Police reopen files on death of killer's baby

A fire that led to the horrific death of the daughter of convicted murderer and rapist Paul David Bailey in Otago will again be investigated by police.

Eight-week-old Linda Rose Bailey died 16 years ago in Ettrick, two years before Bailey raped and murdered 15-year-old Owaka schoolgirl Kylie Smith.

On Friday, Bailey was sentenced to another three years in prison for twice raping a 12-year-old schoolgirl, around the time Linda Rose died.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis of Dunedin said he spoke to Bailey last Thursday about the death. Matters arose from that interview that required further investigation.

He said there had been concern from people who were in the Ettrick house at the time Linda Rose suffered the burns that took her life the next day.

One of those people was the woman raped as a 12-year-old, who has been reported as saying that straight after the fire Bailey dropped the badly burned baby three times on the way to the bathroom, before submerging her for long periods in cold water.

An Otago Daily Times report from April 8, 1989, said Linda Rose had died in Dunedin Hospital on April 7, after suffering burns when her bassinet caught fire.

Constable John Anderson, of Roxburgh, was reported as saying the baby's bassinet was on a bench beside a stove about 7.30pm.

"Heat from an element which was accidentally turned on apparently set the bassinet on fire," he said.

Linda Rose was "immediately held under water by her parents" before being taken to Roxburgh Hospital and then to Dunedin.

The report said the death was to have been investigated by the coroner, but Mr Croudis said yesterday that investigation did not occur.

Dunedin coroner Jim Conradson, who considered the case at the time, said yesterday he took his information from police. It was hard to remember from so long ago, he said, but an inquest was not mandatory.

"I can only assume I must have been told at the time the cause of death was established."

There was no evidence the child was mistreated, and it was quite possible the parents did not want an inquest, he said.

Mr Croudis said the case was being reopened because the opportunity came up with Bailey back in court and in the media spotlight.

He was directed by Dunedin Detective Inspector Ross Pinkham to review witness statements and facts in the file.

"There are some things arising out of those statements."

The case had already been reviewed in 2001 and 2002 by Detective Senior Sergeant Stephen Wood of Queenstown, as there was police interest in Bailey because of charges he was facing at the time.

Asked if police would return to Ettrick to look through evidence, he said there would be a need to visit the scene.

Bailey's partner at the time would be part of the inquiry, Mr Pinkham said, though "it's not a situation of singling people out, but looking at it in totality".

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES