CHARDON GIVEN 15
Sentencing justice delivers damning appraisal
JUSTICE Ann Lyons has told John Chardon he had shown “no scintilla of remorse” while jailing the Gold Coast millionaire for 15 years for the manslaughter of his wife Novy Chardon.
The mother-of-two, 34, disappeared from their Upper Coomera mansion on the night of February 6, 2013. Her body has never been found.
WIFE killer John Chardon did not show a “scintilla of remorse” or respect for his wife Novy Chardon in life or death.
For years, he lied to her young children and told them their mother had abandoned them, knowing full well she loved them “fiercely” and he had violently killed her.
The damning assessments of the 72-year-old rapist, child-sex offender and killer were yesterday made by Justice Ann Lyons as she sentenced him to 15 years’ jail for the manslaughter of his 34year-old wife in 2013.
She said Chardon, who was convicted by a jury on Monday, had committed one of the most serious cases of manslaughter in Queensland and accepted Novy had died a violent death, despite her body having never been found.
“We will never know what happened to Novy that night. You do – you’ve never confessed,” she said.
“We don’t know what happened to her body. You do – you’ve never revealed (its) location.
“You will have to live with the knowledge you killed the mother of your young children. Your two children now know what you did.
“They will have to live their lives knowing ... that you killed her, discarded her and deceived them for more than six years through a web of lies.
“You showed no respect for her (Novy) when you spoke about her to others.
“You showed no respect for her in the final hours of her life. Over the last six years you showed no scintilla of remorse.”
In an explosive twist, notorious conman Peter Foster, who had previously agreed to testify against Chardon after claiming he elicited a confession from the man, sat in the back of the court during yesterday’s sentencing in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.
He looked on as Justice Lyons said even though a jury had found Chardon did not intend to kill his wife and acquitted him of murder, the court was “not bound to accept the view most favourable” to the Gold Coast lubricant tycoon.
She said while there was no direct forensic evidence linking Chardon to the killing, “there was substantial circumstantial evidence the man had killed Novy”.
Justice Lyons said it was clear Chardon disposed of Novy’s body and evidence.
“You then calmly went about your life. You appeared as normal. Indeed, you were amazingly calm,” she said.
“In fact, you propositioned Novy’s best friend that very (next) day, which reveals so much about your character.
“You denigrated Novy at every available opportunity and led your children to believe she had abandoned them.
“I hope that some time in the future, Novy’s children read these sentencing remarks to correct the record and know she did not abandon them, she loved them fiercely.”
It took a Supreme Court jury more than nine hours to find Chardon not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.
Chardon, who has consistently denied any involvement in the killing, either accidental or intentional, will be eligible for parole after 12 years.
But he is unlikely to be granted release unless he tells police where he left Novy’s body and he will also be subject to dangerous prisoner legislation due to previous convictions for sex offending.
Homicide detective Inspector Damien Hansen yesterday said outside court the investigation was “far from over”.
“We will continue to investigate and our aim is to find Novy’s body. There is still an active reward for Novy’s murder,” he said.
“We believe he had assistance in disposing of Novy.
“If those persons come forward, they have the ability to apply for indemnity from prosecution.”
YOU DENIGRATED NOVY AT EVERY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY AND LED YOUR CHILDREN TO BELIEVE SHE HAD ABANDONED THEM JUSTICE ANN LYONS