
491:The Age
127:Inquest
110:autopsy
90:Acheron
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264:laws.
233:Review
227:Google
100:Murder
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