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February 12, 2026 — 12:12pm
A man who allegedly strangled a young mother and left her for dead before taking their 11-month-old baby has pleaded guilty to murder.
Mary Benedito, 25, died in hospital from her injuries after the incident in 2021 at the Meriton Suites in Southport on the Gold Coast, where she had been staying with the baby.
At an arraignment on Thursday in the Supreme Court, Reo Te Whetu Marama Marsh pleaded guilty to the murder of Benedito.
Marsh stood before members of Benedito’s family, who were wearing shirts in honour of the Logan mother as he entered his plea.
Paramedics had found Benedito unconscious, after neighbours had called for help.
She was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where she later died.
Marsh was later arrested in Oxley in Brisbane’s south after being chased by the dog squad.
Police had issued an amber alert over the baby but the child was handed into Crestmead Police Station by associates of Marsh.
After her death, Benedito was remembered by her family as a beautiful mum, who had an amazing heart.
Marsh made his plea ahead of his trial, which was due to begin on February 27. He will now be sentenced on that date.
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