Murder of Stephanie Scott

Stephanie Scott was a 26-year-old English and drama teacher at Leeton High School in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. Originally from Canowindra, she was remembered in her community as warm and committed to her students. In early April 2015 she was preparing to marry her long-term partner and had gone into the school over the Easter long weekend to organise lesson plans for the relief teacher who would cover her classes during her honeymoon.

On Sunday 5 April 2015, Scott was attacked at the school by Vincent Stanford, a 25-year-old casual cleaner who had begun working there the previous month. Stanford, who was not rostered that day, had seen her at the school and returned home to collect a knife and other items before ambushing her. He beat her until she was unconscious, sexually assaulted her, and killed her by stabbing her in the neck. He then transported her body to Cocoparra National Park, north of Leeton, and set it alight.

Scott's failure to return home prompted an immediate search and community appeal. Detectives established a strike force and identified Stanford's vehicle and movements at the school. Her car was located and Stanford was arrested within days; her body was recovered on 10 April 2015, the day before she had been due to marry. Physical evidence, DNA, recovered belongings and Stanford's own digital records connected him to the crime.

Stanford was charged with murder and later with aggravated sexual assault. On 20 July 2016 he pleaded guilty to both offences. At sentencing in the Supreme Court sitting at Griffith on 13 October 2016, the presiding judge described the killing as falling within the "worst category" of murder and imposed a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, together with a fixed 15-year term for the sexual assault. The court also heard evidence that Stanford had stalked other people in Leeton, including a 12-year-old girl. His twin brother, Marcus Stanford, was separately convicted as an accessory after the fact for handling and selling items belonging to Scott.

Scott's death drew widespread public attention and tributes across Australia. More than a thousand people attended her funeral, and campaigns such as "Yellow for Stephanie" and the "put your dress out" tribute honoured her memory. A memorial amphitheatre was later built at Leeton High School.