Raymond Reddington Found Guilty of 1986 Murder After Decades-Long Case
Raymond Reddington, 79, has been found guilty by a Supreme Court jury in Western Australia for the 1986 murder of his then-wife, Sharon Fulton, whose remains have not been recovered. The verdict was delivered after a trial lasting over three weeks, concluding a case that remained unresolved for nearly four decades. Mr. Reddington, formerly known as Robert Fulton, was accused of killing Ms. Fulton at their Duncraig home in Perth's north.
Background and Disappearance
Sharon Fulton, 39, was last seen alive on March 18, 1986. On that day, she missed several appointments, including picking up her sons from school and a childcare center.
Mr. Reddington, then Robert Fulton, reportedly failed to report his wife missing for several days following her disappearance.
After Ms. Fulton vanished, Mr. Reddington changed the family's home phone number and later changed his own name from Robert Fulton to Raymond Reddington.
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutor Ben Stanwix presented the case, alleging that Mr. Reddington had a motive for the murder. It was stated that Ms. Fulton was considering divorce, and Mr. Reddington had taken out a $120,000 life insurance policy on her weeks before she disappeared, subsequently taking steps to claim it years later.
Key elements of the prosecution's evidence included:
- Changing Accounts: Mr. Reddington's explanations for Ms. Fulton's disappearance varied over time. He initially told police she had left for personal time, possibly with a boyfriend. Later, he claimed to have dropped her off at various train stations (Mount Lawley, East Perth, Perth) to meet someone. In a 2017 police interview, he stated he could not recall the event. The prosecution also claimed he did not contact her friends as he stated.
- Anonymous Letter: In 2021, the WA Coroner's Court received an anonymous letter signed "Michael Harrison." This letter claimed responsibility for getting Ms. Fulton pregnant and burying her body under a concrete driveway. The prosecution asserted this letter was fabricated by Mr. Reddington, citing DNA evidence found on the envelope that matched his.
- Second Wife's Testimony: Mr. Reddington's second wife testified during the trial, stating that he had instructed her on how to feign memory loss to secure an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
Defense Arguments
Defense lawyer Jonathan Davies maintained that there was "no direct evidence of any crime," highlighting the absence of a body, a confession, a weapon, or a crime scene. The defense suggested the investigation suffered from "tunnel vision" and was incomplete.
The defense presented information about other individuals who they argued should have been investigated further, including:
- Serial killers David and Catherine Birnie, who murdered four women in the same year Ms. Fulton disappeared.
- Terence Fisher.
The prosecution asserted that no evidence linked these individuals to Ms. Fulton's disappearance. The defense's position was that Ms. Fulton intended to take a short break, and her subsequent fate remained unknown.
Verdict and Sentencing
After a trial that lasted over three weeks, the Supreme Court jury found Raymond Reddington guilty of Sharon Fulton's murder. Mr. Reddington, who used a wheelchair during the trial, displayed no emotional reaction as the verdict was announced. His sentencing has been scheduled for a future date.
The prosecution noted the conviction brought an end to a long-unresolved case and emphasized the importance of sentencing despite Mr. Reddington's reported terminal illness.