A man has confessed to raping and murdering South Australian nurse Gayle Woodford in March last year.
Dudley Davey, 35, pleaded guilty to rape, murder and stealing her ambulance in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court yesterday via video link from Yatala Labour Prison.
The mother-of-two’s body was found buried three days after her disappearance in South Australia’s Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands where she worked as an outback nurse.
Police used the GPS tracking on the ambulance to track Davey and he was arrested inside, reports News Corp.
Davey, who has a lengthy criminal history, remains in custody and is expected to be sentenced next month.
Grieving members of Ms Woodford’s family were present during the preceedings, including her husband, Keith Woodfird, who has not comments but is expected to make a statement.
Speaking to ABC back in March after her disappearance, Ms Woodford’s children Gary and Alison described their mother was a loving woman who dedicated her life to helping others.
“Our family would like to take this opportunity to express our devastation on the loss of our beautiful loving wife and mother,” Mr Woodford said.
“We are having difficulty coming to terms with this unprovoked and premature end to mum’s life. Anyone who knows mum would appreciate the kind, generous and loving, devoted and beautiful person she was.
“She always devoted her life to not only her family and friends but has given so much to the community. She wanted to make a difference to people’s lives through her nursing and caring for others.
“Our hearts are breaking every second.”
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