Vic; Court hears of truckies prostitute s death, mutilation

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2000
Vic; Court hears of truckies prostitute s death, mutilation

A coronial inquest has heard how a drug-addicted prostitute was found stripped and
mutilated near Melbourne -- but the death is not being treated as murder.

The body of MARGARET MAHER, 40, was found on an empty block of land at Somerton on
October 4, 1997.

Detective Sergeant GORDON HYND told Melbourne Coroner's Court her body was found in
long grass and she was naked from the waist down while her top had been hauled up towards
her neck and her left breast had been cut away since her death.

But there was no evidence she had been sexually abused, although she had received a
knock above her right eye and there were marks around her neck.

Det Sgt HYND says a post-mortem examination found Ms MAHER had died from a combination
of excessive drug-taking, poor health and heart disease.

The court heard how Ms MAHER lived a dangerous lifestyle and resorted to prostitution
to fund a drug habit which began at childhood.

Coroner IAIN WEST told the court Ms MAHER'S death was not being treated as a murder.

The inquest has been adjourned to October 27 for a pathologist's report.

AAP RTV ra/er/gmw/jn

KEYWORD: MAHER (MELBOURNE)

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