Mosman bomb hoax
Date3 August 2011 (2011-08-03)
LocationMosman, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates33°50′30″S 151°14′51″E / 33.8417°S 151.2474°E / -33.8417; 151.2474
CauseSuspected collar bomb
SuspectsPaul Douglas Peters
ChargesAggravated break and enter, detaining for advantage
VerdictGuilty
Convictions13.5 years (minimum 10 years)

The Mosman bomb hoax took place in the Lower North Shore Sydney suburb of Mosman, New South Wales, Australia on 3 August 2011. An apparent collar bomb was placed around the neck of 18-year-old student Madeleine Pulver[1] by a balaclava-clad home intruder.[2] A note attached to the device stated that any attempt to alert law enforcement would "trigger an immediate BRIAN DOUGLAS WELLS event".[3] Brian Wells was a pizza delivery driver who was killed in a bank robbery involving a collar bomb in 2003.[3]

Investigation

The dummy device was of such sophistication that it took the Police Rescue & Bomb Disposal Unit almost ten hours to ascertain that it was not an explosive device, and then to dismantle and remove it, in part with the telephoned assistance of a British Army major who was in Australia for training.[4] The incident, which attracted media attention worldwide,[1] was treated as an extortion investigation.[5][6]

Arrest and sentencing

Paul Douglas Peters, a man with no direct links to the victim or her family, was arrested in Kentucky, United States after leaving Australia a few days after the incident. Police were unsure of motive, but were not looking for other suspects. Peters was extradited to Australia on 24 September 2011 and was held without bail by New South Wales Police.[7] On 8 March 2012 he pleaded guilty in Sydney's Central Local Court to aggravated break and enter and detaining for advantage. On 20 November 2012, Peters was sentenced to a prison term of 13 years and 6 months, with a non-parole period of 10 years. In sentencing the judge said although Peters had marital and mental health issues, he engaged in a "deliberate act of extortion" and was not in a psychotic state at the time of the offence.[8] Peters appealed his sentence to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. On 20 December 2013, the Court unanimously dismissed the appeal.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Madeleine Pulver's Mosman bomb nightmare a hoax: police". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  2. ^ Howden, Saffron; Ralston, Nick; Olding, Rachel (5 August 2011). "Novel signature adds to bomb hoax mystery". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b Bouda, Simon (22 October 2019). "Collared!". Reader's Digest True Crime: Tales of Murder & Mayhem. New York, N.Y. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-62145-454-0. OCLC 1088906428.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Carne, Lucy (5 August 2011). "British Army expert talked squad through the dangers". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Fake bomb was chained to Madeleine Pulver's neck". BBC.co.uk. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  6. ^ Morri, Mark (4 August 2011). "Police say bomb terror in Mosman involving teenager Madeleine Pulver was a 'very elaborate hoax'". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Suspect in bomb scare extradited to Australia". CNN. 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  8. ^ Wells, Jamelle, staff (20 November 2012). "Extortionist jailed over Sydney collar-bomb hoax". ABC News. Retrieved 20 November 2012.((cite news)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Bibby, Paul (20 December 2013). "Paul Peters loses appeal against 10-year sentence in Maddie Pulver hoax bomb case". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
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