Simon Gittany Convicted of Murdering Canadian Girlfriend Lisa Harnum
Simon Gittany has been convicted of murdering Lisa Harnum in the infamous 'Balcony Murder' case.
Ms Harnum, who was a Canadian citizen, was killed in July 2011 by the Sydney man, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The judge found that Mr Gittany had killed the Ontario lady, 30, by throwing her off the balcony of their 15th floor apartment in a fit of anger. Ms Harnum was a former ballerina. The judge emphasised on the transparency of her judgement by saying that she had no reasonable doubt that it was Mr Gittany who murdered his Canadian girlfriend.
Even though Mr Gittany did not say a word when the judge issued the statement, his present girlfriend Rachelle Louise shouted that the judge was wrong. She kept on screaming even after coming out of the court. On the other hand, Joan - the mother of Ms Harnum - said the case did not leave any winner as the death of her daughter had left both the families with dramatically changed lives forever.
Ms Harnum's mother gave an exclusive interview to Tracy Grimshaw on 'A Current Affair.' She said that her daughter was totally brainwashed. She accused Mr Gittany of alienating her daughter from the outside world. Her daughter was made to believe that it was for her own benefit.
Mr Gittany, nevertheless, has a criminal record of violence. He was a cocaine dealer and was imprisoned as he bit a part of the ear of a policeman. The Australian has revealed that Mr Gittany is presently being investigated regarding his accused business dealings with a couple of meth dealer who are responsible for running a secret drug lab in Sydney.
According to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Gittany had owned a number of suspicious companies in the recent past. He led an extravagant lifestyle as he lived in a city apartment that cost $1,000 every week. In 1991, Mr Gittany apparently harassed his former girlfriend and attacked a man who stood up for the girl.
Mr Gittany is going to be sentenced on Feb 5, 2014.