Unsolved The Family Murders

Remove this Banner Ad

The Who's Who List
VICTIMS
AB - Alan Barnes 16yo
NM - Neil Muir 25yo
PS - Peter Stogneff 14yo
ML - Mark Langley 18yo
RK- Richard Kelvin 15yo

  • DS - Derrance Stevenson high risk lifestyle pornographer and criminal lawyer shot to death
  • DS - David Szach convicted for the murder of criminal lawyer Derrence Stevenson

DECEASED
DSD - Denis St Denis hairdresser
RBD - Richard Dutton Brown the magistrate
PF - Pru Firman
SN - Sarah Novak
BG - Brian Gant
NB - Noel Brook also known as Di Di
TP - Trevor Peters of the diaries
PM - Dr. Peter Leslie Millhouse acquitted for the murder of Neil Muir

LIVING until further notice
BVE - Bevan von Einem also known as 'Bevbang' to inner circle and 'Vonnie' in the prison system
Mr R - The businessman name suppressed
SGW - Dr Stephen George Woodards
Mr. B - Teenage prostitute and informant name suppressed
JL - Jacquie the nurse mentioned in the ebook as a good friend of and who rented a unit close to BVEs unit we assume name suppressed?
LT - Lewis Turtur also known as 'Louie'
A - The older teenage boy Peter Stogneff's parents feel may have had something to do with their son's abduction
RR - Raymond Rozankowski who was a friend of BVE and lived in the same street as A

DK - Darko Kastellan assistant to Gambardella
GG - Gino Gambardella chiropractor fled to Italy

Out of Sight - The Untold Story of Adelaide's Gay Hate Murders

The Cases of Forensic Pathologist Colin Manock

Use this thread below to lodge media, maps and photos for quick reference.

 
Last edited:

Log in to remove this ad.

Why the heck the suppression orders still stand after more than 30 years should warrant an enquiry & change of SA's laws as they have only protected guilty parties & caused more pain to the family of the victims & those who have been unfairly slurred.

There have been numerous judges who were associates/paedophiles, so makes you wonder whether they pulled strings behind the scenes.
The bottom line is why haven't any of our politicians fixed our suppressions laws? It's a joke!

The suppressions are/were in place because these people hadn’t been charged with any offence, which is entirely reasonable. Recently the court lifted suppressions on a few of the transgenders who are now dead. Turtur consented to his name being released. Only one, “the wealthy businessman” successfully opposed the lifting of the suppression order on his name.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

The suppressions are/were in place because these people hadn’t been charged with any offence, which is entirely reasonable. Recently the court lifted suppressions on a few of the transgenders who are now dead. Turtur consented to his name being released. Only one, “the wealthy businessman” successfully opposed the lifting of the suppression order on his name.
What is the reasoning 30 years later? What purpose does it have?

Why isn't every murder suspect suppressed in Australia given your reasoning?

These are outdated laws that are being abused & should only be temporary in exceptional circumstances.

Only someone dodgy would think otherwise.
 
What is the reasoning 30 years later? What purpose does it have?

Why isn't every murder suspect suppressed in Australia given your reasoning?

These are outdated laws that are being abused & should only be temporary in exceptional circumstances.

Only someone dodgy would think otherwise.

I think the names of most murder suspects ARE suppressed until they are charged. Until someone is charged, allegations are just rumours and are very very damaging. Just because someone names someone else in court, doesn’t make it true. The thing is, these people are suspects in the public eye, not necessarily in the legal sense.
 
I think the names of most murder suspects ARE suppressed until they are charged. Until someone is charged, allegations are just rumours and are very very damaging. Just because someone names someone else in court, doesn’t make it true. The thing is, these people are suspects in the public eye, not necessarily in the legal sense.
What other suppression orders have been in place 30 years later...
 
I think the names of most murder suspects ARE suppressed until they are charged. Until someone is charged, allegations are just rumours and are very very damaging. Just because someone names someone else in court, doesn’t make it true. The thing is, these people are suspects in the public eye, not necessarily in the legal sense.

Yet the police do it, a lot actually. In WA on the Claremont Murders case they outed Peter Weygers the former mayor and Lance Williams a shy public servant. Sometimes they might use the term 'person of interest' when we all know they mean ranked 'suspect'.

Sixty Minutes tonight on a more recent case, the William Tyrrell disappearance and the police targeting of the washing machine repair man Bill Spedding as a suspect.

Thirty years later on the Family Murders, I can see no good enough reason really to keep protecting anybody who was involved in that court case. If Turtur, who's presumably handling it that we all know who he is and that he was obviously up to his neck in no good, why should anybody else stay hidden? Could it be any worse than Turtur's story?

Edit: Not Sixty Mins but Four Corners.
 
Last edited:
Yet the police do it, a lot actually. In WA on the Claremont Murders case they outed Peter Weygers the former mayor and Lance Williams a shy public servant. Sometimes they might use the term 'person of interest' when we all know they mean ranked 'suspect'.

Sixty Minutes tonight on a more recent case, the William Tyrrell disappearance and the police targeting of the washing machine repair man Bill Spedding as a suspect.

Thirty years later on the Family Murders, I can see no good enough reason really to keep protecting anybody who was involved in that court case. If Turtur, who's presumably handling it that we all know who he is and that he was obviously up to his neck in no good, why should anybody else stay hidden? Could it be any worse than Turtur's story?

Edit: Not Sixty Mins but Four Corners.
While I agree with not protecting anyone (actually) involved, we don't know they were involved until they're convicted. It's right that names should be suppressed otherwise.
 
While I agree with not protecting anyone (actually) involved, we don't know they were involved until they're convicted. It's right that names should be suppressed otherwise.
In principle I agree but each application for a suppression order must be considered on a case by case basis. The main thing they should consider is the evidence against them. Mr R was within an inch of being charged. Before the Family murders he was under investigation with his lover, Magistrate Richard Dutton Brown for spike-raping young guys. He went to BVE's home immediately after BVE's home was searched. Mr B testified that Mr R was in BVE's car immediately before Alan Barnes was abducted.

If he had been named early i would have given members of the public an opportunity to come forward and supply information about him, potentially tipping him over the line.

He's in his 70s now. I'm sure sooner or later he will be publicly ID'd, as with Mr B. I wish they were outed back in the day.
 
In principle I agree but each application for a suppression order must be considered on a case by case basis. The main thing they should consider is the evidence against them. Mr R was within an inch of being charged. Before the Family murders he was under investigation with his lover, Magistrate Richard Dutton Brown for spike-raping young guys. He went to BVE's home immediately after BVE's home was searched. Mr B testified that Mr R was in BVE's car immediately before Alan Barnes was abducted.

If he had been named early i would have given members of the public an opportunity to come forward and supply information about him, potentially tipping him over the line.

He's in his 70s now. I'm sure sooner or later he will be publicly ID'd, as with Mr B. I wish they were outed back in the day.
Yes but if you're named but have done nothing wrong? Your life's ruined, if not ended.
 
Yes but if you're named but have done nothing wrong? Your life's ruined, if not ended.
As I said - depends on the situation.

Lance Williams' name was leaked to the press by WAPOL in the CSK case. Had there been a suppression order the media would not have been able to release it. It caused huge damage to Williams but he was not only a worthy suspect, he had a history of stalking women. As in every single weekend.

Guys like this put themselves at risk, so as undeserved as it is, they've contributed heavily to the situation.

It's not hard to see why Woodards and Brown have been outed - they have been in the media for unrelated sex offence cases. Maybe Mr B and and Mr R have escaped because their names haven't come up elsewhere.

But in this case, it's fair for the public to know, "Mr R was BVE's best known confidant. He rushed over to his house as soon as SAPOL raided his house. A witness put him in BVE's car minutes before Kelvin was abducted. He was investigated prior to the Family murders for drugging and raping young men".

IMO, protecting him on the chance he is not guilty should not take preference of outing him and allowing the public to potentially provide leads or evidence against him.

I'd be very surprised if some people didn't come forward and say, "he's the guy who drugged and r*ped me". When it's not public knowledge, victims and witnesses are in the dark.
 
The Family

Any person complicit in the abduction, rape and murders of the five victims, plus any person who visited the place of captivity when a victim was knowingly present, plus any person involved in the abduction, spiking and raping of young boys/men at the transgender share house in Alberton.

The Victims

Alan Arthur Barnes

  • Age: 16
  • Date of abduction: June 17, 1979
  • Date body found: June 24, 1979
  • Location of body: Under the old bridge at South Para Reservoir
  • Died from blood loss due to massive anal injuries
  • Held for days, tortured and beaten
  • Had Noctec and alcohol in his system
  • His body had been cleaned and he had been redressed in someone else's clothes


  • Lived with family out in Salisbury but regularly spent weekends in city
  • His closest friend was Darko Kastelan. They regularly frequented the gay haunts together so it's probable they had a sexual relationship
  • Was dabbling in drugs, allegedly including heroin
  • The night before he went missing he stayed at Darko's house in Cheltenham. The next day was a Sunday, they both planned to hitchhike to Alan's home in Salisbury. Darko's brother dropped them at a bus stop near the corner of on Grand Junction Rd and Allenby Rd. Darko soon returned home. A witness saw Alan hitchhiking and saw a white station wagon pull over to pick him up.
  • Mr B testified in 1990 that he was in that white station wagon with BVE


  • In the weeks leading up to his murder he was witnessed by Gary Place at the Gateway Hotel on North Tce with BVE and Woodards and then a week later with the same people at either the same hotel or a different hotel.
  • According to Debi Marshall, Darko was with Gino Gambardella when they first met David Szach. They picked Szach up and went back to Derrance Stephenson's house where they all had sex (according to David Szach)
  • Darko worked at Gino Gambardella's chiropractic clinic.
  • Also according to Debi Marshall, Alan worked at refilling vending machines. One of the businesses on his run was Pipeline Supplies, the business where BVE was the accountant.
  • It is believed Alan had a pending rape charge against him (the victim was female). It has been implied (but not confirmed) that Derrance Stevenson was his representation. The day after Derrance Stevenson's murder a young man went to legal aid requesting representation and remarked that "Derrance was in no shape to represent him". It is believed this young man was Alan Barnes.
  • It's possible he was at Derrance Stephenson's house on the night he was murdered. This is unconfirmed as it is also unconfirmed they knew each other.
Neil Frederick Muir
  • Age: 25
  • Date of abduction: August 27, 1979
  • Date body found: August 28 1979
  • Location of body: Mutton Cove on the shore of the Port Adelaide River
  • Died from blood loss due to massive anal injuries
  • His remains had been dissected and neatly cut into many pieces, placed in a garbage bag and thrown into the Port River at Port Adelaide. Skin bearing tattoos had been removed and most of the body parts were placed in another garbage bag before being placed within the abdominal cavity
  • In addition to his limbs being sawed off, Neil's genitals had been mutilated by his killer. His penis had been cut and he was missing a testicle.
  • Not able to do toxicity test because internal organs missing




  • Heroin addict
  • Suspected prostitute
  • Lived on Carrington St, Adelaide in a doss house
  • Regularly frequented the gay haunts so assumed to be gay
  • Was at the Buck and the Duke on the night before he was discovered. Was very intoxicated.
  • Had a sexual relationship with BVE four years earlier
Peter Stogneff
  • Age: 14
  • Date of abduction: August 27 1981
  • Date body found: June 23 1982
  • Location of body: On side of road at Two Wells




  • Wasn't found until 10 months later and had been burned from a farmer back-burning so only skeleton remain.
  • Couldn't determine COD or toxicity but he had been cut up like Neil Muir and then accidentally burned by the farmer who was back burning. It was only that the scrub was removed by fire that his remains were exposed.
  • Wagged school and caught train from Tea Tree Plaza to Rundle Mall
Mark Andrew Langley
  • Age: 18
  • Date of abduction: Feb 27 1982
  • Date body found: Mar 8 1982
  • Location of body: In scrub off Sprigg Road, Piccadilly
  • Died from blood loss due to massive anal injuries




  • Among the mutilations was a wound that appeared to have been cut with a surgical instrument that went from his navel to the pubic region and part of his small bowel was missing. The hair around the area had been shaved as it would have been in an operation in a hospital. SAPOL speculate that some evidence got stuck in his bowel after being inserted in his rectum so the captors had to operate to recover it.
  • Mandrax in his system
  • Washed and dressed in same clothes
  • Likely to have been killed and dumped within 48 hours of abduction
  • Had attended party in Windsor Gardens but left with a male and female. They drove to War Memorial Drive (150m east of the Adelaide Rowing Club ) when Mark had a minor argument with the other male so got out and left. The male and female drove off but returned minutes later to retrieve him and he had gone.
Richard Kelvin
  • Age: 15
  • Date of abduction: June 5, 1983
  • Date body found: July 24 1983
  • Location of body: In scrub next to airstrip on Airstrip Rd near Kersbrook
  • Died of massive blood loss from an anal injury, likely caused by the insertion of a large blunt object
  • Mandrax, Noctec, Rohypnol, Valium and Amatel




  • Washed and redressed
  • There was evidence his hair had been cut in captivity
  • Had been held captive and brutally tortured for approximately 5 weeks
  • Abducted near O'Connell St, North Adelaide
  • Lived with his parents at Ward St, North Adelaide
The Suspects

Bevan Spencer von Einem
  • Age in 1979 - 33




  • Convicted of murder of Richard Kelvin
  • Lived in Paradise with his Mum during the time at 13/3 Rowney Ave and 7 Day St. You can see those abodes here:
  • Worked as an accountant at Pipeline Supplies of Australia which was on South Rd in Regency Park
  • In 1990 he was charged with the murders of Alan Barnes and Mark Langley on the basis of evidence provided by co-suspect Mr B. Police dropped the charges because Mr B's credibility became more and more into question - he was saying BVE was responsible for the Beaumonts and the Adelaide Oval abductions.
  • Had a sexual relationship with victim Neil Muir approximately four years before Muir's death
  • According to Mr B, BVE's favoured place to cruise for hitchhikers was from the cnr of King William St and North Terrace, over the City Bridge, through North Adelaide where King William changes into O'Connell St, and then a right turn up Main North Rd to The Big Scotsman Motel on the corner of Nottage Terrace. He would cruise that route up and down, looking for victims.

Mr R
  • Age in 1979 - approx same age as BVE
  • Often referred to as "the business man"
  • Still runs his business. Now in Unley Rd
  • Was living with co-suspect Stephen George Woodards at the time
  • SAPOL believe he was heavily involved
  • Would arrive at the Alberton transgender house to abuse young men and boys that BVE had already drugged and r*ped.
  • SAPOL believe he was in the car when Kelvin was abducted and was in the car shortly after Barnes was picked up
  • Mr B testified in 1990 that he was in BVE's car when they by chance saw and picked up Alan Barnes hitch-hiking. BVE gave Barnes some alcohol and sedatives and then went and called Mr R who arrived shortly after. Mr B conveniently claimed he then left BVE and Mr R with a now unconscious Barnes, but not before BVE invited him to come along and "do some surgery".
Mr B
  • Age in 1979 - 20
  • Former child prostitute
  • He met BVE in 1979
  • Last known whereabouts were as a bus driver in Brisbane
  • SAPOL believe he was heavily involved
  • Two days after Alan Barnes was found he called police and told them it was BVE.
  • Mr B made a lot of statements about BVE from day one. He told police in the original investigation about how he and BVE were picking up hitchhikers, drugging them, and raping them. He's a dodgy guy but police believe his information to be true. He told them stuff that over time matched up with what they discovered about BVE.
  • Testified against BVE in 1990 (in case re Barnes and Langley) and claimed he was in BVE's car when they picked up Barnes. He then testified that BVE drugged Barnes then called Mr R who arrived shortly after to join in. He conveniently claimed he then left BVE and Mr R with a now unconscious Barnes, but not before BVE invited him to come along and "do some surgery". SAPOL believe otherwise.
  • Mr B always claimed he left just before BVE murdered people. "I was there, didn't like it, left, then met up with BVE two weeks later to pick up and rape dome more dudes". Police think he was a lot more involved that he made out. One police officer thinks this guy has serial killer like qualities.
  • In 1990 (State v BVE re Barnes and Langley) Mr B testified;
  • On a number of occasions he was present when the accused had picked up young men who were hitchhiking and given them alcohol and tablets.
  • On one occasion he had seen the accused with a naked youth in the bedroom of a home to which the youth had been taken. The youth had a torch and an instrument similar to a large stainless steel crochet hook in his anus.
  • He had been with the accused when the accused had given Barnes a lift in his car. He said that the incident took place while Barnes was hitchhiking near the northern parklands. Barnes said he wanted a lift to Salisbury. While in the car Barnes was given some drinks and tablets. He was asked if he wanted to go to a party and he said "Yes". The accused (BVE) drove back towards North Adelaide and stopped at a cafe. Later he stopped and made a telephone call. He told Mr B. that he had rung a man named Mr R and that he had arranged to meet Mr R near the toilets on the River Torrens bank, adjacent to the City bridge. Mr B. said the accused met and spoke to Mr R at this location. When the accused returned to the car he said to Mr B. "Do you want to come with us and do some surgery on this guy?" In response to a question from Mr B. the accused said that Mr R was going to come along. Mr B. said he left at this stage and walked up to the city. Throughout the time that they were in the vicinity of the toilets Barnes appeared to be unconscious in the rear seat of the vehicle.
  • However a statement from Mr B's sister, which was read to the court yesterday, said he had admitted to her that he was present when Barnes was killed.
Stephen George Woodards
  • Age in 1979 - 29
  • A doctor
  • SAPOL believe he was supplying BVE with date rape drugs such as Mandrax
  • Mark Langley had been cut open with surgical instrument and part of his bowel missing. SAPOL speculate his captors had to remove something they had placed and lost in his rectum. SAPOL suspect Woodards did the work.




  • SAPOL believe he was heavily involved
  • Now working as a doctor in Sydney
  • His lover was Richard Brown
  • He was living with Mr R at the time
  • SAPOL were investigating Woodards and his lover Brown for drugging and raping young men (this was before the Family murders)
  • He was charged in 2011 on 5 counts of raping a male under 17. The charges didn't stick because it couldn't be proven that the victims were under 17 at the time.
  • http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/...-george-woodards/story-e6frea83-1226074925805
Richard Dutton Brown
  • Age in 1979 - 30
  • He was appointed to the Magistrate's Bench in 1979 as a 30 year old
  • Often referred to as "the high profile lawyer"




  • Died in 2010 aged 62
  • At the time he was in a relationship with co-suspect Stephen Woodards
  • SAPOL SAPOL were investigating Brown and his lover Woodards for drugging and raping young males (this is before the Family murders investigation)




  • http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/...sought-young-men/story-fn6bqphm-1225971117982
Denis St Denis
  • BVE's hairdresser friend
  • Had a salon in Hazelwood Park




  • His nickname was "Pussy"
  • BVE went to his salon and had his dyed the day after Kelvin went missing
  • Allegedly rented a unit with BVE in the inner eastern suburbs - maybe Norwood, Kent Town or Dulwich. Both lived with their mothers and needed a place to take young men/boys.
  • Diaries of one of his friends (Trevor Peters) were found that document suspicious discussions between BVE and St Denis, as well as the witnessing of photos of an unconscious Alan Barnes
  • Kelvin was in captivity for 5 weeks and in that time his hair had been cut. SAPOL believe this was St Denis
  • https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news...y/news-story/eaf66c4823f20f55981177c02d2bb657
Lewis "Lana" Turtur
  • Age in 1979 - 26
  • He is a transvestite/drag queen. Has not had an operation
  • Shared a house in Alberton with Firman and Miss K
  • Allowed BVE to regularly come by with guys he had drugged so he could rape them (BVE that is). BVE would supply Turtur Mandrax for letting him use their house



  • SAPOL believe one or more of the transgenders were in BVE's car when Kelvin was abducted
  • Moved to Sydney soon after. Still lives there.
  • SAPOL don't think he/she was heavily involved but think they may have known where the boys/men were being held
  • In the 1990 court case (State v BVE re Barnes and Langley), Turtur gave evidence that the accused had given one youth an enema and on another occasion he had seen a torch light showing from under the bed clothes when the accused was in bed with a youth.
  • https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6086379460001
Prue Firman
  • A post-op transgender
  • Died 2010
  • Lived at the Alberton share house with Turtur and Miss K
  • Moved to Sydney with Turtur and Miss K after BVE trial
  • Returned to Adelaide and lived at 46 Shipsters Rd, Kensington Park with Sarah Novak. Next door to Trevor Peters whose diaries were found by his brother after his death. This diaries spoke about the Family and named the names that are named here. A link to this article can be found under Denis St Denis.
  • She is one of the "girls" who were used by BVE to lure males into his car.
  • Between Langley and Kelvin she picked up a boy with BVE. He was drugged. Firman had sex with him before he blacked out and the BVE did his thing. She was charged with rape but was acquitted because it couldn't be proven that it wasn't consensual
Miss K
  • A post-op transgender
  • Lived at the Alberton share house with Turtur and Firman
  • Moved to Sydney with Turtur and Firman after BVE trial
  • Helped BVE pick up guys
  • One of the transgenders is half Maori. Could be Miss K but also could be Brooks or Gant
  • It's also possible Miss K is Sarah Novak
  • Not much else is known. In Frozen Lies her name is beeped out when Turtur refers to her.
Sarah Novak
  • A post-op transgender
  • Lived next door to Trevor Peters at 46 Shipsters R, Kensington Park with Firman
Brian Gant
  • Transgender
  • He is a transvestite/drag queen. Has not had an operation
  • Sometimes r*ped unconscious boys that BVE brought back to the transgender house (after BVE had finished with them)
Donald Storen
  • It's unclear as to his involvement

The Gay Bars
  • The Mars Bar - 120 Gouger St, Adelaide
  • The Green Dragon - Cnr South Tce and Pulteney St, Adelaide
  • The Duke of York - 82 Currie St, Adelaide
  • Buckingham Arms "The Buck" - 1 Walkerville Terrace, Gilberton
  • Patches - 142 North Terrace
  • The Colonel Light - Light Square

The Gay Beats
  • No 1 beat: The park land on the corner of King Williams Rd and Victoria Drive. Immediately south of Jolly's boatshed. Also extended to the banks of the Torrens
  • Veale Gardens - lots of young male prostitutes worked these gardens
  • Unly Rd - between South Terrace and Greenhill Rd
  • Glenn Osmand Rd - between South Terrace and Greenhill Rd

Maps











In a nutshell, what happened?
  • BVE was the main man
  • The 1970s were loose. Smoking on planes, no seat belts, letting your kids go wherever they wanted without supervision etc. With that came the seediness kind of loose. Think Taxi Driver. That same sort of seediness was in our capital cities as well and Adelaide was no exception. Consider Kings X in Sydney at the time, the Wall in Sydney or the rent boys working the gay beats of Adelaide. No one today would accept underage boys selling their bodies for sex along a wall in Taylor Square, a major intersection in Sydney. That's simply outrageous but that was par for the course in the 1970s
  • Homosex was only legalised in 1975. Gay people could come out of the shadows. A burgeoning scene popped up with a number of sub scenes.
  • 44 year old high profile lawyer Derrance Stevenson headed up one scene where one of his close associates would trawl Adelaide's CBD for vulnerable street kids and bring them to Stevenson's house. Stevenson was regularly holding debauched parties and having sex with underage teenagers. That's pretty overt and risky behaviour for a high profile lawyer, but it was the 1970s.
  • BVE had his own scene going. He along with Mr B and Mr R, and with the help of the Transgender 3 were drugging and raping you male victims.
  • Concurrently, a high profile magistrate and his doctor lover were also drugging and raping young men.
  • In other parts of Adelaide, young (underage) men who were wards of the state were being targeted for sex. Many were working as rent boys in Veale Gardens and other beats where men would pay them for sex.
  • It seemed like there was competition to get to the young and vulnerable teenagers first to exploit them before someone else did. It was normal for some of these predators to ask young men they were in company of to help them find other young vulnerable men.
  • It just seemed that at that time, within the gay scene, this sort of behaviour seemed par for the course. It seemed normalised and remained unchecked until it escalated to murder. Even then, people remained silent.
  • BVE was regularly picking up young guys, giving them a spiked drink, and then taking them to a house and raping them. He lived at home with his Mum. If his Mum was away, he'd take them to his place. If not, he'd got to the house near Port Adelaide that was shared by transgenders Turtur, Firman and Brooks.
  • Turtur would let BVE bring drugged boys back in exchange for drugs (Mandrax).
    Turtur, Firman and Hill would sometimes be used as bait to pick up young men. BVE would promise alcohol, drugs, girls, sex etc. Once he got the boys back there he would spike their drinks or convince them the pill he was giving them was an upper and would keep them awake.
  • It's believed as many as 150 boys were drugged and r*ped. Nine victims of BVE testified at the 1990 trial.
  • Mandrax (aka Quaaludes) was this social circle's drug of choice. Quaaludes were huge in the 70s and early 80s before being banned. The Wolf of Wall St was all over them. Gay people liked them because they were a muscle relaxant and made it easier to have anal sex. BVE liked them for drugging and raping boys.
  • BVE associated with different pockets of the gay scene. He used the transgender share house to take boys, he hung around young boys like Mr B, Neil Muir and Alan Barnes. His closest associate was Mr R. These are people who would aid and abet him in abductions.
  • Once this loose group of associates had been established for a while, it escalated. But from where the group were, going that extra bit further wasn't a massive stretch. All of a sudden victims are being murdered, tortured and being held for weeks at a time.
  • There's no way you can find around 10 people who are okay with abduction, rape, body mutilation and murder within a small community. It was the culture within that community at the time which enabled people to think this sort of stuff was "ok" or "not that bad".
Other Players

Darko Kastelan

  • Close friend of Alan Barnes, possibly his lover
  • Barnes would often stay at Darko's house on weekends as Darko lived in Cheltenham which was closer to the CBD than where Barnes lived at Salisbury
  • Darko and Barnes would patronise the bars in the gay scene
  • Darko worked for Gino Gambardella at his chiropractic clinic
  • It is alleged that in approximately 1976 when David Szach first turned up homeless in the CBD, that he was picked up by regular procurer of teenage boys, Gino Gambardella who has Darko in tow. Gino took Szach to Derrance Stevenson's house and introduced him where soon after the four had group sex
  • There is no suggestion that Darko was involved in the Family
  • Now goes by the name Dario
Miss Russell
  • Miss Russell was a work colleague of BVE. She would socialise at The Mars Bar and was aware BVE was picking up young men.
  • In the 1990 "State v BVE" case in relation to the murders of Alan Barnes and Mark Langley, Miss Russell made a testimony
  • Excerpt, "Miss Russell said that on one occasion the accused admitted to her that he had placed his fist inside the anus of one youth he had picked up and that he had also placed surgical instruments inside the youth's anus. She also alleged that the accused admitted placing his fist in the anus of a youth at the Flinders Medical Centre"
Derrance Stevenson

  • High profile gay lawyer who was murdered on June 4 or June 5, 1979
  • He was shot in the back of the head and put into his own freezer which was super-glued shut
  • He was 44 years of age at the time
  • His 19 year old lover David Szach was found guilty of the murder
  • Derrance had been in a sexual relationship with Szach since Szach was 16
  • He held parties often that consisted of a lot of sex with underage boys (the age of consent at the time was 17)
  • Derrance's close confidant Gino Gambardella would regularly procure underage teenage boys for Derrance
  • The day after Stevenson's murder, a young man with blonde hair was waiting outside Legal Aid until it opened. Once it opened he requested. Upon being asked, "why don't you wait for Derrance", he responded with, "I saw Derrance last night and he was in no state to defend anybody". It is speculated that man was Alan Barnes and that he was there with regards to pending rape charges he was facing. It hasn't yet been confirmed if Stevenson was already representing Barnes but it looks like Barnes was there to get a new lawyer.
  • Alan Barnes was murdered two weeks later.
  • Darko worked for Gambardella. Gambardella was regularly procuring teenage boys for Stevenson. Darko knew Stevenson. Darko was close to Alan Barnes. Alan Barnes was reported to socialise with BVE.
  • There's no evidence Stevenson was in the Family. He hosted gay parties at home where he had boys brought to him and regularly committed statutory rape (even though it was likely consensual). BVE and his crew were coercing young men into a car, convincing them that there was a party with lots of drugs, booze and women, and then drugging and raping them. It's highly likely they knew each other but they had different things going on with different crews. It's unlikely Derrance was venturing down the Port Rd to Alberton to hang out with some transgenders at Alberton.
Gino Gambardella

  • A chiropractor who liked teenage boys
  • Would cruise the CBD looking for vulnerable young men who he would offer them opportunities to hang out with Derrance Stevenson
  • Had Darko Kastelan working for him at his clinic. He would sometimes take Darko on his pick up missions
  • Was charged as an accessory to Stevenson's murder so fled to his native Italy
  • No evidence he was in the Family
Gary Wayne Place

  • A witness who testified in the 1990 "State v BVE" case
  • Alleged he was with Alan Barnes on multiple occasions in the weeks leading up to Barnes' death and with Barnes, socialised with BVE and Woodards.
  • "Mr. Place told the court that Alan Barnes had introduced Von Einem one Saturday at an Adelaide hotel about a week before his murder. Barnes had also introduced three other people with Von Einem — a doctor whose name sounded like Goodard, a man called Mario, and a woman. There had been talk about a party that night where there would be "women, drugs, booze — anything you like."
    Later that week Place and Barnes had gone to a hotel where Von Einem had told him (Place) that if he provided sex, he would get "drugs, women, anything" and the same things would be provided if he brought along some young lads."
  • Who is "Mario"? Is it Gino Gambardella? Is it Darko Kastelan?
  • Who is the women? Is it one of the Transgender 3? Is it "Miss Russell"?
Unlikely to be involved

Dr Peter Leslie Millhouse

  • Was charged with the murder of Neil Muir
  • He knew Muir and was spotted with Muir over the days before his death
  • There was some good circumstantial evidence against Millhouse but he was acquitted at a trial in 1980
  • Although Millhouse could have been in with BVE and the Family for Barnes and then gone dormant while the others carried on, it's more likely he just wasn't involved at all.
  • https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news...w/news-story/135a05955f591eea50b8438fcce08e44
Max McIntyre
  • His daughter Rachel Vaughan claimed she witnessed Richard Kelvin being held and tortured in the cellar when she was a young girl. She says she was also witness to her father abuse and murder 10 year old Louise Bell.
  • Dieter Pfennig has since been found guilty of her murder. Pfennig was already serving a life sentence with a non-parole period of 38 years — later reduced to 25 years due to a sentencing legislation change in SA — for murdering Murray Bridge boy Michael Black in 1989 and later abducting and raping a 13-year-old boy.
  • Pfennig's DNA was found on Louise Bell's pyjamas
  • https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12...pfennig-sentenced-35-years-non-parole/8095906
Ric Marshall
Peter Liddy
Robert William Symonds (Mother Goose)



** If anyone has any updates or spots any errors, just let me know.
 
Last edited:
From a weird FB page:

-------------
More witness testimony

Man 'had sex with corpse in back seat'

ADELAIDE: A witness told the Ade laide Magistrates Court yesterday that he had seen someone having sex with a corpse while he was being r*ped by Bev an Spencer Von Einem, the man accused of two of the so-called Family killings.

Simon Anthony Peters, 28, said that after blacking out in Von Einem's car in 1978 he had come to with the accused performing oral sex on him.

He told a preliminary hearing that Von Einem had then pushed something into his anus. At this time a Greek looking man had been having sex with a corpse in the back seat of the car.

Peters said he was sure that the person had been dead. "Death is something you can feel," he told the court.

Peters said he had thought he was going to be killed but after blacking out again he had come to as he was being dropped off by Von Einem near his

home.

Von Einem, 43, has been charged with the 1979 murder of Alan Barnes, 17, and the 1982 killing of Mark Langley, 18.

He has entered no pleas but is already serving a life sentence for the 1983 mur der of 15-year-old Richard Kelvin.

All three\teenagcrs died from blood loss caused by severe anal injuries.

At the opening of his evidence yester day Peters said he had twice been offered a lift by Von Einem in 1978. It was on the second occasion that he had been ofTered some white pills and blacked out after going to an Adelaide hotel for a drink.

He said the incident in the car with Von Einem which followed had been his first sexual encounter. He had been 15.

Because of the nature of Peters' evi dence both the defence and the prosecu tion successfully applied for it to be suppressed preventing its broadcast or publication in South Australia.

The hearing is continuing.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

There were 9 hitchhike, drug and rape victims who testified at the 1990 trial. This must be another one:


--------------------

Testimony of a victim that got away.......he was only 13

Sex assault victim tells of ordeal

ADELAIDE: A key crown witness told an Adelaide court yesterday how he was picked up, drugged and sexually abused when only 13 years old, by a man charged with two of Adelaide's so-called family killings.

The witness, whose name cannot be published, said he was hitchhiking in Adelaide's inner suburbs early one morn ing in 1976 when Bevan Spen cer ,Von Einem picked him up.

Von Einem, 43, is charged with the 1979 murder of 17 year-old Alan Barnes and the 1982 murder of 18-year-old Mark Langley.

Von Einem is already serv ing a life sentence for the mur der of Richard Kelvin in 1983.

All three teenagers died from blood loss caused by se vere anal injuries.

Von Einem has entered no plea to the charges.

The witness said Von Ei nem offered him alcohol, and a pill to "help keep him

awake".

He said when he woke up Von Einem was holding his shoulders down and was try ing to force him to have sex.

He said he attempted to struggle but blacked out and didn't wake until the following day.

Magistrate David Gurry ad journed the hearing until 10.30am on Monday.
 
more testimony:

-----------------------------------------

von Einem 'kept drugs in glove box of his car'

ADELAIDE: A man charged with two of the so-called Family killings kept a supply of drugs locked the glove box of his car, the Adelaide Magistrates Court was told yester day.

A transsexual friend of the ac cused told a preliminary hearing that she sometimes went with Bev an Spencer Von Einem, 43, when he tried to pick up hitchhikers.

Sarah Novak said on one occa sion two young men were picked up and offered beer and later pills to keep them awake so they could all go to a party.

However, she said they were tak

en to Von Einem's home where she warned them not to take the pills because they would knock them out.
----------------------------

Who is Sarah Novak?
 
The last few posts are all from this FB page: :the truth behind the Beaumont children and family murders south Australia:

The page is mostly full of nuffies who just post stuff on pedo cases around the world because seemingly they thing every pedo in the world is connected in one giant conspiracy, but there's some gold on 4th Jan 2014.

--------------------------------

Victim 'swapped favours'

ADELAIDE: One of the victims in the so-called Family killings case talked about swapping sexual favours for drugs just before his death, the Ade laide Magistrates Court was told yester day.

A former friend of 17-year-old Alan Barnes said Barnes thought he had had anal and oral intercourse with men at a

party in 1979 but was "stoned" at the

time.

Gary Place said Barnes was preoccu pied with getting drugs and talked about a reliable source he had for hero in, cocaine and LSD. He said Barnes told him he could get anything he want ed in return fordoing "certain things".

Place was giving evidence for the Crown against 43-year-old Bevan Spen cer Von Eincm who has been charged with the murder of Barnes in 1979 and 18-year-old Mark Langley in 1982.

Von Einem has entered no pleas but

is already serving a life sentence for the 1983 murder of 15-year-old .Richard

Kelvin.

All three teenagers died from blood loss caused by severe anal injuries.

Place also told the hearing that Barnes had introduced him to Von Bi nem in the week before his body was found in the Adelaide Hills.

At two meetings within a matter of days he said Von Einem had talked about how young boys could get any thing they wanted in return for doing certain things.

Earlier this week a witness known only as Mr B told the court that Von Einem was not only involved in the Barnes death but had also admitted killing the three Beaumont children, who went missing in 1966, and two other children who were kidnapped from a football oval in 1973.

The hearing is continuing.
 
Mr B's testimony

Witness

'watched murders'

ADELAIDE: The key Crown wit ness in the case against a man charged with two of Adelaide's so-called Family killings has himself been accused of being present at one

of the murders.

The witness, known only as Mr B, rejected yesterday a statement to po lice from his sister which gave details of how he allegedly told her that he had seen 17-year-old Alan Barnes

killed in 1979.

In cross-examination during a pre liminary hearing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, defence counsel Mark Griffin read from the state ment, given to police in February this

year.

In it, Mr B's sister said Mr B came to her house one day when she was 17 and said he had just seen a

murder.

"He seem thrilled and excited about it," she told police.

1 "But I didn't take him seriously

because he is such a liar."

About a year later she said he had spoken with her again and this time he said he had watched while Alan Barnes was killed.

Mr B denied the allegations.

In evidence in court last week, Mr B said he had declined an offer from the accused, 43-year-old Bevan Spen cer Von Einem, to go along on the night Barnes was picked up and drugged.

However, he said Von Einem had told him that he and an associate were going to kill Barnes and make a video of what happened.

Von Einem has been charged with murdering both Barnes and 18-year old Mark Langley in 1982 and is already serving a life sentence for the 1983 murder of 15-year-old Richard

Kelvin.

On Monday, Mr B also implicated Von Einem in the disappearance of the three Beaumont children, Jane, 9, Arnna, 7, and Grant, 4, in 1966, one of Australia's most baffling myster

ies.

He told the court Von Einem had also admitted taking two other child ren from a football ground.

Also yesterday, Magistrate David ' Gurry rejected defence moves to ban the media from the court after details of Mr B's claims involving the Beau mont children were printed in inter state newspapers.

Defence counsel Marie Shaw said the papers were freely available in Adelaide and so were in breach of a suppression order which prevented publication of Mr B's evidence in

South Australia.

Mr Gurry later adjourned the hear ing until 10.30am today.

Close
 
Here's the Trevor Peters lost diary article


"In 2008 Major Crime detectives conducted an exhaustive review of the Family murders, targeting von Einem and three other key offenders and up to eight of their associates.

In 2010 then Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras, QC, said after examining the review report that there was not enough evidence to charge either von Einem or any other suspects."

So this targeted BVE, Mr R, Mr B, and Woodards. Then there's up to 8 of their associates;

Brown, St Denis, Turtur, Firman, Brooks and ??? and ???

Who are the other two?

I keep hearing "radio personality". Does anyone know who this is?
 
Let's talk about the Transgender 3 and try to work out who "Miss Russell" and "Sarah Novak" are.

This is an excerpt for the "Trevor Peter's diary" news article:

"The house is one door from another occupied by a close associate of von Einem's.

That person, a transvestite, assisted von Einem by luring male hitchhikers into his car in return for drugs. Her former housemate, another transvestite named Pru Firman, who also assisted von Einem, died in 2010."


What does "one door" mean? There is no such thing in my vocab. It's either "next door", or "two doors" or "3 doors" etc. "One door" to me means "next door". If the numbers 7 and 8 are next to each other then the number 8 is "one" from 7. As in 8 -7 = 1.
This implies that Turtur was living in Shipster's Rd.

---------

This article confirms it is next door and suggests that two of the Transgender 3 were living next door to Peters;


In an effort to convict him of more of the murders, police in 2014 examined the diary of Trevor Peters, who died last year, lived next door to two cross-dressers who assisted von Einem - possibly two of Mr Turtur, Mr Firman, and Mr Brooks.

------------
Back to the "Trevor Peter's diary" news article;
"Peters states in the diary that a woman, whom he named and who was questioned by detectives during investigations"

Who is this? Is it "Miss Russell" or "Sarah Novak"? Does woman refer to an actual female or a post op transgender? Was it one of the Transgender 3?
-----------

"Pru Firman (who died in 2010) was sharing a rented house in Alberton in the late '70s or early '80s with another transvestite or sex change named xxx xxxx and xxxxxxx. (The latter is another suspect and close friend of von Einem's, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He is also the brother of a former Olympic athlete.)

Is that meant to read, "Firman shared with two transgenders, Brooks and Turtur"?
Or does it mean, "Forman shared with another transgender named Lewis Turtur or Lana" (Lana was Turtur's female name he went by)

There's a S Novak who lives or lived at 46 Shipsters Rd. This is unlikely to be a coincidence (it's not - someone told me it came up it court transcripts that this was the address. Is it an alternative name for one of the Transgender 3? Is it a different person? Is it a transgender who may have lived with Trevor Peters?
 
Is there anyone who is really into this case who would be willing to go to SA State Library and look up some electoral records?

I'd be interested in finding out what number Shipsters Rd Trevor Peters lived at as well as checking on the transgender 3 to see which ones lived on Shipsters, and if there's a Sarah Novak at 46 Shipsters.

Also would be curious to follow the addresses of Mr R, Mr B, Woodards and Brown.
 
Sarah Novak is TG. Lives/lived at 46 Shipsters.

I suspect she's either Turtur or Brooks. But how does this name changing work? How do they get to court and be referred to as '"Sarah Novak" or "Miss Russell"? They could be names like "Mr R" and "Mr B". They could be name changes I guess - but Lewis Turtur still goes by Lewis Turtur.

How does "Pru Firman" work? She either is a dude or was a dude. Is it a post op name? Or it he still a dude and changed his name by deed poll?
 

Apparently a guy named "Brian Gant" was also suppressed. Anyone know who he is?



At 17:04 Marshall asks Turtur who would be in the car when BVE picked up young men. His answer was that "it could be anyone, the girls, the drag queens..."

So are there females involved? Pru Firman was referred to as a "she". Is it possible she was actually a female (as biologically born a female)?


At approx 22:25 he says again "one of the girls" and Marshall confirms, "Pru or xxxx". So Pru is either a girl or post op TG and the other name is potentially suppressed. I wonder if it is "Miss Russell"?
 
Last edited:

Apparently a guy named "Brian Gant" was also suppressed. Anyone know who he is?

Another drag queen housemate aka 'Molvena'. I can't get into Daily Tele and can't see the article in Press Reader but here's a snap of search.

molvena.png
 
The Family

Any person complicit in the abduction, rape and murders of the five victims, plus any person who visited the place of captivity when a victim was knowingly present, plus any person involved in the abduction, spiking and raping of young boys/men at the transgender share house in Alberton.

The Victims


Neil Frederick Muir
  • Age: 25
  • Date of abduction: August 27, 1979
  • Date body found: August 28 1979
  • Location of body: Mutton Cove on the shore of the Port Adelaide River
  • Died from blood loss due to massive anal injuries
  • His remains had been dissected and neatly cut into many pieces, placed in a garbage bag and thrown into the Port River at Port Adelaide. Skin bearing tattoos had been removed and most of the body parts were placed in another garbage bag before being placed within the abdominal cavity
  • In addition to his limbs being sawed off, Neil's genitals had been mutilated by his killer. His penis had been cut and he was missing a testicle.
  • Not able to do toxicity test because internal organs missing




  • Heroin addict
  • Suspected prostitute
  • Lived on Carrington St, Adelaide in a doss house
  • Regularly frequented the gay haunts so assumed to be gay
  • Was at the Buck and the Duke on the night before he was discovered. Was very intoxicated.
  • Had a sexual relationship with BVE four years earlier
Really solid post

Couple of things stood out on Muir

Age was ''old'' as opposed to the others
Time from disappearance to body dump was 1 day
There was a concerted effort to remove any distinguishing marks
Death was 6 weeks after Barnes


While there are similarities and connections to BVE - I wonder if the motivation was different

Was this a silence murder rather than a thrill kill? That it was close to Barnes makes me think he may have seen something or said something that put a target on him

The mutilations are of anger. The stabbing of the penis and removal of a testicle is anger.

The cutting of the body parts is about transport so I dont read too much into that. The removal of the tattoos and the mutilations are a marked difference
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Unsolved The Family Murders

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top