William Matheson denied bail over alleged three-day sexual assault in Sydney hotel
William Matheson, who was jailed for murdering his teenage girlfriend, has been refused bail after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman in a Sydney hotel. Police allege the assaults lasted three days and continued after the woman repeatedly told him to stop; Matheson denies the charges and is due to face trial in March 2027. The case has renewed attention on his release on parole and the concerns raised by his victim’s mother.
Matheson strangled 18-year-old Lindsay Van Blanken with cable ties in 2003 and hid her body in a cricket bag, where it was found two months later. He was sentenced in 2006 to at least 18 years, later reduced from a maximum of 27 years to 25, and was released on parole in May 2023 after serving 19 years. He was wearing an electronic tracking anklet when arrested on the new allegations, and his parole was revoked 12 days after bail was refused.
In short
- William Matheson was refused bail over new sexual assault charges.
- Police allege the offences took place over three days in a Sydney hotel.
- His parole for Lindsay Van Blanken’s 2003 murder has been revoked.
Explained simply
William Matheson was convicted of murdering his 18-year-old girlfriend, Lindsay Van Blanken, in 2003. He was sentenced to prison in 2006 and released on parole in May 2023 after serving 19 years.
Parole allows someone to serve part of a sentence in the community under supervision and conditions. Matheson’s release drew concern from Van Blanken’s mother, and he was wearing an electronic tracking anklet when arrested over the new allegations.
The current case concerns a woman who police say was sexually assaulted over three days in a Sydney hotel. Matheson denies the charges, and the case is due to go to trial in March 2027.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Cricket bag killer strangled his teen lover and hid her decomposing body for months. He was set free despite the worst fears of his victim’s mum – but now he’s back in jail and accused of a vile rape ordeal”.