On 12 December 2011, Debs was convicted of the April 1995 shooting murder of New South Wales sex worker Donna Ann Hicks.
He fathered five children, the youngest of whom, Joseph, was found dead due to a suspected drug overdose at a house in Greensborough in December 2003.
[3] In sentencing Debs, Justice Kaye remarked: Your murder of Ms Harty was entirely senseless, needless and wanton.
The evidence discloses beyond any doubt that this was not a case of a sexual encounter in which, in the heat of the moment, feelings or passions may have led to a spontaneous and irrational act of violence.
Rather, and quite to the contrary, this was, most clearly, a callous, craven and senseless murder in cold blood of an entirely innocent, defenceless and vulnerable young woman.
[13] While imprisoned, Debs has undertaken psychology classes, life skills and computer training and is employed as a prison carpet cleaner.