Couple allegedly killed young mum for child’s custody

A couple accused of killing a “vulnerable and intellectually disabled” young mother allegedly murdered her to take custody of a child, a court has been told.

Robert Samuel Geeves, 64 and Anne Margaret Geeves, 64, are standing trial before the NSW Supreme Court in Wagga Wagga after pleading not guilty to murder.

Amber Haigh, who was aged just 19, disappeared while living with the couple at their property in Kingsvale in regional NSW more than 22 years ago.

The Geeveses claimed they dropped the young mother, who had an intellectual disability and suffered epilepsy, off at Campbelltown Train Station on June 5, 2022.

Ms Haigh was travelling to see her sick father on the outskirts of western Sydney at the time, but was reported missing by the Geeveses in Young on June 19 that year.

In his closing address, Crown prosecutor Paul Kerr alleged the couple had killed Ms Haigh to gain custody of a child and did not take her to the train station.

“Nothing is known about the circumstances leading up to or immediately following the disappearance and death of Ms Haigh or where her body has been disposed,” he said.

“The Crown case has always been that it is unlikely that Amber ever left the broader Kingsville area alive and her body has never been recovered. No cause of death is known.”

Mr Kerr told the court Mr Geeves’ “true character” came to light during the trial, as a “violent and manipulative man who expects to get what he wants”.

“Irrespective of what is right, legally or morally, he is a man who was prepared to manipulate and exploit a young, vulnerable, intellectually disabled girl,” Mr Kerr said.

“Robert Geeves manipulated her into having a sexual relationship with him that resulted in her becoming pregnant.

“Afterwards, Ms Geeves may have realised that this could prove an opportunity for them to have the child that Anne Geeves so desperately wanted.”

Mr Kerr said Ms Geeves was “not immune to Robert Geeves’ domination, but she stood by him and lied with him”, including to police, and had wanted another child.

“It is difficult to pinpoint when Robert Geeves and Amber Geeves decided that Amber Haigh could be a vehicle for their desire to have another,” he said.

“Ms Geeves was only 34 years old in 1994, but had a history of failed pregnancies which must have been particularly traumatic.

“The Crown submits (Ms Geeves’ actions) demonstrate that Robert Geeves was willing to use Amber Haigh to help and realise her (Ms Geeves’) dreams.”

Mr Kerr described Ms Haigh as a “mother trying to do her best” whose life had “thus far had been punctuated and damaged by sexual physical and emotional abuse”

“Amber Michelle Haigh had a short and sometimes very unpleasant life, despite the fact that she was described by some as attractive, happy and bubbly,” he said.

“So much of her short life Amber was exploited mostly by men but not exclusively. Amber’s intellectual impairment made her vulnerable. She was naive and easily led”.

Mr Kerr told the court Mr Geeves had tied up and raped Ms Haigh at least three times and that the couple had controlled her “finances, her appointments”.

The trial, which has lasted weeks, has resulted in a number of witnesses being called to give evidence by the Crown, as well as more than 130 exhibits of evidence.

The defence did not call any witnesses as part of its case, including either Robert or Anne Geeves who did not give evidence as per their legal right to do so.

The disappearance of Ms Haigh has been an enduring mystery for the remote and close-knit community in NSW’s central east, about two hours drive from Canberra.

The last sighting of the young mother, aside from the Geeves, was on June 2, with a coronial inquest in 2011 concluding she was dead – though the finding was left open.

Ms Haigh’s mother, Rosalind Wright – who separated from Amber’s father – last saw her in November 2000 and told a court she thought her daughter “could be easily led”.

The Crown’s closing submissions are continuing on Monday. Defence submissions are expected to follow after.

More to come.