Chapter 13

On 13 December, Police Prosecutor Sergeant De La Rue applied for an extension of the remand. Police had not completed the brief for the inquest into June Rushmer’s death. Sodeman, dressed in the same suit and shirt, appeared noticeably paler than at his previous court appearance. He took little interest in proceedings and raised no objections.

He was further remanded until 20 December.

On 17 December, it was announced that the inquest would take place on the last day of the year. As the original inquest had been opened in Leongatha immediately after June Rushmer’s body was found, the coroner would complete formal proceedings there before moving to the courthouse at Korumburra. Twenty-two witnesses were slated to be called, among them the accused, Arnold Sodeman.

There were several more brief hearings. On 20 December, Sodeman was remanded again, this time until 27 December. Then when that date arrived, he was remanded until 3 January: enough time for the inquest to be completed.

On Tuesday, 31 December, the little wooden courthouse in Korumburra was packed with reporters, local residents, and people who had travelled long distances to attend. A blazing sun beat down on the galvanised iron roof, making for stifling and uncomfortable conditions inside, but no one was moving. Hundreds of townsfolk who had been unable to secure a place inside stood in the sun, waiting patiently to hear the coroner’s verdict.

Government pathologist Dr Mollison described his post-mortem findings and stated that the condition of the body was consistent with death having occurred between 7.15 and 7.45 p.m.

One by one the witnesses – including a number of children – were called. Mr and Mrs Rushmer became visibly distressed as the court heard details of their daughter’s last hours, while Sodeman listened intently to the evidence against him. As each statement was concluded, the coroner asked Sodeman if he wanted to ask the witness any questions. Each time the answer was no, and the accused man refused to speak in his own defence. When asked to stand, Sodeman got slowly to his feet. He stared impassively ahead as the presiding coroner, Mr Wilkins P.M., pronounced:

I find that on the first day of December at Leongatha, June Rushmer met her death by shock and suffocation caused by violent assault, feloniously made on her by Arnold Sodeman, and I find that Arnold Sodeman feloniously and maliciously murdered June Rushmer.

The coroner then turned to the accused man.

You are committed for trial at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on February 17, 1936.

Arnold Sodeman appeared unperturbed as police led him from the court and placed him in a car for the drive back to Melbourne.