Sydney inquest reveals details of teacher’s aide murder

A coronial inquest has concluded regarding the death of Dannielle Finlay-Jones, a 31-year-old teacher’s aide in Sydney. The court heard that Ms. Finlay-Jones was killed by 33-year-old Ashley Gaddie following their third date. The pair had met via a dating site only eight days prior to the incident.

On December 17, 2022, the pair attended Christmas drinks with friends before going to a residence in Cranebrook. Ms. Finlay-Jones was found dead the following morning in a spare bedroom. Evidence presented at the inquest indicated she died from blunt force injury and neck pressure consistent with strangling. Counsel assisting the court stated that the court would be “comfortably satisfied that Ashley Gaddie inflicted those injuries.”

Gaddie, who fled the scene and was later arrested on suspicion of murder, died while in custody, preventing him from facing full legal accountability. The inquest revealed that Gaddie had a history of domestic violence, including six Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) involving five different women. His past relationships were described as being characterized by physical and verbal abuse, often occurring while intoxicated.