Jury finds man guilty of murdering former school friend
Quick Look
- A Supreme Court jury in Warrnambool has found David Douglas McLennan, 50, guilty of murdering his old school friend Caroline Smith, 48, at her Henty Highway home near Hamilton, Victoria, on May 11, 2025.
- McLennan strangled her during a violent assault and remained in the house for four days while her body lay at the property before police found her during a welfare check on May 15.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Caroline Smith, 48, was found dead at her Henty Highway home near Hamilton in south-west Victoria on May 15, 2025, during a welfare check. David Douglas McLennan, 50, an old school friend from Western Australia, had moved into her home in October 2023 to assist when her husband fell ill with terminal cancer and later died in September 2024. McLennan pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder, claiming he did not intend to kill Ms Smith or cause serious injury.
A Supreme Court jury has found an old school friend of Caroline "Carlee" Smith guilty of her murder near Hamilton in south-west Victoria.
Warning: This story contains details that may be distressing for some viewers.
The body of 48-year-old Ms Smith was found by police during a welfare check at her Henty Highway home on May 15, 2025.
During the nine-day trial in Warrnambool, the court heard that David Douglas McLennan, 50, killed her four days earlier, with the prosecution arguing that he strangled her during a violent assault.
McLennan had pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder, with his defence telling the court that while some facts were not disputed, McLennan had not intended to kill Ms Smith or cause serious injury.
The jury deliberated for about five hours before returning its verdict.
McLennan sat silent as the verdict was delivered.
He was remanded in custody ahead of a plea hearing and sentencing at a later date.
'Pretty sure you killed her'
During opening arguments, the court heard McLennan and Ms Smith were old school friends from Western Australia.
The jury was told McLennan moved into her south-west Victorian home in October 2023 to assist when Ms Smith's husband fell ill with terminal cancer and later died in September 2024.
The prosecution said McLennan and Ms Smith were not in a romantic relationship, and had heated arguments in the lead-up to her death, with text messages between them indicating conflict in their relationship.
This included the accused referring to Ms Smith as "crazy" in messages sent to family members, and saying he was being pushed to "breaking point".
The prosecution said footage from CCTV cameras installed in the home captured McLennan saying to himself "pretty sure you killed her" in the moments after the fatal assault is thought to have occurred on the evening of May 11, 2025.
He remained in the house drinking and smoking for four days while Ms Smith's body lay at the property.
Police were called to do a welfare check on May 15 after Ms Smith failed to respond to phone calls and messages, the court heard.
That evening, police officers found Ms Smith's body in the home's spare bedroom and located McLennan in a shed on a neighbouring property.
The prosecution said a notebook left on a bench included a note that said "There is evil in this house" and "I was pushed too far … I'm just a man".
The court heard Ms Smith suffered significant head injuries and 12 separate rib fractures, with McLennan's DNA found underneath her fingernails.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
McLennan will be sentenced at a later date following the plea hearing.
Very likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What was the exact cause of death beyond strangulation during a violent assault?
- What sentence will McLennan receive at the later plea hearing and sentencing?
- What was the full content of the text messages indicating conflict between McLennan and Ms Smith?
