Case 113

Brendan Bernard

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

 

Casefile Presents

 

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

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

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