Case 113
Brendan Bernard
*** Content Warning: extreme violence and mutilation ***
In February 2015, Victorian police were called to the eastern banks of the Maribyrnong River in Moonee Ponds after two passersby made a grim discovery. Floating downstream was a plastic grocery bag containing a human forearm.
As more body parts begin to surface, police have only one clue to help them identify the victim – a tattoo of a pitchfork-wielding devil.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Rick Best
Editing – Milly Raso and Elsha McGill
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
COURT DOCUMENTS
DPP v Spaliaras [2015]Hill, Edward v The Queen; Brennan, Matthew v The Queen; Spaliaras, Constantinos George v The Queen [2018]
Hill v The Queen; Brennan v The Queen; Spaliaras v The Queen [2018]
ARTICLES
Devil tattoo clue in human arm found floating in Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds – The Age
Maribyrnong mystery: More remains found, but identity still unknown – The Age
Maribyrnong River remains: person identified as more body parts surface – The Age
Web sleuths quickly link devil tattoo and punk band – The Age
Maribyrnong murder mystery man identified as Brendan Bernard – The Age
Maribyrnong River murder victim Brendan Bernard an ‘itinerant’, estranged from family – The Age
Three charged with murder of Brendan Bernard, whose remains were found in Maribyrnong River – The Age
Trio to stand trial for murder over remains found in Maribyrnong River – The Age
Tattooed arm in river led to men accused of Brendan Bernard’s murder, court told – The Age
Melbourne men admit chopping up drug buddy’s body but deny his murder – The Age
Long jail terms for trio who killed over $60 debt, threw victims’ limbs in river – The Age
Man charged with murder after remains found in Maribyrnong River admitted guilt, court told – The Age
Three guilty over murder of man whose limbs they dumped in the Maribyrnong – The Age
Remains found in Maribyrnong River not that of slain man – The Age
‘Where’s the rest of my son’s body’, dad asks killers who dumped limbs in river – The Age
Police search Maribyrnong River, Moonee Ponds, after human body part found by walkers – Herald Sun
Police appeal for help to identify mystery victim dredged from Maribyrnong River – Herald Sun
Devil tattoo found on limb, linked to Sydney punk band – Herald Sun
Dismembered man with a devil tattoo found in the Maribyrnong River identified as Brendan David Bernard – Herald Sun
Devil-tattooed man found in Maribyrnong likely killed over drugs – Herald Sun
Brendan David Bernard fatally bashed over $60 drug debt: witness – Herald Sun
Trio sentenced for murder, dismemberment of Melbourne man Brendan Bernard – Herald Sun
Distinctive tattoo could hold key to gruesome Melbourne body parts mystery – 9News
Mystery surrounding body parts found in Melbourne river solved with victim finally identified – 9News
Police identify victim whose body parts were dumped in Melbourne river – 9News
Vic body parts murder: key facts – 9News
Three charged over Melbourne body parts – 9News
Woman present at torture, death: Vic court – 9News
Men chopped up body but didn’t kill: court – 9News
Grieving Melbourne dad presses son’s killers – The West Australian
Vic killers jailed but family ‘tormented’ – 9News
Body washed in bath for a week before being chopped up, dumped – Yahoo News
‘Where is the rest of my son’s body?’ Victims family tormented by missing remains – Yahoo News
Body part found floating in Melbourne river – MSN
Human remains found in Melbourne river – MSN
Walkers’ shocking discovery – MSN
Clue in body mystery – MSN
Experts examine Melbourne river remains – MSN
Tattoo to help identify body – MSN
More body parts found in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong river – MSN
Cops warn killer they’re getting closer – MSN
Detectives close in on killer – MSN
Human remains, including arm, found in Maribyrnong River at Moonee Ponds – ABC News
Maribyrnong River search: Tattoo found on floating severed arm could help identify victim – ABC News
Maribyrnong River body parts: Police believe they have identified victim – ABC News
Dismembered body found in Maribyrnong River identified 32yo Brendan Bernard – ABC News
Three charged with murder of man whose remains were found in Maribyrnong River – ABC News
Body parts murder case: Victim tortured before being dismembered to conceal his identity – ABC News
Maribyrnong River ‘body parts’ victim killed over $260 drug debt, Melbourne court hears – ABC News
More human remains found in Melbourne river thought to belong to Brendan David Bernard – ABC News
Man identified after Vic body parts found – SBS
Three in court over Vic river body – SBS
Murder trial over Vic river body parts – SBS
Accused discussed eating body: Vic court – SBS
Guilty verdict over Vic river body parts – SBS News
More body parts found in Melbourne’s Maribyrnong river – Daily Mail
Distinctive tattoo led to the unofficial identification of Melbourne man – Daily Mail
Melbourne man accused of killing his housemate said he stashed his body in the bath – Daily Mail
VIDEOS
Third body part found in Maribyrnong River – 9News
Press conference Re: body parts in Maribyrnong River
OTHER RESOURCES
Bernard’s Tattoo origin – DOWNTIME Tooth & Nail reviews