‘Sadistic’ teen found guilty of killing Joan Ryther and her unborn child
A teen criminal who was out on parole when he raped and killed pregnant woman Joan Ryther will spend at least 20 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty.
Ms Ryther was eight-weeks pregnant when she viciously attacked by Andrew Burke as she walked to work at McDonalds in Logan, near Brisbane on May 21, 2013.
In court on Monday, a jury found Burke guilty of the “cruel” and “sadistic” rape and murder of the 27-year-old newlywed.
Outside court Ms Ryther’s husband Cory said he had waited three years for justice.
“I am happy as hell, I’ve been waiting three years for that,” he said.
“The system works, I have faith.”
Burke was just 17 years old when he was captured on CCTV buying a screwdriver from a service station 15 minutes before Ms Ryther was murdered.
The 27-year-old was confronted by a drunk and armed Burke, who dragged her across the bitumen, stomped on her face and strangled her.
Police later interviewed Burke where he denied ever meeting the mother-to-be. A search of Burke’s girlfriend’s bin uncovered a bloodied bandage with Ms Ryther’s DNA and a black shoe he was wearing.
The court heard the now 21-year-old was a petty thief who left school at year nine. He was out on parole at the time of Ms Ryther’s death.
Justice Debra Mullins described Burke’s actions as “cruel” and “sadistic” before sentencing him to life for Ms Ryther’s murder.
He was jailed for 14 years for the 27-year-old’s rape and five years for killing Ms Ryther’s unborn child.
He must serve a minimum 20 years before being considered eligible for parole.
