Johanna Martin: sex game gone wrong or foul play

Jazzy O's Mercedes

Johanna Martin’s convertible Mercedes was found in a carpark near the corner of Graham and Evans streets in Port Melbourne, not far from where her body was discovered. Picture: Darren Tindale
Source: Herald Sun


Jazzy O

Johanna Martin’s body was found wrapped in a blanket in Port Melbourne.
Source: Supplied




JOHANNA Martin spent decades working as a prostitute and stripper in Melbourne’s seedy sex industry and kept the secrets of the city’s elite.


Clients of the woman known as Jazzy O included football players and celebrities, and she knew the secrets of an industry where lurid stories abound about politicians, sports stars, lawyers and Australia’s most senior business identities.

On Tuesday, Ms Martin’s body was found wrapped in a blanket, her hands and legs bound, and dumped in bushes in Lorimer St, Port Melbourne.

Police are unsure whether Ms Martin, 65, was murdered or whether she died as a result of a sex game gone wrong, but friends suspect foul play.

“She would never allow herself to be tied up,” said one long-time friend.

“She was always scared of having her jewellery stolen.”

Police yesterday made their first breakthrough, finding Ms Martin’s Jack Russell dog, Suzie, inside her grey 2010 Mercedes convertible, which was in a carpark near the corner of Graham and Evans streets, Port Melbourne, not far from where her body was dumped.

Police are combing Ms Martin’s phone and booking records.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw her after she left her Southbank apartment at 10am on Tuesday, including clients.

“She’s been placed in a position that you could hardly say anyone has gone to any great trouble to hide her body,” said Insp John Potter of the homicide squad.

“So somebody might have done something they clearly later regret and perhaps they need to talk about it.

“One of the aspects of this case is we understand she went to certain venues to meet clients. We can’t discount the fact this is exactly what’s happened here and that clearly something’s gone wrong.”

Many of Ms Martin’s shows were so extreme some people felt compelled to leave. She was popular with footy clubs, and performed at a live sex show for the Melbourne Football Club’s end-of-season event at Channel 9 studios in the 1990s.

But there was also another Johanna Martin. She was happily married for more than 30 years to a truck driver who died several years ago.

She has grandchildren, and grew rich through her work, owning properties in Port Melbourne and Docklands.

“People shouldn’t judge Jazzy,” said one long-time friend.

“She was a very kind person. She loved her work.”

Although Ms Martin worked for herself, taking her own bookings, she also worked through some of Melbourne’s biggest escort agencies, including one linked to the Labor MP Craig Thomson credit card scandal.

Sex industry stalwart Maxine Fensom said Ms Martin’s death had shocked the industry.

“I just pray it’s happened because a sex game or something has gone wrong, and there’s not someone out there murdering prostitutes,” Ms Fensom said.

“There some very strange people out there.”

Police do not believe there is any link between her death and that of street prostitute Karina Ann Bell, 24, who was found on Monday morning in a laneway in Caulfield South.

Anyone with information about Ms Martin’s movements in the past week is asked to contact Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000.

–  with Anthony Dowsley

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes