NSW:Man pleads guilty to Mudgee teen's murder

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2011
NSW:Man pleads guilty to Mudgee teen's murder

EDS: Reissuing, inserting dropped word `the' in the intro



SYDNEY, Aug 5 AAP - A man has pleaded guilty to murdering 19-year-old Michelle Morrissey
in her home in the central western NSW town of Mudgee.

Luke John Cotterill, 19, of Londonderry, entered the plea in the NSW Supreme Court
in Sydney on Friday.

He also admitted to a charge of escaping lawful custody arising from an attempt to
flee while being transported from Bathurst Correctional Complex to Sydney's Silverwater
jail.

Cotterill was wounded in the arm, hip and left leg when one of his guards opened fire.

Corrective Services said at the time that Cotterill was running away from a prison van.

The incident, on April 3 last year, occurred days after his arrest over the murder.

Ms Morrissey, who worked as a receptionist at a local real estate agency, was found
dead at the home she shared with her mother in Cox Street, Mudgee, on March 27, 2010.

Her boyfriend discovered her body.

Detectives indicated she had been stabbed to death and a knife was found near the home
during the investigation.

Her boss, Tim O'Brien, described her as a "bright and bubbly" young woman.

Cotterill's matter was adjourned to October 7 for a sentencing hearing.

AAP bzs/wjf/jfm

KEYWORD: COTTERILL (REISSUING)

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