Inquest into the death of Sandra Lee Cawthorne
Deceased
Sandra Lee Cawthorne
Demographics
29y, female
Date of death
2004-04-12
Finding date
2023-09-15
Cause of death
Multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest, resulting in severe brain injury and haemorrhage into the chest cavities
AI-generated summary
Sandra Cawthorne, aged 29, was fatally shot on 12 April 2004 in Arndell Park, Sydney. She sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest, and was five months pregnant. Despite a thorough 19-year police investigation involving hundreds of witness statements, forensic analysis, DNA testing, ballistics examination, and CCTV review, the perpetrator(s) remained unidentified. The investigation focused on a stolen red tipper truck used around the time of the shooting and a .45 calibre Colt pistol stolen in 1999. This is a criminal homicide case, not a medical or healthcare matter, therefore no clinical lessons or preventability assessment applies.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Coroner's recommendations
- That the investigation into the murder of Sandra Lee Cawthorne be referred to the Unsolved Homicide Squad.
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