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Murder

Cattle Buyer Jailed for Life for Hiring Assassin to Murder Lover's Husband

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A wealthy Australian cattle buyer, 65-year-old William James Robinson, has been sentenced to life in prison for hiring a killer to murder his lover's husband, 37-year-old Robert Purvis. The assault was carried out by Maxie Leonard Holt, 56, who shot Purvis at point-blank range, and Allan John Merriman, 49, who helped Holt obtain a shotgun and a car for the murder. The trio had pleaded not guilty to the murder, but Justice O'Bryan found them guilty, stating that the killing was a "premeditated, cold-blooded execution of an innocent victim in the security of his own home."

Key Takeaways:

  • William James Robinson, 65, was sentenced to life in prison with a 14-year minimum term for hiring an assassin to murder his lover's husband, Robert Purvis.
  • Maxie Leonard Holt, 56, was also sentenced to life in prison with a 16-year minimum term for shooting Purvis at point-blank range.
  • Allan John Merriman, 49, was sentenced to 14 years' jail with a 12-year minimum term for helping Holt obtain a shotgun and a car for the murder.
  • The trio had pleaded not guilty to the murder, but were found guilty by Justice O'Bryan.
  • The killing was described as a "premeditated, cold-blooded execution of an innocent victim in the security of his own home."
  • Mrs. Angela Purvis, the victim's wife and Robinson's lover, had an adulterous relationship with Robinson, with whom she had sex in his vehicle three days before her husband's murder.
  • Mrs. Purvis described Robinson as a "very difficult man to say no to," and stated that she had tried to end their relationship.

Statistics:

  • The murder of Robert Purvis occurred on 20 August 1993.
  • The minimum sentence term for Robinson was 14 years.
  • The minimum sentence term for Holt was 16 years.
  • The minimum sentence term for Merriman was 12 years.
  • The Supreme Court sentence Robinson to a 14-year minimum term.
  • The Supreme Court sentence Holt to a 16-year minimum term.
  • The Supreme Court sentence Merriman to a 12-year minimum term.

Sources:

  • "Cattle Buyer Jailed for Life Over Wife's Husband Murder" by The Australia[n] (no date provided)
  • No specific date or publication name was given in the source material.

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