Murder of Michelle Bright

{{Short description|Unsolved 1999 crime in Australia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Michelle Bright

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Michelle Loraine Bright

| birth_date = {{birth date|1981|06|02|df=y}}

| birth_place = New South Wales, Australia

| death_date = {{death date and age|1999|02|02|1981|06|02|df=y}}

| death_place = Gulgong, New South Wales

| death_cause = Undetermined. Homicide

| body_discovered = 5 February 1999

| resting place = Gulgong General Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia

| resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|32.37554|S|149.53111|E|region:AUS_type:landmark|display=inline}} (approximate)

| height =

| occupation = Student

| years_active =

| nationality = Australian

}}

Michelle Bright was a 17-year-old girl who was found raped and murdered in New South Wales, Australia.

She was last seen at 12:45 am on 2 February 1999 by a friend who dropped her off in Mayne Street, Gulgong following a friend's 15th birthday party that day.{{cite news|title=Who killed Michelle? A family needs closure|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/who-killed-michelle-a-family-needs-closure-20140322-35a1o.html|publisher=Tim Barlass, The Sydney Morning Herald|date=23 March 2014}} The Minister for Police, Michael Daley, announced that the NSW Government offered a reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Bright, the second-highest reward offered in NSW (the highest being the reward offered for the recovery of William Tyrrell).{{cite web|last1=O’Neill|first1=Marnie|title=Aussie mother begs daughter's killer to break 18-year silence and turn himself in|url=http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/aussie-mother-begs-daughters-killer-to-break-18year-silence-and-turn-himself-in/news-story/2cd3d194cd2f3f11c78fb495e1908da8|website=News.com.au|access-date=18 January 2018|date=February 25, 2017}} The police regarded Bright's death as a horrific crime.{{cite news|title=Reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Michelle Bright|url=http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/can_you_help_us/rewards/500000_reward/reward_of_$500,000_to_solve_the_murder_of_michelle_bright|publisher=NSW Government of Australia}}

On 10 August 2020, the reward was raised to $1,000,000.{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Madeline |title=Man to face trial over 1999 murder of Michelle Bright in Central West |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-03/man-charged-with-murder-of-michelle-bright-to-face-trial/101044386 |website=ABC News |access-date=18 November 2022 |language=en-AU |date=3 June 2022}} The following day, 53-year-old Craig Henry Rumsby, a former neighbour of Bright's, was arrested for her murder, and also an assault with intent to rape against an 18-year-old committed in 1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/man-charged-with-michelle-bright-murder-after-public-appeal-20200812-p55ktw.html|title=Former neighbour charged with murder over Michelle Bright's murder|author=Emma Partridge and Mary Ward|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=August 12, 2020}}

On 30 June 2023, Rumsby was found guilty of Bright's murder and the assault on the 18-year-old.{{Cite news |agency=Australian Associated Press |date=2023-06-30 |title=Craig Rumsby found guilty of murdering teenager Michelle Bright more than two decades after her death |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/30/craig-rumsby-found-guilty-of-murdering-teenager-michelle-bright-more-than-two-decades-after-her-death |access-date=2023-06-30 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Marlan |first=Zaarkacha |date=2023-06-30 |title=Michelle Bright, 17, was murdered in 1999. On Friday a jury found Craig Rumsby guilty of killing her and dumping her body |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-30/craig-rumsby-found-guilty-of-michelle-bright-murder/102470266 |access-date=2023-06-30}}

On 7 August 2023, Justice Robert Allan Hulme sentenced Rumsby to 32 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 24 years: Rumsby will be eligible for parole in 2044, at the age of 77.