David and Catherine Birnie Serial killers Date of Birth: 16.02.1951 Country: Australia

1. Serial Killers: David and Catherine Birnie
2. David Birnie's Early Life
3. Catherine Birnie's Background
4. Their Criminal Activities
5. The Murders
6. Conviction and Sentencing

Serial Killers: David and Catherine Birnie

David and Catherine Birnie were an Australian married couple who were notorious serial killers. They were responsible for the murders of four women, aged between 15 and 35, and the attempted murder of a fifth. The couple carried out their crimes at their home on 3 Moorhouse Street in Willagee, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. These heinous acts became known as the "Moorhouse Murders."

David Birnie's Early Life

David Birnie was the eldest of five children and grew up in the semi-rural suburb of Wattle Grove, east of Perth. His family life was reportedly difficult, with a history of promiscuity, alcoholism, and even incest. In the early 1960s, the Birnie family moved to another suburb of Perth, where David eventually met Catherine.

Catherine Birnie's Background

Catherine Harrison, later known as Catherine Birnie, was born in 1951. Her mother passed away when she was only two years old, and her father, Harold Harrison, struggled to cope with raising her. Eventually, Catherine was sent to live with her maternal grandparents until her father regained custody when she turned 10. At the age of 12, Catherine met David Birnie, and by the time she was 14, they were in a stable relationship. Despite her father's pleas for her to end the relationship, Catherine remained committed and even more infatuated with David.

Their Criminal Activities

David's criminal activities began early in his life, with reports of cruelty towards animals and exhibitionism. By the time he reached adulthood, he had multiple convictions and had spent time in prison. Catherine, on the other hand, tried to start a normal life as a housewife after David was imprisoned. She began a relationship with Donald McLaughlin while working as a housekeeper for his family.

However, Catherine's attachment to David remained strong throughout their separation. After several failed attempts, David eventually found Catherine and convinced her to leave her husband and children to be with him. They resumed their criminal activities in October 1986.

The Murders

Their first victim, 22-year-old Mary Neilson, came to their house to buy tires from David. She was bound, raped, and later transported to Gleneagles National Park, where she was raped again, strangled, and stabbed to death. The second victim, 15-year-old Susannah Candy, was kidnapped and taken to their home, where she was raped and eventually killed. The couple buried her body in a shallow grave in a local forest.

Noelene Patterson, a 31-year-old woman, was their next victim. David planned to kill her, but Catherine became jealous and offered an ultimatum – either he kills Patterson, or she kills herself. The decision was quickly made, and Noelene was given a lethal dose of sedatives and then strangled to death. Her body was buried alongside the others.

Their final victim, Denise Brown, was abducted from a bus stop and taken to their home. She was raped and then taken to a nearby pine plantation, where David stabbed her. Denise tried to escape but was hit with an axe and killed. Luckily, their fifth victim, 17-year-old Kate Moir, managed to escape and seek help, leading to the arrest of David and Catherine.

Conviction and Sentencing

David and Catherine Birnie were each convicted of four counts of murder and sentenced to four life imprisonments with a non-parole period of 20 years. David committed suicide in his cell in October 2005, but Catherine continues to serve her sentence. In 2010, she had the possibility of early release, but the new Attorney-General of Western Australia, Christian Porter, labeled her as "never to be released." Catherine became the third woman in the country's history to receive such a designation in her personal file.