It’s the kind of story that makes you shudder—an old grandma was viciously attacked twice in her own house, and now, over 40 years later, the man who is suspected of committing those heinous crimes has been released on bond.
Avoiding inquiries from reporters, 69-year-old Michael Martin remained mute as he exited the court on Thursday. This comes after the Australian was granted bail by a Melbourne magistrate in spite of charges of assault, aggravated burglary, and attempted rape related to two alleged attacks on Jessie Grace Lauder, an old grandmother, in the early 1980s.
Where is Jessie now?
When Jessie was living in her Newport home in Melbourne in September 1981, she heard a huge bang at the back of her house, which was the first reported attack.
Detective Richard Kelly of the Melbourne sexual crimes squad said that she discovered Martin standing in the doorway of her bedroom moments later, with a knife in his hand, gloves on, and a piece of panties over his head.
There was more to Jessie’s nightmare. Martin allegedly tried to rape her and wanted $10 for sex; he only left after threatening to keep her from calling the police.
He allegedly said, “You’re not going to call the police, are you?”
In July 1983, Jessie’s world fell apart once more. Detective Kelly claims that when Jessie awoke to the sound of glass shattering, she was confronted by her assailant once more. This time, the man allegedly threw a newspaper over her face before running away after raping her, threatening to kill her, and warning her to be silent.
He allegedly said, “Don’t tell the police and papers like you did last time.”
DNA evidence results in an arrest.
Jessie’s family endured decades of injustice. However, in 2022, Martin was connected to evidence from the two attacks thanks to developments in DNA technology. Nearly 42 years after the initial assault, on January 24 of this year, police made the arrest.
A startling bail ruling
Magistrate Belinda Wallington granted Martin bail despite the seriousness of the accusations, stating that there was insufficient proof that he would obstruct witnesses or constitute a “unacceptable risk” to the society.
Ms. Wallington declared, “There is no basis for the assertion,” but she also said, “I am convinced there is a compelling reason to grant bail in this matter.”
Many were shocked by the decision, particularly in light of the horrific specifics of the alleged crimes.
Across the street
Martin allegedly grew up 45 meters from Jessie’s house and eventually relocated barely 200 meters away after getting married, which adds another troubling dimension to the case. The fact that the attacker was someone who had lived so close to Jessie for years served as a sobering reminder that danger can occasionally lurk too close to home.
An eagerly anticipated battle for justice
Martin is currently being charged with common assault, rape, aggravated burglary, and attempted aggravated rape. He is scheduled to return to court in April and currently resides in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
After decades of suffering, Jessie’s family is left waiting for justice.
Outrage and concerns about how our legal system responds to such serious accusations have been raised by this case.
While victims and their families must endure the agony for decades, how can someone who has been accused of such horrible acts get away with it?
