australian television information archive

TV star mugged by chef's killers, police say

THE ALL SAINTS star Virginia Gay was bashed by two men minutes before they killed a Sydney chef on Saturday night, police say.

They said the 26-year-old, who plays the nurse Gabrielle Jaeger in the TV series, was lucky not to have died from the blows as the two men tried to steal her handbag.

Fifteen minutes later, police believe, the men bashed and robbed a 30-year-old chef, Daniel Owen, who died as ambulance officers tried to save him.

Gay was attacked at 11.50pm on Saturday as she walked along Illawarra Road, Marrickville. It is understood she was admitted to a hospital casualty but was released the same night, nursing bruises but no broken bones.

Police said a flatmate of Mr Owen, who went to his aid after hearing screams, found him with serious head injuries in the driveway of his block of units. His wallet and mobile phone had been stolen. "It was a pretty vicious attack on her and a nasty, vicious attack on [the man] and we need to get [the attackers] in [off the streets]," said police.

Friends of Mr Owen said yesterday he was a gentle person. "Mugs used to pick him," said a friend, who asked not to be identified. "He looked a victim from a mile off. He wouldn't hurt anyone."

Mr Owen's parents returned to Sydney on Sunday from a holiday in New Zealand after police informed them of his death.

Mr Owen's brother, who is serving with the army in Iraq, flew home on Monday.

One of the attackers was described as 188 centimetres tall, with a muscular build and light olive skin, a shaved head and clean-shaven face. The second man was described as about 170 centimetres tall, had a slim build with dark skin, and possibly a shaved head. Both men are believed to be between 18 and 25.

By Les Kennedy with Ellie Harvey
June 19, 2008
Sydney Morning Herald

All Saints star Virginia Gay recovering after mugging

THE mother of a TV star mugged and bashed by two men who then killed a Sydney chef has told of how her daughter is recovering after the frightening attack.

Penelope Gay, the mother of All Saints star Virginia Gay, told The Daily Telegraph today the Channel Seven actress was recovering at her Stanmore home this morning.

Mrs Gay said she was recuperating well.

"She is ok, she is feeling fine," Mrs Gay said.

"The police have asked us not to say anything."

Homicide squad detectives arrived at the actresses' home today at 11am to interview her, but refused to comment to media outside.

Virginia Gay, 26, who plays the nurse Gabrielle Jaeger in the medical TV drama series, could have been killed by the beating she took as two men tried to steal her handbag last Friday night.

Gay was attacked at 11.50pm last Friday night as she walked along Illawarra Road, Marrickville.

Police said that fifteen minutes after mugging Gay, the men bashed and robbed a 30-year-old chef, Daniel Owen, who died as ambulance officers tried to save him.

Gay was reportedly hospitalised, but was released the same night, with no serious injuries.

Mr Owen's parents returned to Sydney on Sunday from a holiday in New Zealand after police informed them of his death.

Mr Owen's brother, who is serving with the army in Iraq, flew home on Monday.

One of the attackers was described as 188 centimetres tall, with a muscular build and light olive skin, a shaved head and clean-shaven face.

The second man was described as about 170 centimetres tall, had a slim build with dark skin, and possibly a shaved head.

Both men are believed to be between 18 and 25.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Marrickville police on 95689299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

By Steve Gee
June 19, 2008
The Daily Telegraph

'A bad case of murder': teen jailed for 12 years

A teenager will spend more than 12 years in jail over three brutal Sydney street attacks, including the stomping murder of chef Daniel Owen and the robbery of actress Virginia Gay.

Now aged 18, he claims he remembers little or nothing of the attacks because he was high on drugs and alcohol.

He cannot be named because he was a juvenile at the time of the offences.

The trio of bashings took place over June 13 and 14, 2008.

Best known for her role in television drama All Saints, Gay suffered head injuries after being attacked by the teen as she walked along Illawarra Road at Marrickville.

After being punched repeatedly and kicked in the face while on the ground, Gay flagged down a passing bus, which prompted her attacker to flee.

However, the violence did not stop there, as the teen and a juvenile co-accused launched an attack nearby on Mr Owen, 31, in the driveway of the victim's home.

Mr Owen was found dead, lying face down in a pool of blood just after midnight on June 14.

His mobile phone was missing and his empty wallet and keys were found a short distance away.

An autopsy revealed he died from blunt force head injuries.

"It was clear that the assailant or assailants had stomped on his head and face numerous times," Justice Roderick Howie said during sentencing in the NSW Supreme Court today.

"Shoe patterns were located on his skull, face and neck.

"There were also rib fractures. It is clear that the deceased had been kicked to death."

The teenager pleaded guilty to Mr Owen's murder, the attack on Gay and the assault with intent to rob of a male cyclist, also in the Marrickville area on June 13.

"He had little recall of the events of the evening apparently because of his state of intoxication from alcohol and 'two blue tablets that he had consumed'," Justice Howie said.

The matter was "a bad case of murder" and he sentenced the teen to a minimum term of 12 years and nine months in prison.

"I have difficulty accepting that even an intoxicated person would not realise the severity of the injury being inflicted by repeatedly stomping on the head and face of a person who is lying on the ground unable to defend or protect himself," Justice Howie said.

The teen, who has received drug and alcohol counselling since being in custody, will be eligible for parole on April 29, 2021, taking into account time already served.

His co-accused, aged 16 at the time of the offences, also admitted to Mr Owen's murder and the cyclist's attack.

He was sentenced in February to a minimum of 10 years and six months prison.

March 19, 2010
AAP