Brought to you by NZCity

 | main | news | security | policing 28 Mar 2024 | crime.co.nz 
SEARCH: 
 Main NZ law and order news
Send a link to this article to a friend via email
 crime.files
  
 Murder
 Unsolved
 Sexual Crime
 White Collar
 Child Abuse
 Political & Misc.

 crime.features
  
 Crime news
 Home security
 Business security
 Security services
 Policing NZ
 NZ Parole Board
 Psychology&Law
 Kidz Korner
 Firearms in NZ

 crime.resources
  
 Prevention
 For Victims
 Drug Abuse
 Alcohol Abuse
 Legal Resources
 Crime Statistics
 Family Violence
 Support Services
 NewsLinks

 crime.co.nz
  
 HOME
 About Us
 Contribute
 Contact Us
 Feedback
 NZCity


Click here to add crime.co.nz to your NZCity Personal Start Page

Big city murder in Geraldine (The Des Payne murder)
65 year-old Desmond Payne was the victim of a random, unprovoked, senseless murder, which rocked the small town of Geraldine
Ron Henderson finished his beer, returned the glasses and went out the front of the Crown hotel to wait for his ride. Des Payne had already left to make a quick purchase and collect the car.

Time ticked on and still Des hadn’t appeared to collect his mate. Ron became concerned and went to investigate.

When he arrived at Desmond Payne’s green cortina, he was shocked to find his friend slumped in his car, the fresh blood seeping from stab wounds through his clothes. 65 year-old Desmond Payne was the victim of a random, unprovoked, senseless murder, which rocked the small Geraldine town.

Des always appeared at the Crown Hotel in Geraldine, Friday lunchtimes, to share a jug with his friends. That day of his murder (27 July 2001), as he finished his jug and walked towards the Geraldine Motors to make a purchase, his friends had no idea that would be the last time they saw him alive.

As semi-retired Desmond Payne returned to his car in the hotel car park, a 45 year-old-Raymond Cullen attacked him. Stabbing him and throwing him into his car. As the blood flowed, the life soon drained away from the 65-year-old grandfather.

A 40 strong police team was soon employed and Geraldine was turned over with a fine tooth comb. No motive was established and there was no obvious witness to the attack. Police placed a mannequin dressed as Des Payne up to try and jog people’s memories. His car was lifted into a container and sent to Christchurch for examination, while the local rubbish dump was carefully searched.

When Raymond Lloyd Cullen was finally arrested for the murder of Des Payne on 12 September 2001, seven weeks had gone by. After appearing in Christchurch District Court, he entered no plea and was remanded in custody to appear in Timaru District Court on September 25, 2001.

It was discovered that Des Payne’s death had been a random attack, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Much to the families’ distress, his killer was found not guilty on the grounds of insanity.




Back to Murder Index
 

65 year-old Desmond Payne was the victim of a random, unprovoked, senseless murder, which rocked the small town of Geraldine

© 2024 NZCity
For marketing opportunities contact: www.webads.co.nz