Man shot estranged wife just yards from her baby

Cindy Crossthwaite knew someone was out to get her

- WORDS: GAIL SHORTLAND

Indy Crossthwaite and Emil 'Bill' Petrov had been married for almost 10 years when they separated in 2005. But two years later, they were still locked in a custody battle over their two children, a daughter aged nine and a seven-year-old son, and hadn't settled the division of their assets.

Cindy had moved on and started dating someone else. By 2007, she had a 13-month-old son, although the relationship had ended. Aged 41, she was now focused on raising her three children at her home in Melbourne, Australia, but the divorce was weighing heavily on her.

At a family court hearing in May 2007, Petrov insisted that several properties shouldn't be included in the divorce agreement because they were owned by his parents. The case was adjourned until July so Petrov could instruct a lawyer.

Friends could see that Cindy was living in a state of heightened anxiety. She had made unproven allegations of sexual misconduct against Petrov's father, which were being dealt with by the police. She also believed someone was trying to make her think she was losing her mind.

She told loved ones she thought someone was watching her. She would answer the phone, but no one would speak. Garden furniture would inexplicably move around and items would go missing. Did she have a stalker?

On 20 June 2007, Cindy didn't turn up at school to pick up her two older children and no one could reach her. A friend tried all day to get hold of her. Someone went to collect the children while Cindy's dad, Phillip, went to her home to check on her.

When Phillip walked in at around 4pm, he saw blood splatter on the blinds and window of the living room. Then he found the body of his daughter - on the floor, half covered under a pink blanket. She had been choked, had suffered injuries to her upper body and been shot in the head at close range.