What investigating cop thought of the Baden-Clay decision

Nathanael Cooper

Four years ago Detective Superintendent Mark Ainsworth led one of the most high profile investigations Queensland had seen.

43-year-old mother of three Allison Baden-Clay had gone missing in suspicious circumstances and her husband was the key suspect.

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Allison's smiling face peered from the pages of news websites around the country and a media pack closely scrutinised every element of the police investigation.

When her husband Gerard was arrested the level of scrutiny on the investigation only increased as the case moved into the trial phase with police seeking a murder conviction.

With so many of his investigating team called to the witness stand, Superintendent Ainsworth became very close to the case and the people involved.

When the jury found Baden-Clay guilty of murder Superintendent Ainsworth was full of praise for those who had worked hard to put the wife killer behind bars.

"The work that they demonstrated was nothing short of outstanding," he said outside court at the time.

"They formed a suspicion very early in the piece, contacted their supervisors, who again performed some outstanding work notifying the Criminal Investigation Branch at an early stage.

Detective Superintendents Brian Wilkins and Mark Ainsworth speaking to media after the guilty verdict was handed down. Photo: Claudia Baxter

"The detectives from Indooroopilly CIB that responded and ramped up this investigation up to a high level at a very early stage are to be commended in relation to their activities."

He also praised their dedication with many of his team making personal sacrifices throughout the search period.

Gerard Baden-Clay at the funeral of his wife Allison, who he was later found to have killed. Photo: Michelle Smith

"Police officers giving up days off, public holidays, police recruits doing the same, working hand in hand with the State Emergency Service, the Queensland Fire Service, the Brisbane City Council ... everyone determined to find Allison," he said.

But the story for Superintendent Ainsworth and Allison's family and friends wasn't to end there.

Allison Baden-Clay died in 2012. Photo: Supplied

Baden-Clay launched a successful appeal to have his conviction downgraded from murder to manslaughter.

On Wednesday, the High Court of Australia overturned that decision and returned the conviction for murder.

Superintendent Ainsworth said he was happy with the outcome and happy the police investigation stood up to years of scrutiny.

"I am extremely happy with the outcome," he said.

"It was a very professional investigation, the work by all the people involved was done to a very high level."

Superintendent Ainsworth still remains in touch with Allison's parents Geoff and Priscilla Dickie and he said he had spoken to them on Wednesday after the High Court decision was handed down.

"There is a sense of relief that the criminal matters have now been finalised," he said.

The investigation element of Allison Baden-Clay's murder may now be over, but Superintendent Ainsworth will remain indelibly connected to the family - even today he remains on the board of the foundation set up in memory of Allison to provide a proactive response to family violence.

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