Man tells of dumping woman’s body from boat out at sea

Press, 31 March 1977, Page 3

Man tells of dumping woman’s body from boat out at sea

PA Auckland A man giving evidence during the taking of depositions on a charge of murder against John Weightman, aged 36, an airline ground steward, said yesterday that he had taken Mrs Weightman’s body out to sea in a boat and dumped it overhoard.

I Weightman is charged with ithe murder of his wife, I Sandra Anne Weightman, [aged 30, on November 4, 11974. : The hearing is before Mr H. Y. Gilliand. S.M. Mr X said he had left New Zealand in early December, 1974, and returned to Sydney because of events which had occurred between Weightman and himself. On his return to Australia, he surrendered to the police and was put on a four-year good-behaviour bond “for a minor matter.” Mr X said he had owned a 17ft boat powered by a 40 h.p. motor and had several times borrowed a tarpaulin from Weightman to cover the front of the boat. The tarpaulin was about 12ft by 14ft and had several letters, something like N.Z.F.8., printed on it. He said Weightman’s brother-in-law got him a length of chain from work to use on the anchor for the boat. The chain was too heavy, and it was kept, in Weightman’s garage near the canvas.

The accused, he said, had the use of his boat and often had it late at night.

“He said he was working ‘hot at sea’,” said witness. “There is only one thing you use a boat for late at night if you’re not fishing and that’s smuggling.” Weightman had asked witness if he could buy the boat in late September. Witness took the boat to the home of Weightman’s sister in Browns Bay and gave the boat papers to Weightman. Weightman said he would settle the money on November -1.

Mr X said he saw Mrs Weightman the week before she disappeared. She was walking along the road and appeared to be crying.

Late in the week before November 4, witness picked up the boat from Browns Bay to work on it at his home. The accused told him it was going to be used late on Sunday night or early Monday morning.

“I understood he wanted to meet a ship at sea.” witness ;said.

Weightman asked him to arranged for a sick day (for the accused) at work, which witness did on Sunday. On November 4, he was to take the boat to Takapuna for a warrant of fitness and then take it to Browns Bay. A few minutes before 5 a.m., witness was woken by Weightman at the front door. “He was in. a terrible condition,” he said. “His face was covered in blood. His shirt was badly stained.” The accused had asked if he could come in and clean up. Weightman had asked for something to wear, and witness gave him a shirt. When asked what he had been hit with. Weightman had said he had been “done over.”

Mr X said that as Weightman was leaving, he had said he had thrown a bit of “hot gear” into the boat.

“He asked if I could dump it when I took the boat out for a test run,” witness said.

Mr X said Weightman left in his Triumph 2000 at a fast [Pace, with the lights out. He 'had been at the house about 15 minutes. Witness took the boat to the Takapuna boat ramp and launched it. When he got in the boat, he saw a fairlv large object in it. He looked close up and saw a pair of legs protruding from a green tar-’ paulin. “At this stage, 1 got a hell of a shock to realise I had a body instead of stolen goods on board,” witness said. The tarpaulin was wrapped

in chains similar to those at Weightman’s home. “I uncovered the part where I thought the head should be,” said witness. “At first it was hard to recognise who or what it was. When I discovered it was Sandra Weightman, I felt for the pulse in her neck and there was none.

“She was covered in blood and hard to recognise. The front part of her head seemed Ito be caved in.

“I went into a mad panic. I sat there for a few minutes trying to think what to do. My past caught up to me and I realised the tiling to do was to call the police. “Then I realised I would be questioned and my past in Australia would be revealed, and I would be deported.” Mr X said he headed for sea. He arrived at an island, and as he got level with a rocky outcrop adjacent to a lighthouse, realised he was low on petrol. It was broad daylight, and he put the body over the side of the boat. He also dumped a small brown suitcase which had several items in it. including a floral nightgown, a tweed suit, and a purse. He had trouble getting the: weighted body over the side! of the boat. It was very heavy, and he had to lift it in’ two stages.

, He headed straight back to ! Takapuna, keeping close to ithe shore. It had taken two ! hours to get out to the spot, but coming back he had the iwind behind him. I Witness said he went to (Takapuna for the warrant of !fitness and then took the I boat to the home of ac- ■ cused’s sister, in Browns Bay. When he got home about lunchtime, his wife j told him: “Johnny Weightman has been locked up.”

: His wife told him Sandra !Weightman was missing and : the police thought the accused had killed her.

Mr X said that the police questioned him on November 6 and asked him several things about the boat, but

not whether he was involved.

“The main reason I didn’t tell the police then was because of my wife and daugh-1 ter and that I was wanted by the Sydney police on a matter 1 thought was : serious,” witness said. ■; Mr X said that early this (year he came to New Zealand and spoke to the police. •sHe took them out in a boat I land indicated as best he I could the spot where the I body was dumped. :! He said he had been granted immunity from pros- ! ecution for his part in disposing of the body.

Cross-examined by Mr K. ; Ryan for the defence, Mr X said he had a long criminal record in Australia, mainly for burglary and stealing and also for carrying an unlicensed pistol. He was at present on a good behaviour bond for larceny of $3OOO. He had taken the $3OOO, but he had hear $17,000 was missing and he thought' he would be blamed. After he left Australia, it was disclosed that that amount was not missing. Mr X agreed he had writiten to Mr Ryan asking for I the $B5O he was owed for Ithe sale of his boat, but he [had not made any threats as Ito what would happen if he did not get the money. He [had also written to the accused personally. He had not (received a reply to either 'letter.

Mr X agreed he was a prohibited immigrant to New Zealand. He had not, he said, been told he could stay in New Zealand by giving evidence. He could make the same application to stay here as any prohibited immigrant could. He had not received any money from the police.

Mr X said: “My con-i [science told me I v/as inj I trouble as early as November 4, 1974. 1 have been dis- i gusted with myself for being [ involved in this.” He said the $B5O was his! second consideration.