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| {{Short description|Australian victim of crime (1955–2005)}} | |||
| '''Maria Korp''' (b 1955?, died 5 August 2005), 50, was an Australian woman reported missing for four days and later found, barely alive, in the ] of her car near the Shrine Of Remembrance in Dallas Brooks Drive, ] on 13 February 2005.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Missing-woman-found-alive-in-car-boot/2005/02/13/1108229856716.html |title=Missing woman found alive in car boot |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=14 February 2005.}}</ref> | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} | |||
| {{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}} | |||
| {{Infobox person | |||
| | name = Maria Korp | |||
| | image = Maria Korp.jpg | |||
| | alt = Portrait of Maria Korp | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | birth_name = Maria Matilde | |||
| | birth_date = {{Birth date|1955|1|14|df=y}} | |||
| | birth_place = ] | |||
| | death_date = {{death date and age|2005|8|5|1955|1|14|df=y}}<ref name=TheAge>{{cite news|title=Loving mother and betrayed wife|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/loving-mother-and-betrayed-wife/2005/08/05/1123125892915.html|accessdate=20 September 2014|work=]|agency=]|date=5 August 2005}}</ref> | |||
| | death_place = ], ], ] | |||
| | death_cause = | |||
| | body_discovered = ], Melbourne (car boot) | |||
| | resting_place = | |||
| | resting_place_coordinates = | |||
| | nationality = Australian | |||
| | known_for = Murder victim | |||
| | spouse = Joe Korp (1991–2005; her death) | |||
| | children = | |||
| | parents = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Maria Korp''' (born '''Maria Matilde'''; 14 January 1955 – 5 August 2005)<ref name=TheAge/> was a ]-born Australian woman reported missing for four days and later found, barely alive, in the ] of her car on 13 February 2005.<ref name="smh050213">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Missing-woman-found-alive-in-car-boot/2005/02/13/1108229856716.html |title=Missing woman found alive in car boot |work=] | date=14 February 2005 |accessdate=20 September 2014}}</ref> She spent a short time in a ] before emerging into a state of post-coma unresponsiveness. She became the centre of a controversy in Australia during 2005. Depending upon their viewpoint, people have characterised the controversy as being about ] or about human rights and protecting people with disabilities. | |||
| In the time after her attack she spent many months in a ] and became the centre of a ] controversy in Australia during 2005 surrounding the removal of a ]. Maria Korp died on 5 August 2005. | |||
| On 26 July 2005 Victoria's Public Advocate, Julian Gardner, announced that the ] to Korp would cease to be used for providing artificial nutrition and hydration, that ] would be implemented and that she was expected to die within 7 to 14 days.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://casefilepodcast.com/case-82-maria-korp/|title=Case 82: Maria Korp – Casefile: True Crime Podcast|date=2018-04-22|work=Casefile: True Crime Podcast|access-date=2018-07-13|language=en-US}}</ref> Korp died on 5 August 2005. Her husband's ], Tania Herman, pleaded guilty on 8 June 2005 to attempted murder, and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment; husband '''Joe Korp'''<!--redirect target-->, also charged with her attempted murder, committed suicide on the day of her funeral. | |||
| Her husband, Joe Korp, charged with her murder, committed suicide on the day of her funeral. | |||
| == |
==Investigation== | ||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| Korp's husband, |
The brother of Korp's husband, Gust Korp, had earlier reported his concerns about Korp's safety to police on 9 February 2005.<ref>Crawford, Carly "the Maria Korp Case" Harper Collins 2006 page 16</ref> Joe Korp stated he last saw his wife at their suburban ] home at approximately 6:30 a.m. that day. Korp was later found unconscious, locked in the ] of her car near the ] in Dallas Brooks Drive, in ], ] on 13 February 2005.<ref name="smh050213"/> She was taken to nearby ], and was found to have suffered ] to the brain, head injuries and severe dehydration. She went into a medically induced ], and was placed on ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Silvester |first1=John |authorlink=John Silvester (writer) |last2=Milovanovic |first2=Selma |date=18 February 2006 |title=Boot victim may never testify |work=The Age |location=Melbourne |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Boot-victim-may-never-testify/2005/02/17/1108609346744.html}}</ref> | ||
| On 16 February 2005 police charged Joe Korp, 47, and his mistress Tania Herman, 38, with |
On 16 February 2005, police charged Joe Korp, 47, and his mistress Tania Herman, 38, with the ] of Korp, ] to murder, and ]. Both appeared the following day in ] and were remanded in custody. On 28 April 2005, the ] appointed Victoria's Public Advocate, Julian Gardner as Korp's ].<ref name=":0"/> | ||
| Herman pleaded guilty on 8 June |
Herman pleaded guilty on 8 June to the attempted murder of Korp (this charge was not upgraded to murder when Korp subsequently died) and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine years.<ref>{{cite AustLII|VSC|234|2005|litigants=R v Herman |courtname=] (Vic |date=1 July 2005}}.</ref> Joe Korp pleaded not guilty on all charges and was later released on ] on 9 June, and committed to stand ]. A further charge of murder had been expected to be laid against him, and he had applied for bail modification so that he could visit his dying wife in hospital.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/key-dates-in-maria-korp-saga/2005/08/05/1123125881966.html|title=Key dates in Maria Korp saga|date=5 August 2005|work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Gardner, who had authority to determine access to Korp, approved a visit supervised by his staff and police. | ||
| On 26 July 2005, Gardner announced feeding systems to Maria Korp would be removed and that she was expected to die within weeks. Korp died at 2am on 5 August 2005. A further charge of murder had been expected to be laid against her husband. | |||
| Maria Korp's funeral mass was held on Friday, 12 August 2005 almost six months to the day after she was found. In the hours following the service, Joe Korp was found dead, apparently having taken his own life at the Mickelham house they had once shared. | |||
| ==Mental health== | |||
| Whilst being a devout ], she allegedly showed some behaviour illustrating an instability which could indicate degrading mental health. In the Korp residence at ], the first home that she shared with Joe, she built a ] outside their bedroom in memory of her first husband, Manuel, who died of a heart attack in 1987.{{Fact|date=May 2009}} | |||
| According to tabloid media reports, every night Maria Korp would walk around their Greenvale residence with an incense burner, praying in an attempt to ward off the evil spirits that haunted the place.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} | |||
| Maria reportedly asked Joe to be responsible for tending to her prior husband's grave, both Maria and Joe believing that her past husband haunted the family home and that his spirit would possess Joe Korp during the night unless Maria Korp threw her leg over his to 'transfer the spirit'.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} | |||
| When Maria Korp first found blonde hairs on Joe Korp's car seat, which she suspected belonged to his lover, Tania Herman, she drew hundreds of small crosses with her ] in the dust on the vehicle in an attempt to 'change destiny'.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} | |||
| After her attempted murder it came to light that Maria Korp had been on a crusade to receive forgiveness from Joe Korp's first wife, her mother-in-law and other family members for breaking up the marriage of Joe and Leonie Korp. Claiming she had received forgiveness from God, she sought forgiveness from Leonie Korp's family directly on various occasions.{{Fact|date=June 2007}} | |||
| ==Psychics== | |||
| According to tabloid media reports, two psychics were paid approximately ]$150,000 in cash by Maria Korp in a bid to solve her marital and life problems. Michael Fotios and a female associate of his were hired by her over a period of three years. Michael's role was to "pray for Mrs Korp ... light candles and bring her good luck, peace and harmony." | |||
| It is alleged Maria Korp made her last payment of $5,000 on 7 February 2005 - two days before she was attacked and left for dead. | |||
| Laura De Gois, Maria Korp's daughter, spoke to the media on the topic of Maria's obsession with the occult, stating "Mum was the type of person who was superstitious and believed in curses and things like that. Mum was buying a lot of candles, crosses and prayers from Michael. It progressed to the stage where he spoke with Mum on an almost daily basis." | |||
| Maria Korp allegedly asked her daughter Laura to obtain a loan in excess of $30,000 to fund her rising psychics' bills. She paid the psychic to bless various properties owned by the Korp family to keep away the evil spirits that played quite an active role in the occult obsession that she illustrated. | |||
| ==Euthanasia controversy== | ==Euthanasia controversy== | ||
| On 26 July, Gardner announced that medical treatment for Korp in the form of artificial nutrition and hydration would cease, that palliative care treatment would be provided and that she was expected to die within one to two weeks. Her condition had been declining, and medical staff could no longer stabilise her condition. "The treating team at the Alfred Hospital has advised me that her condition is now terminal", Gardner said.<ref name="abc050727">{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200507/1423063.htm|title=Accused husband asks to visit dying wife|date=27 July 2005|publisher=]|location=Australia}}</ref> | |||
| Anti-] campaigners threatened legal action in an attempt to save the life of Maria Korp in August, 2005. They held peaceful protests outside Melbourne's ] to demonstrate against the "inhumane" decision by the Public Advocate, Julian Gardner, to stop artificially feeding her. | |||
| Anti-] campaigners threatened legal action in an attempt to save Korp in August, 2005. They held peaceful protests outside Melbourne's ] to demonstrate against the "inhumane" decision by Gardner, to stop artificially feeding her. Korp's artificial nutrition and hydration was ceased on 27 July on the decision of Gardner, who stated that all of the doctors who had examined her (including a specialist independent of the hospital arranged by Gardner) had advised that further treatment other than ] was futile and that she had no prospects of recovery.<ref name=":0"/> He concluded on the basis of the medical evidence and on the basis of evidence of her beliefs and values that continued treatment was not in her best interests.<ref>Crawford, Carly "the Maria Korp Case" Harper Collins 2006 page 266</ref> | |||
| Maria Korp's ] was removed on 27 July, which began the slow death process, on the request of the state-appointed legal guardian, Mr Gardner, who stated that it was "in her best interests to die" as some doctors claimed she had no prospects of recovery. | |||
| An appeal against |
An appeal against Gardner's appointment—as a legal means of challenging his decision—as Korp's guardian was reportedly considered by opponents of his decision but no appeal was made. The protest group's spokesperson reported to the media that they would be willing to give anything a try in order to stop her from dying from starvation. Korp's husband had publicly stated through his lawyers that he would fight in the courts any attempt to withdraw medical treatment. It was for that reason that the hospital sought the appointment of a guardian. It was only after Gardner approved his visit to Korp that he changed his mind. Her daughter, Laura De Gois, indicated that she did not oppose Gardner's decision. | ||
| According an ABC radio report<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1422997.htm |date=26 July 2005 |title=Korp's feeding tube to be removed | |
According to an ] radio report,<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2005/s1422997.htm |date=26 July 2005 |title=Korp's feeding tube to be removed |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |format=transcript |first= Mick |last=Bunworth}}</ref> Gardner explained that they talked over a period of months to people who knew her well, including her priest, to find out what she believed, and took advice from "an expert ] ]". He was provided with details of the medical evidence and asked to consider whether, given that evidence of her medical condition, withdrawal of treatment other than palliative care would be in accordance with the statement on this issue by the former ] in April 2004. He concluded that it would be. Many of her family members were against the cessation of life support. Their reasons were not publicly stated other than to claim that the doctors were wrong and that Korp was not dying. This was the basis of the comments by a family member in ].{{citation needed|date=March 2024}} | ||
| The controversy was heightened by the fact that it occurred at the end of the internationally publicised controversy about ], an American woman in a vegetative state (for a decade or more longer than Korp) whose artificial treatment and hydration was ceased following a decision by her husband that was made after numerous court cases which ultimately confirmed his authority to do so. Although Gardner was at pains to state that the actions did not amount to euthanasia (he noted that medical treatment decisions such as this had been authorised by the Supreme Court,<ref>{{cite AustLII|VSC|173|2003|litigants=Gardner re BWV |courtname=] (Vic) }}.</ref> and that euthanasia was unlawful) the raw nerve that the case touched among many people did not stop some of those who either supported or opposed euthanasia characterising it as such. | |||
| Occurring less than six months after the international ] controversy, where an American woman in a vegetative state (for a decade or more longer than Maria Korp) had her feeding tube removed and starved to death under State-based instruction also, the euthanasia of Maria Korp struck a raw nerve in some parts of Australian society. | |||
| == |
==Aftermath== | ||
| Korp died at 2 a.m. on Friday, 5 August 2005, and her funeral mass was held one week later. Forbidden by family to attend the service, Joe Korp invited the media to a private funeral ceremony at his home where he sang "]" and "]". That night he contacted his first wife and then a newspaper journalist, telling both that he intended to hang himself in his garage. Both contacted police who rushed to the house to find him standing on a ladder with a noose around his neck while talking on a mobile phone. According to the police report, he was looking at them through the garage window when the ladder tipped over. Police believe he may have been trying to regain his footing when the ladder fell. Surrounding his body were photographs of Korp, football memorabilia, and notes professing his innocence.<ref name=":0"/> The media reported that he was on the phone to his solicitor at the time he died and that the coroner's toxicology report indicated an ] of 0.15.<ref>] ''Cold Blooded Murder'' ] 2009 {{ISBN|9780733622779}} Pg 208 – 209</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Joe-Korps-death-may-have-been-accident/2006/05/27/1148524917437.html|title=Joe Korp's death may have been accident|date=27 May 2006|work=The Age|location=Melbourne}}</ref> | |||
| In January 2013, Herman applied for permission to marry fellow inmate Nicole Muscat.<ref>{{cite news|last=Flower|first=Wayne|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/tania-herman-plans-to-marry-lesbian-lover-during-jailtime-over-strangling-death-of-maria-korp/story-e6frf7jo-1226551221860|title=Tania Herman plans to marry lesbian lover during jailtime over strangling death of Maria Korp|date=11 January 2013|newspaper=]|accessdate=17 February 2014}}</ref> On 14 February 2014, Herman was released on parole after serving a little over eight years in the ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Argoon|first=Ashley|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/tania-herman-released-from-prison-picked-up-by-lesbian-lover-nicky-muscat-on-valentines-day/story-fni0fee2-1226826874257|title=Tania Herman released from prison, picked up by lesbian lover Nicky Muscat on Valentine's Day|date=14 February 2014|newspaper=]|accessdate=17 February 2014}}</ref> | |||
| Laura De Gois, the 26-year-old daughter of Maria Korp from a previous marriage, allegedly approached the media on the 30 August 2005 with recollections of her mother's attempted murder. | |||
| ==In popular culture== | |||
| Laura claimed her stepfather Joe Korp appeared to be "very anxious" and "extremely nervous" on 9 February 2005, the day Mrs Korp disappeared from her suburban Mickleham home. At a late stage in the investigation, Ms De Gois recalled being woken by screaming at or around 0630 hours on the day of her mother's disappearance, and that she went to check on her younger brother Damian but found him asleep. | |||
| The story was portrayed in the 2006 book ''The Maria Korp Case: The Woman in the Boot Story'' by '']'' journalist Carly Crawford.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780732283032/the-maria-korp-case-the-woman-in-the-boot-story|title=The Maria Korp Case: The Woman in the Boot Story|website=HarperCollins Australia|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-03-03}}</ref> The book was later adapted into a 2010 ] called ''Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story'', starring ] as Maria Korp, ] as Joe Korp, and ] as Herman.<ref>{{Citation|title=Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568916/|access-date=2020-03-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/48958895|title=Wicked love : the Maria Korp story|date=2010|publisher= : Hopscotch Entertainment : Roadshow Entertainment |edition=DVD|language=English}}</ref> It is narrated by Korp herself, from her point of view, as if from beyond the grave, detailing the events from the Korps' wedding to the beginning of Joe Korp's affair, and its consequences,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2010/02/wicked-love-the-maria-korp-story-2.html|title=Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story|date=2010-02-17|publisher=TV Tonight|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-03-03}}</ref> while postulating the theory that her husband was involved in her death. | |||
| The story of her death inspired the ] '']'' by ] and ], first performed by ] in Melbourne in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/notes-from-a-lethal-love-affair-20120511-1yhny.html|title=Notes from a lethal love affair|last=Hanusiak|first=Xenia|date=2012-05-12|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2017-05-25|language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2018, the story was also covered by '']''.<ref name=":0"/> | |||
| ==Timeline of events== | |||
| *9 February 2005 - Maria Korp was choked until unconscious by Tania Herman, her husband Joe Korp's mistress, in the garage of the Korp family home in Mickleham, in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. Her body was dumped into the boot of a vehicle. | |||
| == See also == | |||
| *11 February - Joe Korp reported his wife missing, claiming he last saw her at their Mickleham residence at 6.30am two days prior. | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| *13 February - Mrs Korp was found unconscious in the boot of her car, police question Joe Korp at length in relation to the matter. | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| *15 February - It was revealed that the Korps were members of a swingers' website. | |||
| * | |||
| *16 February - Joe Korp and Herman arrested and charged with attempted murder of Mrs Korp. | |||
| * Korp car pulled by eBay | |||
| *18 February - Doctors claimed that Mrs Korp suffered severe brain damage in her coma whilst on life support in hospital. | |||
| *28 April - The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appointed the state public advocate as Mrs Korp's guardian. | |||
| *8 June - Herman pleaded guilty to attempted murder of Mrs Korp. | |||
| *1 July - Herman sentenced to 12 years' jail with a non-parole period of nine years. | |||
| *19 July - Lawyers acting for Mrs Korp's daughter and administrator Laura De Gois changed the title of the couple's $1.1 million house so Korp would not inherit Mrs Korp's half if she died. | |||
| *26 July - Victoria's Public Advocate Julian Gardner ruled that Mrs Korp's feeding tube should be removed, saying she had no hope of recovery. | |||
| *27 July - Magistrate changed bail conditions to allow Joe Korp to visit his dying wife. | |||
| *1 August - Judge agreed to Ms De Gois' application and cut Joe Korp out of his wife's ]. | |||
| *3 August - Joe Korp formally pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to murder and intentionally causing serious injury. | |||
| *4 August - Joe Korp committed to stand trial for attempted murder of his wife, formally pleaded not guilty. | |||
| *5 August - Maria Korp died in The Alfred Hospital about 2am EST. | |||
| *12 August - Maria Korp was cremated in a small ceremony. Joe Korp hanged himself the same night as cremation. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| {{No footnotes|date=February 2008}} | |||
| *, The Age, 27 May 2006 | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| * - Victorian Supreme Court sentencing of Herman. | |||
| * | |||
| {{Australian crime}} | {{Australian crime}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 17:58, 4 March 2024
Australian victim of crime (1955–2005)
| Maria Korp | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Maria Matilde (1955-01-14)14 January 1955 Portugal |
| Died | 5 August 2005(2005-08-05) (aged 50) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Body discovered | Kings Domain, Melbourne (car boot) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Known for | Murder victim |
| Spouse | Joe Korp (1991–2005; her death) |
Maria Korp (born Maria Matilde; 14 January 1955 – 5 August 2005) was a Portuguese-born Australian woman reported missing for four days and later found, barely alive, in the boot of her car on 13 February 2005. She spent a short time in a coma before emerging into a state of post-coma unresponsiveness. She became the centre of a controversy in Australia during 2005. Depending upon their viewpoint, people have characterised the controversy as being about euthanasia or about human rights and protecting people with disabilities.
On 26 July 2005 Victoria's Public Advocate, Julian Gardner, announced that the feeding tube to Korp would cease to be used for providing artificial nutrition and hydration, that palliative care would be implemented and that she was expected to die within 7 to 14 days. Korp died on 5 August 2005. Her husband's mistress, Tania Herman, pleaded guilty on 8 June 2005 to attempted murder, and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment; husband Joe Korp, also charged with her attempted murder, committed suicide on the day of her funeral.
Investigation
The brother of Korp's husband, Gust Korp, had earlier reported his concerns about Korp's safety to police on 9 February 2005. Joe Korp stated he last saw his wife at their suburban Mickleham home at approximately 6:30 a.m. that day. Korp was later found unconscious, locked in the boot of her car near the Shrine of Remembrance in Dallas Brooks Drive, in Kings Domain, Melbourne on 13 February 2005. She was taken to nearby Alfred Hospital, and was found to have suffered oxygen starvation to the brain, head injuries and severe dehydration. She went into a medically induced coma, and was placed on life support.
On 16 February 2005, police charged Joe Korp, 47, and his mistress Tania Herman, 38, with the attempted murder of Korp, conspiracy to murder, and intentionally causing serious injury. Both appeared the following day in Melbourne Magistrates' Court and were remanded in custody. On 28 April 2005, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appointed Victoria's Public Advocate, Julian Gardner as Korp's legal guardian.
Herman pleaded guilty on 8 June to the attempted murder of Korp (this charge was not upgraded to murder when Korp subsequently died) and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment with a non-parole period of nine years. Joe Korp pleaded not guilty on all charges and was later released on bail on 9 June, and committed to stand trial. A further charge of murder had been expected to be laid against him, and he had applied for bail modification so that he could visit his dying wife in hospital. Gardner, who had authority to determine access to Korp, approved a visit supervised by his staff and police.
Euthanasia controversy
On 26 July, Gardner announced that medical treatment for Korp in the form of artificial nutrition and hydration would cease, that palliative care treatment would be provided and that she was expected to die within one to two weeks. Her condition had been declining, and medical staff could no longer stabilise her condition. "The treating team at the Alfred Hospital has advised me that her condition is now terminal", Gardner said.
Anti-euthanasia campaigners threatened legal action in an attempt to save Korp in August, 2005. They held peaceful protests outside Melbourne's Alfred Hospital to demonstrate against the "inhumane" decision by Gardner, to stop artificially feeding her. Korp's artificial nutrition and hydration was ceased on 27 July on the decision of Gardner, who stated that all of the doctors who had examined her (including a specialist independent of the hospital arranged by Gardner) had advised that further treatment other than palliative care was futile and that she had no prospects of recovery. He concluded on the basis of the medical evidence and on the basis of evidence of her beliefs and values that continued treatment was not in her best interests.
An appeal against Gardner's appointment—as a legal means of challenging his decision—as Korp's guardian was reportedly considered by opponents of his decision but no appeal was made. The protest group's spokesperson reported to the media that they would be willing to give anything a try in order to stop her from dying from starvation. Korp's husband had publicly stated through his lawyers that he would fight in the courts any attempt to withdraw medical treatment. It was for that reason that the hospital sought the appointment of a guardian. It was only after Gardner approved his visit to Korp that he changed his mind. Her daughter, Laura De Gois, indicated that she did not oppose Gardner's decision.
According to an ABC radio report, Gardner explained that they talked over a period of months to people who knew her well, including her priest, to find out what she believed, and took advice from "an expert Catholic ethicist". He was provided with details of the medical evidence and asked to consider whether, given that evidence of her medical condition, withdrawal of treatment other than palliative care would be in accordance with the statement on this issue by the former Pope in April 2004. He concluded that it would be. Many of her family members were against the cessation of life support. Their reasons were not publicly stated other than to claim that the doctors were wrong and that Korp was not dying. This was the basis of the comments by a family member in Portugal.
The controversy was heightened by the fact that it occurred at the end of the internationally publicised controversy about Terri Schiavo, an American woman in a vegetative state (for a decade or more longer than Korp) whose artificial treatment and hydration was ceased following a decision by her husband that was made after numerous court cases which ultimately confirmed his authority to do so. Although Gardner was at pains to state that the actions did not amount to euthanasia (he noted that medical treatment decisions such as this had been authorised by the Supreme Court, and that euthanasia was unlawful) the raw nerve that the case touched among many people did not stop some of those who either supported or opposed euthanasia characterising it as such.
Aftermath
Korp died at 2 a.m. on Friday, 5 August 2005, and her funeral mass was held one week later. Forbidden by family to attend the service, Joe Korp invited the media to a private funeral ceremony at his home where he sang "Unchained Melody" and "The Lady in Red". That night he contacted his first wife and then a newspaper journalist, telling both that he intended to hang himself in his garage. Both contacted police who rushed to the house to find him standing on a ladder with a noose around his neck while talking on a mobile phone. According to the police report, he was looking at them through the garage window when the ladder tipped over. Police believe he may have been trying to regain his footing when the ladder fell. Surrounding his body were photographs of Korp, football memorabilia, and notes professing his innocence. The media reported that he was on the phone to his solicitor at the time he died and that the coroner's toxicology report indicated an alcohol reading of 0.15.
In January 2013, Herman applied for permission to marry fellow inmate Nicole Muscat. On 14 February 2014, Herman was released on parole after serving a little over eight years in the Dame Phyllis Frost maximum-security prison.
In popular culture
The story was portrayed in the 2006 book The Maria Korp Case: The Woman in the Boot Story by Sunday Herald Sun journalist Carly Crawford. The book was later adapted into a 2010 television movie called Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story, starring Rebecca Gibney as Maria Korp, Vince Colosimo as Joe Korp, and Maya Stange as Herman. It is narrated by Korp herself, from her point of view, as if from beyond the grave, detailing the events from the Korps' wedding to the beginning of Joe Korp's affair, and its consequences, while postulating the theory that her husband was involved in her death.
The story of her death inspired the opera Midnight Son by Gordon Kerry and Louis Nowra, first performed by Victorian Opera in Melbourne in 2012. In April 2018, the story was also covered by Casefile True Crime Podcast.
See also
References
- ^ "Loving mother and betrayed wife". The Age. Australian Associated Press. 5 August 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Missing woman found alive in car boot". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 February 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Case 82: Maria Korp – Casefile: True Crime Podcast". Casefile: True Crime Podcast. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- Crawford, Carly "the Maria Korp Case" Harper Collins 2006 page 16
- Silvester, John; Milovanovic, Selma (18 February 2006). "Boot victim may never testify". The Age. Melbourne.
- R v Herman [2005] VSC 234 (1 July 2005), Supreme Court (Vic.
- "Key dates in Maria Korp saga". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 August 2005.
- "Accused husband asks to visit dying wife". Australia: ABC News. 27 July 2005.
- Crawford, Carly "the Maria Korp Case" Harper Collins 2006 page 266
- Bunworth, Mick (26 July 2005). "Korp's feeding tube to be removed" (transcript). Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Gardner re BWV [2003] VSC 173, Supreme Court (Vic).
- Malcolm Brown Cold Blooded Murder Hachette 2009 ISBN 9780733622779 Pg 208 – 209
- "Joe Korp's death may have been accident". The Age. Melbourne. 27 May 2006.
- Flower, Wayne (11 January 2013). "Tania Herman plans to marry lesbian lover during jailtime over strangling death of Maria Korp". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- Argoon, Ashley (14 February 2014). "Tania Herman released from prison, picked up by lesbian lover Nicky Muscat on Valentine's Day". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- "The Maria Korp Case: The Woman in the Boot Story". HarperCollins Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story, retrieved 3 March 2020
- Wicked love : the Maria Korp story (DVD ed.). : Hopscotch Entertainment : Roadshow Entertainment . 2010.
- "Wicked Love: The Maria Korp Story". TV Tonight. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
- Hanusiak, Xenia (12 May 2012). "Notes from a lethal love affair". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
External links
- Korp's family to decide her fate
- Korp car pulled by eBay
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