Updated
A Brisbane man who killed his wife and twice buried her remains to avoid being caught has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Key points:
- Justice Peter Flanagan said Riggs’ version of events were “starkly inconsistent” with the evidence
- He also noted the jury could not conclude Riggs had intentionally killed his wife
- Riggs will be eligible for parole in 2027, after serving more than half of his 15-year sentence
Edmund Ian Riggs was acquitted of murdering his wife Patricia Anne Riggs, 34, who went missing in 2001, but last month was instead found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter by a Supreme Court jury.
Ms Riggs’ remains were uncovered at the family’s Margate home, north of Brisbane, in 2016 — 15 years after she disappeared.
During the trial, Riggs claimed for the first time that he pushed his wife during an argument, and that she fell and fatally hit her head so he buried her because he wanted to protect their children.
Justice Peter Flanagan today dismissed Riggs’ version of events and said it was “starkly inconsistent” with the evidence of blood spatter and where he said the body fell.
Justice Flanagan said he accepted the prosecution’s argument that Riggs’ wife “died a violent and sudden death” at her husband’s hands.
He also noted the jury found Riggs guilty of manslaughter because they were unable to conclude that he intentionally killed his wife.
In sentencing, Justice Flanagan told Riggs: “I do not accept your evidence given at trial.
“Your actions have had a deep and lasting impact on your wife’s family.”
Riggs will be eligible for parole in September 2027.
Crown calls Riggs’ explanation ‘implausible’
The partial remains of Ms Riggs were uncovered in 2016 when new owners of the couple’s Margate home were digging in the backyard.
On the first day of his trial, Riggs pleaded guilty to interfering with her corpse.
Riggs later took the stand and testified that the pair had an argument over a list of sex workers found in his clothing, saying she spat on his face.
He told jurors he was disgusted and pushed her, causing her to fall and hit her head on a bed post.
Riggs said she began convulsing on the floor and died within seconds.
During a sentencing hearing on Monday, crown prosecutor Todd Fuller urged Justice Flanagan to reject Riggs’ “implausible” account.
The prosecutor said there was “a level of calculation and callous disregard” when he buried his wife’s remains.
On Monday, Riggs pleaded guilty to four counts of perjury for lying to authorities in statements and affidavits in court between 2002 and 2010.
He also failed to tell authorities what happened while being questioned at a Crime and Misconduct Commission hearing.
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