Grisly details after woman found dead in bed

The friends and family of murdered woman Dannielle Finlay-Jones have called for domestic violence reform following the teacher’s alleged death at the hands of her new partner.

Ms Finlay-Jones was found dead at a friend’s home in Cranebrook, Sydney’s northwest, in December 2022.

Ashley Gaddie, who she had just started dating, was arrested for murder after a 12-hour standoff with police in the Blue Mountains.

Last month he was found dead in his prison cell, where he had been held since his arrest.

The teacher’s family told Nine’s 60 Minutes on Sunday that they want greater protections for women, starting with bail reform.

Dannielle met Gaddie, 33, on the dating app Bumble just before Christmas 2022.

On December 17th of that year, she brought Ashley to a Christmas drinks gathering with her friends.

Her best friend, Taylor Joseph, described it as a big deal.

“It was the first boyfriend we ever met,” she told 60 Minutes on Sunday.

Ms Joseph said she spent most of the night “cuddled” next to him.

But that night they argued over a drinking game over Dannielle’s admission of having had a one-night stand in the past.

After the party, Gaddie and Dannielle went back to Taylor’s house in Cranebrook, where they slept in a guest room.

“We went to bed, I think it was about 1:30 p.m. And then at some point in the night, my partner woke me up and just said, “Can you hear that?” Taylor told 60 Minutes.

“And it actually sounded like sexual noises. So I just laughed about it, rolled over and went back to sleep.”

But when Dannielle hadn’t left the room the next afternoon, Taylor went to check on her.

Her body was discovered covered with a blanket.

Police allege the teacher suffered severe bruising to her face and a bloody nose.

Autopsy results indicate the 31-year-old was strangled, police stated in documents submitted to the court.

“She was bleeding from her face. That was probably the only clue I needed to tell me things were bad,” Taylor said.

Following his arrest, it was revealed that AVOs had been obtained against Gaddie by five different women between 2016 and 2021.

He was also convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Gaddie was convicted in 2021 of a number of domestic violence-related offenses, including common assault, assault and intentionally choking a person without consent.

He was also found guilty of stalking/intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical harm.

He was on bail over the alleged attack on another woman when he allegedly killed Ms Finlay-Jones.

“Perhaps the justice system has failed Danni, but not just Danni, but the other victims as well,” her brother Blake Finlay-Jones told the show.

Danni’s best friend Taylor described it as a murder waiting to happen and called for reform of bail laws in New South Wales.

“I think it’s getting a bit ridiculous now. “How many other people have to suffer before something happens?” asked Taylor.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb told the program that 60 per cent of NSW Police general duty resources would be allocated to domestic violence operations.

She said she had spoken to members of Minn’s government about tightening bail laws.

“I have already spoken to members of government about this today and welcome any changes or improvements that can be made,” she said.

Blake Finlay-Jones called for stronger protection for women using dating apps.

“There are some things that I think need to change,” he said.

“One of them would now be the dating apps. For this, police checks must be carried out.

“And then both sides have to come to the party. That’s why the police need to make it easier for the apps to access.”