Banker admits to neck bomb extortion
Source: Agencies |
March 9, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN Australian investment banker pleaded guilty yesterday to chaining a fake bomb to a young woman's neck in an extortion attempt last year.
Paul Douglas Peters' lawyer Kathy Crittenden pleaded guilty on his behalf in a Sydney courtroom to a charge of aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offense by knowingly detaining 18-year-old Madeleine Pulver.
Pulver was alone studying in her family's Sydney mansion on August 3 when 51-year-old Peters, wearing a ski mask, tethered a device around her neck. It took police 10 hours to remove it, but it contained no explosives.
A note demanding money was left behind, along with an email address. New South Wales state police have said surveillance footage showed Peters in locations where they believe he accessed the email account.
Peters, who traveled between the United States and Australia on business, was arrested at his former wife's home in Louisville, Kentucky, almost two weeks after the crime. He was extradited to Australia last September.
Peters appeared in court by video from prison yesterday. He showed no reaction when his lawyer entered the plea.
Peters was "profoundly sorry for the impact that this incident has had on Ms Pulver and her family," Crittenden said afterwards.
Why Peters targeted Pulver is unclear. US court documents show he once worked for a company with links to her family, but the Pulvers say they don't know him.
Peters will appear in court next Friday for a pre-sentencing hearing. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Paul Douglas Peters' lawyer Kathy Crittenden pleaded guilty on his behalf in a Sydney courtroom to a charge of aggravated break and enter and committing a serious indictable offense by knowingly detaining 18-year-old Madeleine Pulver.
Pulver was alone studying in her family's Sydney mansion on August 3 when 51-year-old Peters, wearing a ski mask, tethered a device around her neck. It took police 10 hours to remove it, but it contained no explosives.
A note demanding money was left behind, along with an email address. New South Wales state police have said surveillance footage showed Peters in locations where they believe he accessed the email account.
Peters, who traveled between the United States and Australia on business, was arrested at his former wife's home in Louisville, Kentucky, almost two weeks after the crime. He was extradited to Australia last September.
Peters appeared in court by video from prison yesterday. He showed no reaction when his lawyer entered the plea.
Peters was "profoundly sorry for the impact that this incident has had on Ms Pulver and her family," Crittenden said afterwards.
Why Peters targeted Pulver is unclear. US court documents show he once worked for a company with links to her family, but the Pulvers say they don't know him.
Peters will appear in court next Friday for a pre-sentencing hearing. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
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