Ex-cop jailed for trying to murder wife

February 25, 2010, 5:16 pm

An ex-policeman who tried to kill his wife by driving her off a pier has vowed to "do the job properly" when freed from jail.

Although it will be a minimum of 12 years before Cameron Neil Cook is released, his ex-wife still fears what he will do.

In sentencing Cook on Thursday, Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said he was overheard in custody saying he would "do the job properly" when free and talked of getting revenge and killing his wife.

When asked outside court if she was scared of what might happen on his release, Cook's ex-wife, who cannot be named, replied "yes".

Jealous and unable to accept his 10-year marriage was over, Cook bashed, bound and gagged his wife after drugging their seven-year-old son.

He chained her to the inside of the car, then headed for Mordialloc pier in Melbourne's south, hours after confronting her about her affair, the Victorian Supreme Court heard.

Once there, he chained himself to the vehicle to kill them both, telling his wife: "I'm sorry ... but I am taking you with me".

She screamed in terror before the car veered off the pier, hitting a steel gate on the way.

The gate flew off its hinges, almost hitting a fisherman.

But his wife was lucky to survive - she freed herself when something inside the car broke and escaped through a window.

Police found her walking in a nearby street, injured, with a chain on her ankle at about 3.30am.

Justice Hollingworth said Cook's actions were "cowardly, violent and unprovoked".

She jailed him for 15 years over the terrifying 2007 ordeal.

Justice Hollingworth said his response to his marriage breakdown was totally inappropriate.

"Your actions towards your wife that night seem to have been motivated by an inability or unwillingness to accept that the marriage was over, and jealousy because she had found a new partner," she said.

The judge said Cook lacked remorse, blamed his wife and was still hostile towards her.

She said there was a risk he might try to harm her after his release.

The court heard the incident unfolded two months after Cook's wife asked for a divorce.

He became aggressive and threatened to kill her.

On the day of the incident, he hired a private investigator to carry out surveillance footage of her which showed her kissing another man.

At this stage she believed the marriage was over.

Cook then bought handcuffs, chains and a knife and that night gave his son a sleeping tablet.

He bashed his wife, put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her and their son before chaining her to the car.

Justice Hollingworth said Cook lied to police when he said he thought his wife was already dead when he entered the water.

Cook, of Cheltenham, was jailed for a minimum 12 years after pleading guilty to attempted murder, reckless conduct endangering life and intentionally causing serious injury.

The judge took into account his lack of prior convictions and previous good character.

Outside court, his former wife told reporters she was relieved the two-and-a-half year legal battle had ended.

"I'm just happy it's over. I can start moving on with my life," she said.

She added threats Cook had made towards her while in custody were "very real".

From: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/6852417/ex-cop-jailed-for-trying-to-murder-wife/