Backpacker murders

The backpacker murders were a spate of serial killings that took place in New South Wales, Australia, between 1989 and 1993, committed by Ivan Milat.

The bodies of seven missing young people aged 19 to 22 were discovered partially buried in the Belanglo State Forest, 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south-west of the New South Wales town of Berrima.

[2] However, unsolved Australian missing-person cases such as that of Trudie Adams (1978), Tony Jones (1982), Naoko Onda (1987)[3] and Anna Rosa Liva (1991)[4] led those who still hitchhiked to begin to travel in pairs for safety.

One case involved a young Victorian couple from Frankston, Deborah Everist (19) and James Gibson (19), who had been missing since leaving Sydney for ConFest, near Albury, on 30 December 1989.

[5] Similarly, a German couple, Gabor Neugebauer (21) and Anja Habschied (20), had disappeared after leaving a Kings Cross hostel for Mildura on 26 December 1991.

Another involved missing British backpackers Caroline Clarke (21) and Joanne Walters (22), who were last seen in Kings Cross on 18 April 1992.

[5] A large knife had cut through his upper spine causing paralysis, and stab wounds to his back and chest would have punctured his heart and lungs.

[13] The presence of Gibson's body in Belanglo puzzled investigators as his camera had previously been discovered on 31 December 1989, and his backpack later on 13 March 1990, by the side of the road at Galston Gorge, in the northern Sydney suburbs, over 120 kilometres (75 mi) to the north.

[22][23] Forensic study determined that each had suffered multiple stab wounds to the torso, and many showed signs of sexual assault.

The killer, probably a local with a 4WD,[19] had evidently restrained and spent considerable time with the victims both during and after the murders, as campsites were discovered close to the location of each body.

[19] Speculation arose that the crimes were the work of several killers,[24][25] given that most of the victims had been attacked while as pairs, had been killed in different ways, and buried separately.

On 25 January 1990, Onions had been backpacking in Australia and, while hitchhiking from Liverpool station towards Mildura, had accepted a ride south out of Casula from a man known only as "Bill".

[29] On 13 April 1994, detectives re-found the note regarding Onions' call and sought the original report from Bowral police, but it was missing.

Onions' statement was corroborated by Berry, who had also contacted the investigation team, along with the girlfriend of a man who worked with Ivan Milat, who thought he should be questioned over the case.

[31] Police learnt that Milat had recently sold his silver Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive shortly after the discovery of the bodies of Clarke and Walters.

[36] Also uncovered was foreign currency, clothing, a tent, sleeping bags, camping equipment and cameras belonging to several of his victims.

[39] His defence argued that, in spite of the evidence, there was no non-circumstantial proof Milat was guilty and attempted to shift the blame to other members of his family, particularly Richard.