 |
| Gerard Baden-Clay |
ALLISON Baden-Clay's husband Gerard has been charged with her murder almost two months after he reported her missing.
Police went to Mr Baden-Clay's real estate office yesterday afternoon and took him to Indooroopilly police station.
After several hours of questioning at the station, police charged the 41-year-old with the murder of his 43-year-old wife.
He was spirited out the back door of the police station to avoid waiting media and was driven to the Brisbane watch house.
He is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
Mr Baden-Clay's lawyer said his client was "devastated" and he would "vigorously defend the charges."
Police thanked the media and public for their help during the investigation and asked them to "respect the privacy of the family and friends of Mrs Baden-Clay during this difficult period".
The couple's children were taken to another police station to wait for Allison's parents Geoff and Priscilla, who now live on the Gold Coast, to collect them.
The discovery of Allison Baden-Clay's body in Kholo Creek on April 30 devastated her friends and family.
The former Ipswich woman's death shocked all who knew the mother of three in her home suburb of Brookfield and in Ipswich, where she was raised.
Allison grew up in Ipswich, living with her parents, sister and brother in Redbank, where neighbours fondly remember her.
She was farewelled on May 11 by family and friends in her home town with a mixture of sorrow and happy memories.
Hundreds packed St Paul's Anglican Church in Ipswich while many more watched the funeral service on a big screen outside.
Allison's elder sister Vanessa and younger brother Ashley delivered the eulogy with Vanessa saying Allison's life had been filled with love and laughter.
After the service, the hearse carrying Allison's coffin went through two guards of honour, one formed by Ipswich Girls' Grammar School students and the other by officers from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.
The second guard of honour was for her father Geoff Dickie, who is a retired firefighter and the first guard of honour was from Allison's former school.
Allison was vice-head girl at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School and late last month her family announced it was raising money to send her daughters there.
After she finished school, Allison travelled before returning home to study at the University of Queensland.
She was made the manager of the Ipswich branch of Flight Centre and made it the most profitable in the state.
From Ipswich, she headed back to Brisbane to take the role of Flight Centre's Queensland manager for human resources.
A year later, the then 27-year-old was promoted to global human resources manager.
During this time, Allison and Gerard met and they were married in 1997.
14.6.12
