The woman who embraces him does not believe he is a killer. She volunteers that her relationship is platonic. Is her judgement sound? Is she recklessly introducing to her life a dangerous man who has no respect for life?
Gordon used to be a driver for the suicide Rene Rivkin. Rene was also a celebrity financier who famously acquired wealth after a bad investment burned up.
Ugly rumors spread regarding the death of Wood's former girlfriend, model Caroline Byrne. Some have said she knew too much about Rene and was killed for that.
Soon, a court will decide. For now, Gordon is on bail, and he is able to go to the beach with his platonic friend.
Gordon Wood finds new female friend
ReplyDeleteBy Steve Gee
HE is on bail for the murder of his former girlfriend -but the shadow of suspicion doesn't seem to have affected Gordon Wood's ability to find some female companionship.
As this picture clearly shows, Wood, accused of killing Sydney model Caroline Byrne 12 years ago, appears comfortable in the arms of this mystery woman - and vice versa.
Wood - whose face cannot be shown for legal reasons - has been spotted in the company of the svelte young lady on several occasions, with Bondi Beach an apparent favourite haunt of the couple.
Although adamant their relationship was platonic, the woman - who asked to remain anonymous - yesterday told The Daily Telegraph she was determined to stand by the former chauffeur.
Aged in her 30s, the woman said that there was no reason to doubt Wood's innocence.
"Everybody is treating him as though he is guilty," she said.
"He has been absolutely vilified, absolutely vilified
"He is either innocent and it's a tragic, tragic situation he's in or he's a complete sociopath who has lied consistently for 12 years.
"I've had a someone I knew who was completely sociopathic and all the way through the hairs on the back of my neck were bristling.
"Your gut tells you something is not right. I have not had one bristle (with Gordon). I'm not saying I'm infallible, but I'm just going on my gut."
Questioned further about Wood's predicament, the woman said: "It's either atrocious behaviour on the part of the media and the police or wow . . . it's creepy."
Wood is on bail awaiting trial in July for Ms Byrne's 1995 murder.
He faced a committal hearing five months ago on charges that he killed his then-girlfriend on July 7 of that year.
Ms Byrne's body was found at the bottom of The Gap at Watsons Bay.
Wood, 44, refused to answer questions when confronted with his lady friend at Bondi yesterday.
His only acknowledgement came when he cocked his hand over his ear in a mock gesture to indicate he could not hear what was being asked.
Earlier, Wood and his bikini-clad friend spent more than an hour walking laps of the beach and swimming at North Bondi.
He was waiting on the promenade when the woman arrived on a motor scooter about 7.20am.
The pair kissed and warmly embraced before they began walking and jogging.
The woman maintained the relationship was platonic, saying the pair met through a mutual friend several months ago.
She said they simply shared a mutual love of the beach and fitness.
"I'm probably one of the few people he likes to talk to that's anonymous," she said.
"You don't want to get involved right now in his life beyond just being supportive."
The woman said although she was aware of Ms Byrne's death, it was not a subject she had discussed with Wood.
"If you hang around long enough you can't avoid not knowing about it," she said. "(But) to be honest with you when we walk up and down (the beach) we talk about getting fit.
"That's what we talk about."
Crown prosecutors have predicted Wood's trial could last six months, with up to 200 witnesses expected to be called to give evidence.