Unsolved The Family Murders

[Kurve]

The Who's Who List

• #2,647

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.

Unsolved - The Family Murders - MEDIA

This thread may be used to post the Family Murders media related content. To include press and gathered photographs from various sources. Please feel free to post but as this is a no discussion thread, comments will be deleted or moved at discretion. WHO'S WHO VICTIMS AB - Alan Barnes 16yo...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Kurve]

So in this theory, BVE lifted Richard’s body out of his car and took him through the house into the bedroom all by himself? BVE is a tall man, but appears to be “soft”. I would question his ability to physically do that by himself. Richard would have been very difficult to move by one person. Dragging would have been the easiest way, but that would have left a lot of trace evidence. Also, too many unnecessary steps in this scenario.

Why wouldn’t BVE have taken the clothes to wherever Richard was, not bring Richard to the clothes? Easier to re-dress him where he died surely. And moving Richard out of a car boot, into a house, just to put clothes on before taking him out to the car again seems to be an awful lot of effort. Not to mention risk.

Even if mum was knocked out with pills and someone came to help, it still all seems unnecessary. Easier to just dress him and take him straight from where he was killed straight out to the dump site.

He was probably redressed before rigor which starts two to four hours after death, that can last up to 48 hours. Moved to dump site while he was in rigor in the fetal position might make sense given how he was found?

 

[Bits]

Manock was a pathologist not a forensic scientist. According to Young Blood the pathologist for Kelvin was Dr Ross James. It also names numerous forensic scientists who undertook the various testing, e.g. the chemists who tested the bodies for drugs, the guy who used sticky tape to pick up fibres on Kelvin's clothes etc.

 

[Kurve]

"Good evening and welcome to the program which we'll begin tonight with a Henry Keogh murder trial bombshell - with a second senior state pathologist involved in the case now also in disgrace. This morning, the South Australian Medical Board found forensic pathologist Doctor Ross James guilty of unprofessional conduct for with-holding crucial evidence during both the Keogh trials. The question now is how many other South Australian cases have been based on flawed evidence."

They're not great on bruises.

 

[GreyCrow]

Some interesting articles from Networked Knowledge - The Family Murders

The good thing is they describe the newspaper reports from the day - ie no bias

Interestingly both Muir and Barnes seemingly were metres away from never being found - or at least not for a long time.

From Muirs report

The crime director, Senior Chief Superintendent K Lockwood said last night, it appeared the body had been thrown from the wharf during high tide and had been snagged on the rocks. Detectives would return to the scene this morning to examine it again.

From Barnes report in Young Blood by Bob O'Brien

Alan Barnes (17) disappeared in June 1979. His body was found at the South Para Reservoir where it had been thrown off a bridge and landed on a road below.

Alternatively - His body was found dumped on the banks of the South Para Reservoir a week after he disappeared while hitching a ride from a friend’s house at Queenstown to his Salisbury home.

Though there is also speculation the bodies were meant to be found but I would argue that the dump sites would have been different if that was so (my speculation only)

(Barnes is similar to Atlanta Serial Killings - yet Barnes was 1 month prior)

 

[GreyCrow]

For those asking where the ''high profile '' and ''links to Government'' may have started it might be possible to start thinking the AGs and MP Robin Millhouse brother is charged with Muirs murder

19 January 1980 - 4 months after Muir is found

Mount Gambier: A professional man appeared in the Magistrates Court charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in the Port River last year. Peter Leslie Millhouse, 45, of Elizabeth Street, Mount Gambier, appeared before Mr BW Johns, charged with the murder of Neil Frederick Muir at North Adelaide on Ausgust 28 last year.

The court was told major crime squad detectives from Adelaide arrested Millhouse at a Mount Gambier house on Thursday night. Millhouse was unrepresented and entered no plea during the three minute hearing. When asked whether he applied for bail, he smiled and said: "We'll probably see about that tomorrow." Police opposed bail and Millhouse was remanded in custody to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

The mutilated body of Neil Frederick Muir, 25, was found in plastic garbage bags on rocks in the Port River at Mutton Cove by an off-duty Department of Marine and Harbours workman on August 28

So we have a situation where there is a link and eventually he is acquitted - this plays into the ''elites get away with murder'' thinking of the man in the street

My 2c

 

[Kurve]

At this stage I'm willing to take it at face value. If someone goes and checks and it's determined Dr Manock did the testing, it would cast doubt.

3 March 1988 – The Advertiser – Andrew Male - Langley, Barnes, Muir, Stogneff – drugged, sex, died, all young.
These killing have been referred to in South Australia as "The Family Murders". The forensic examinations involved Dr Colin Manock, Dr Ross James ..

Dr Manock reports South Australia

 

[acermark]

Wonder if he slipped her a randy mandy so she wouldn't wake up?

He could very well have slipped one in a cup of tea or some warm milk before she went to bed.

 

[acermark]

So in this theory, BVE lifted Richard’s body out of his car and took him through the house into the bedroom all by himself? BVE is a tall man, but appears to be “soft”. I would question his ability to physically do that by himself. Richard would have been very difficult to move by one person. Dragging would have been the easiest way, but that would have left a lot of trace evidence. Also, too many unnecessary steps in this scenario.

Why wouldn’t BVE have taken the clothes to wherever Richard was, not bring Richard to the clothes? Easier to re-dress him where he died surely. And moving Richard out of a car boot, into a house, just to put clothes on before taking him out to the car again seems to be an awful lot of effort. Not to mention risk.

Even if mum was knocked out with pills and someone came to help, it still all seems unnecessary. Easier to just dress him and take him straight from where he was killed straight out to the dump site.

It does seem like too many steps and less than an obvious scenario but Kelvin could not have been killed in BVE's house as his mother didn't stay with relatives that weekend and BVE never took boys home when she was there.

Yet roughly half of the fibres found on Kelvin's clothes were from BVE's bedroom suggesting that the clothing was in his house very shortly before his body was dumped.

The way Kelvin was dumped near the airstrip (foetal position) also indicated it was by only one person (one arm tucked under his knee, the other placed around his back).

 

[Kurve]

Some interesting articles from Networked Knowledge - The Family Murders

The good thing is they describe the newspaper reports from the day - ie no bias

Interestingly both Muir and Barnes seemingly were metres away from never being found - or at least not for a long time.

From Muirs report

The crime director, Senior Chief Superintendent K Lockwood said last night, it appeared the body had been thrown from the wharf during high tide and had been snagged on the rocks. Detectives would return to the scene this morning to examine it again.

From Barnes report in Young Blood by Bob O'Brien

Alan Barnes (17) disappeared in June 1979. His body was found at the South Para Reservoir where it had been thrown off a bridge and landed on a road below.

Alternatively - His body was found dumped on the banks of the South Para Reservoir a week after he disappeared while hitching a ride from a friend’s house at Queenstown to his Salisbury home.

Though there is also speculation the bodies were meant to be found but I would argue that the dump sites would have been different if that was so (my speculation only)

(Barnes is similar to Atlanta Serial Killings - yet Barnes was 1 month prior)

Some things stand out particularly in victimology. There are similarities between Barnes and Muir, both are situationally high risk rent boys, in the same circle as and seen with BVE, dumped near water and murdered close together. Pretty big gap in age though. It's likely Barnes and Muir both can be placed at Derrance's house. Neil Muir's brother said he spoke about going to a really weird looking house, his brother believes he was talking about Derrance's. The one with the floppy roof. And Neil was given a twin dolphin ring by an 'antique dealer', Mr R.

Possible imo that Barnes and Muir may have been killed for the same reason. To shut them up and send a message to anybody else that might even be thinking about talking. And it's quite effective, nobody's saying anything now or putting their hand up for being at one of Derrance's parties.

It goes quiet for two years, the killers think they're getting away with it because the heat has gone on Millhouse. He's acquitted though and the police no longer believe he was involved in Muir's or anybody else's murder.

When it restarts the victimology's changed dramatically to young, low risk lifestyle victims. Left in the scrub, not water. Mutilations and surgery type incisions appear on the bodies and people are speculating about a doctor's involvement. Again.

 

[Bits]

For those asking where the ''high profile '' and ''links to Government'' may have started it might be possible to start thinking the AGs and MP Robin Millhouse brother is charged with Muirs murder

19 January 1980 - 4 months after Muir is found

Mount Gambier: A professional man appeared in the Magistrates Court charged with the murder of a man whose body was found in the Port River last year. Peter Leslie Millhouse, 45, of Elizabeth Street, Mount Gambier, appeared before Mr BW Johns, charged with the murder of Neil Frederick Muir at North Adelaide on Ausgust 28 last year.

The court was told major crime squad detectives from Adelaide arrested Millhouse at a Mount Gambier house on Thursday night. Millhouse was unrepresented and entered no plea during the three minute hearing. When asked whether he applied for bail, he smiled and said: "We'll probably see about that tomorrow." Police opposed bail and Millhouse was remanded in custody to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.

The mutilated body of Neil Frederick Muir, 25, was found in plastic garbage bags on rocks in the Port River at Mutton Cove by an off-duty Department of Marine and Harbours workman on August 28

So we have a situation where there is a link and eventually he is acquitted - this plays into the ''elites get away with murder'' thinking of the man in the street

My 2c

Minor point, but the Millhouses weren't brothers. They were related but as distant cousins.

 

[Bits]

It does seem like too many steps and less than an obvious scenario but Kelvin could not have been killed in BVE's house as his mother didn't stay with relatives that weekend and BVE never took boys home when she was there.

Yet roughly half of the fibres found on Kelvin's clothes were from BVE's bedroom suggesting that the clothing was in his house very shortly before his body was dumped.

The way Kelvin was dumped near the airstrip (foetal position) also indicated it was by only one person (one arm tucked under his knee, the other placed around his back).

Agree that the clothing was in the bedroom shortly before being dumped.
Doesn't necessarily mean that the body was too at that time. Clothing is way more portable than a body. Kelvin was in the house at some point, definitely, but given that he wasn’t killed there, I still think it is possible that BVE stored his clothes there and then took them to wherever he was killed to re-dress him. All irrelevant now of course. BVE is where he should be.

 

[Bits]

Just digging around and found this link to press photos taken during court case.

Newspix - Search Result

www.newspix.com.au

It includes this pic of Dennis St Dennis that I hadn’t seen before:



Also a couple of people who I’ve never seen/heard of. Annalore Thompson? Frank Marollo? (I hadn’t heard of Carol Hanlon either but she was the director of the Victims of Crime unit at the time).

They must have been involved somehow because they were deemed worthy enough to take a photo, and they are in this gallery. Witnesses of some sort? Plus a mysterious woman with a jacket over her head. Love to know who she is.

 

[Bits]

Also found this court transcript (publicly available on a very reputable site) that names Mr R.

THE QUEEN v. BEVAN SPENCER VON EINEM File No. 208 of 1990 Judgment No. 2740 Number of pages - 28 Application for permanent stay of proceedings [1991] SASC 2740 (3 March 1991)

 

[GreyCrow]

Minor point, but the Millhouses weren't brothers. They were related but as distant cousins.

Yes I just saw that from another site. Thank you

 

[GreyCrow]

It goes quiet for two years, the killers think they're getting away with it because the heat has gone on Millhouse. He's acquitted though and the police no longer believe he was involved in Muir's or anybody else's murder.

When it restarts the victimology's changed dramatically to young, low risk lifestyle victims. Left in the scrub, not water. Mutilations and surgery type incisions appear on the bodies and people are speculating about a doctor's involvement. Again.

Reading some of the circumstantial evidence around Peter Millhouse and his actions are very suspicious to me

2 callers placed Millhouse and Muir together immediately
Garbage bags and rope similar to the murder scene were found
Millhouse went on a bender the week after Muirs death
Millhouse had a pre-prepaired statement written August 31 that he presented to police in January 80
Traces of blood in his bathroom and attempts to clean it

All circumstantial and all led to an acquittal

You ask what changed? I suggest Gambardella leaving the country changed. And Millhouse no longer in the dark corners.

If Millhouse is no longer a suspect ( and I think thats more legal language rather than any belief ''he is no longer involved'' ) then who else had the ability to perform the surgical cuts?

Only 2 professions bag up remains. Butchers and autopsy specialists.

Now the following is only theory - but given Gambardellas nationality I am reminded of my neighbourhood in the 70s and 80s of hearing knives run across stones as my Italian neighbours prepare to make their meats. I wonder if Gambardella had this skill?

 

[BlueE]

Reading some of the circumstantial evidence around Peter Millhouse and his actions are very suspicious to me

2 callers placed Millhouse and Muir together immediately
Garbage bags and rope similar to the murder scene were found
Millhouse went on a bender the week after Muirs death
Millhouse had a pre-prepaired statement written August 31 that he presented to police in January 80
Traces of blood in his bathroom and attempts to clean it

All circumstantial and all led to an acquittal

You ask what changed? I suggest Gambardella leaving the country changed. And Millhouse no longer in the dark corners.

If Millhouse is no longer a suspect ( and I think thats more legal language rather than any belief ''he is no longer involved'' ) then who else had the ability to perform the surgical cuts?

Only 2 professions bag up remains. Butchers and autopsy specialists.

Now the following is only theory - but given Gambardellas nationality I am reminded of my neighbourhood in the 70s and 80s of hearing knives run across stones as my Italian neighbours prepare to make their meats. I wonder if Gambardella had this skill?

This is what interests me because there are a lot of facts included with the dissection of the body in this case, with evidence given by a expert orthopedic surgeon. I don't believe Millhouse was involved when reading through the evidence. Millhouse also says that the surgical skill used in dismembering the body is well above him and I think that is true.

Dr Stephen Woodhouse keeps getting named and no one can seem to find out about the many rape charges against boys he was charged with in 2011. Seems nothing happened as he is still practicing medicine in Sydney. But the level of skill involved as described in the trial with some excerpts I've put on this thread is well above a normal GP doctor and was performed by an expert surgeon. This is not any of the people so far mentioned as far as I can tell.

The depravity involved after the hands and limbs were expertly dissected and dismembered and the surgically debrading (or removing) skin with tattoos is next level horrific to the extent of Nazi surgical experiments in WW2 IMO! I don't think all of the depravity is publicly revealed as all the limbs being dissected with surgical precision then placed in bags before being placed in the abdominal cavity (where all the organs were expertly removed), still would have trouble fitting into the cavity unless there were further removal of muscle tissue perhaps.

Then the head being removed and reattached to the body with a rope ... FFS how could anyone even thing of that? BVE may have asked if a witness wanted to see some surgery but it definitely wasn't him performing this surgery and could have only been a handful of people in the county that would have the skill.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone was visiting from another country and if BVE want to get free anytime soon he should start revealing the truth.

 

[PaulSubetro]

Reading some of the circumstantial evidence around Peter Millhouse and his actions are very suspicious to me

2 callers placed Millhouse and Muir together immediately
Garbage bags and rope similar to the murder scene were found
Millhouse went on a bender the week after Muirs death
Millhouse had a pre-prepaired statement written August 31 that he presented to police in January 80
Traces of blood in his bathroom and attempts to clean it

All circumstantial and all led to an acquittal

You ask what changed? I suggest Gambardella leaving the country changed. And Millhouse no longer in the dark corners.

If Millhouse is no longer a suspect ( and I think thats more legal language rather than any belief ''he is no longer involved'' ) then who else had the ability to perform the surgical cuts?

Only 2 professions bag up remains. Butchers and autopsy specialists.

Now the following is only theory - but given Gambardellas nationality I am reminded of my neighbourhood in the 70s and 80s of hearing knives run across stones as my Italian neighbours prepare to make their meats. I wonder if Gambardella had this skill?

I think it's reasonably easy to explain;

1. They knew each other. Millhouse was potentially Muir's client. People could place them together in the days before, but not on the night of. Muir was out drinking, was very drunk and was ejected from the Buck (iirc).

2. They use the word "similar" when talking about the garbage bag and rope. They didn't use adjectives like "same" and "matched". At the time there would probably have 2-3 brands of garbage bag on the market, so they didn't exactly find a smoking gun there. If the rope was a close enough match in would have gone to forensics to try to prove it was from the same rope

3. He was an alcoholic

4. I assume he was advised by his lawyer on this

5. Same as garbage bags and rope - they would have been able to determine quantities and coverage. If the blood was a result of a body being cut up, they'd have some stronger evidence.


Soon after the trial he went back to Mt Gambier. The murders continued. If there was evidence he was part of BVE's circle then maybe he was involved.

I think it's an absolute long shot for him to have been involved. I'm also pretty confident he's no longer a suspect.

 

[PaulSubetro]

This is what interests me because there are a lot of facts included with the dissection of the body in this case, with evidence given by a expert orthopedic surgeon. I don't believe Millhouse was involved when reading through the evidence. Millhouse also says that the surgical skill used in dismembering the body is well above him and I think that is true.

Dr Stephen Woodhouse keeps getting named and no one can seem to find out about the many rape charges against boys he was charged with in 2011. Seems nothing happened as he is still practicing medicine in Sydney. But the level of skill involved as described in the trial with some excerpts I've put on this thread is well above a normal GP doctor and was performed by an expert surgeon. This is not any of the people so far mentioned as far as I can tell.

The depravity involved after the hands and limbs were expertly dissected and dismembered and the surgically debrading (or removing) skin with tattoos is next level horrific to the extent of Nazi surgical experiments in WW2 IMO! I don't think all of the depravity is publicly revealed as all the limbs being dissected with surgical precision then placed in bags before being placed in the abdominal cavity (where all the organs were expertly removed), still would have trouble fitting into the cavity unless there were further removal of muscle tissue perhaps.

Then the head being removed and reattached to the body with a rope ... FFS how could anyone even thing of that? BVE may have asked if a witness wanted to see some surgery but it definitely wasn't him performing this surgery and could have only been a handful of people in the county that would have the skill.

I wouldn't be surprised if someone was visiting from another country and if BVE want to get free anytime soon he should start revealing the truth.

I've heard conflicting things about the "surgery". Some reports, I recall saying, "require some knowledge, but not a practising surgeon", to "have to have surgical background".

I suspect Woodards is just a GP (but have never been able to confirm).

As for the rape charges - either his or Brown's charges were dismissed because it couldn't be ascertained what age the victims were back then.

 

[PaulSubetro]

Also a couple of people who I’ve never seen/heard of. Annalore Thompson? Frank Marollo? (I hadn’t heard of Carol Hanlon either but she was the director of the Victims of Crime unit at the time).

They must have been involved somehow because they were deemed worthy enough to take a photo, and they are in this gallery. Witnesses of some sort? Plus a mysterious woman with a jacket over her head. Love to know who she is.

Ian Sansom + Ann Morcom
Paula Atkinson

Samson and Atkinson are witnesses who were with Mark Langley on the night of.

Carol Hanlon - she is Richard Kelvin's Aunt.

Frank Marollo and his cousin Francesco D'Antiocchia - Frank was friend of Kelvin and got off bus at O'Connell St and saw Kelvin minutes before he was abducted

Annalore Thompson - she gave evidence at 1984 BVE trial. Who is she? Seems to be in a professional capacity rather than a witness

Robin Alexander Kirkpatrick - Witness , formerly of Margaret Street, North Adelaide. Probably gave evidence re Kelvin's abduction

 

[BlueE]

I've heard conflicting things about the "surgery". Some reports, I recall saying, "require some knowledge, but not a practising surgeon", to "have to have surgical background".

I suspect Woodards is just a GP (but have never been able to confirm).

As for the rape charges - either his or Brown's charges were dismissed because it couldn't be ascertained what age the victims were back then.

Did you read the transcripts from the trial and the evidence of the surgical expert? I don't think there is any doubt this is well above the level of a normal doctor or GP.

Years more training for that level of expertise.

 

[Bits]

Did you read the transcripts from the trial and the evidence of the surgical expert? I don't think there is any doubt this is well above the level of a normal doctor or GP.

Years more training for that level of expertise.

Do you have a link to the full trial transcript please?

 

[GreyCrow]

I think it's reasonably easy to explain;

1. They knew each other. Millhouse was potentially Muir's client. People could place them together in the days before, but not on the night of. Muir was out drinking, was very drunk and was ejected from the Buck (iirc).

Yet he didnt notify the police he knew him and had very recent contact with him - I ask why not?

2. They use the word "similar" when talking about the garbage bag and rope. They didn't use adjectives like "same" and "matched". At the time there would probably have 2-3 brands of garbage bag on the market, so they didn't exactly find a smoking gun there. If the rope was a close enough match in would have gone to forensics to try to prove it was from the same rope

Never said smoking gun. I agree its circumstantial . Just an interesting sidelight. Most homes might have had 1 or the other - it would be rarer for homes to have both. (from memory)

3. He was an alcoholic

4. I assume he was advised by his lawyer on this

Alcoholic or not he drank more than people expected of him. Why?

Why did he feel the need for advice from a lawyer?

5. Same as garbage bags and rope - they would have been able to determine quantities and coverage. If the blood was a result of a body being cut up, they'd have some stronger evidence.

Yep, one report said the amount of cutting etc may have led to a slaughterhouse look. I kinda disagree - once dead blood doesnt jet , it pools. If they had a sink they could have drained off most.

Soon after the trial he went back to Mt Gambier. The murders continued. If there was evidence he was part of BVE's circle then maybe he was involved.

I think it's an absolute long shot for him to have been involved. I'm also pretty confident he's no longer a suspect.

The murders continued and the placement and mutilations were different to the 1st 2.

Again what changed? The charging of Millhouse and Gambardella going to Italy are the only 2 changes that I can see. So no I dont discount Millhouse for involvement in the 1st two murders and mutilations

 

[PaulSubetro]

Yet he didnt notify the police he knew him and had very recent contact with him - I ask why not?

Never said smoking gun. I agree its circumstantial . Just an interesting sidelight. Most homes might have had 1 or the other - it would be rarer for homes to have both. (from memory)


Alcoholic or not he drank more than people expected of him. Why?

Why did he feel the need for advice from a lawyer?

Yep, one report said the amount of cutting etc may have led to a slaughterhouse look. I kinda disagree - once dead blood doesnt jet , it pools. If they had a sink they could have drained off most.

The murders continued and the placement and mutilations were different to the 1st 2.

Again what changed? The charging of Millhouse and Gambardella going to Italy are the only 2 changes that I can see. So no I dont discount Millhouse for involvement in the 1st two murders and mutilations

IMO, these things are not important

- He may not have wanted the world to know he was gay and that he was potentially having sexual relationship with a heroin addict.
- He probably drinks more than expected because he's an alcoholic. Apparent he was a heavy drinker.
- Advice from a lawyer - depends on circumstance but police would have thought they had their man (for good reason). They would have been all over him and super aggressive. If that was the case, it would be reasonable to call a lawyer.

IMO, these things would need some evidence

- Millhouse goes back to Mount Gambier. The murders continue. Stogneff is cut up like Muir but only bones remain. Langley has an incision and part of his bowel removed - it's speculated this was to retrieve something that was inserted and stuck. As far as I can see, there's not a massive change the coincides with Millhouse leaving
- There's no evidence that Millhouse socialised in BVE's group. They would have found a link if it was there.
- Gambardella had other charges pending, and even though he wasn't charges with accessory for Derrance, it still could have come back to bite had he been involved. He had a few reasons to leave. Carrying on being a predator would have also become untenable. As far as I'm aware, Gambardella is not a suspect in the Family murders.
- I'm also pretty sure Millhouse is not a suspect in the Family murders.


IMO, these things are important

- My issue with this is the use of the word "similar". When you think about it, "similar" probably means "different" They can test that stuff and determine if it's the exact same make and model. If they're lucky they can match to ends that have been cut. So if the rope was the same make and model they would have used vocab such as "same" or "exact match". But they used the "similar" because they probably tested it and wasn't a match.

- The blood. If he was dead before he got to Millhouse and then cut up, there's a still a lot of blood. Forensics check drains to find if they can get some blood to match the victim. They didn't have any of Muir's blood and claimed there was blood in the bathroom that had been cleaned. I find it hard to believe they didn't take off the waste grill and try to get a blood sample. They didn't have any evidence so went in with misleading evidence.

 

[PaulSubetro]

Did you read the transcripts from the trial and the evidence of the surgical expert? I don't think there is any doubt this is well above the level of a normal doctor or GP.

Years more training for that level of expertise.

Which trial? Millhouse? BVE 1984? BVE 1990?

 

[PaulSubetro]

What?

-------

The Parkside Body in the Freezer Case: Gino "Luigi" Gambardella (part 3)

Where is Gino "Luigi" Gambardella, a man linked to the notorious "Family"murders in Adelaide in the 1970's

hauntedadelaide.blogspot.com

Another interesting character associated with Gambardella and Stevenson is former High Court Judge, Lionel Murphy. It is alleged that the former Judge was present on the night of Stevenson’s death.

This claim first surfaced in 1991, when the Legal Services Commission contacted David Szach’s and stated that someone had come forward with information about the visit. A taxi driver is alleged to have dropped Mr Murphy and two other men off at the house in Parkside on the night of the murder.
Lionel Murphy died in 1986, after a long career which saw him serve as the attorney-general in the Whitlam Government. His long career ended in controversy when he charged with trying to pervert the course of Justice in 1985, and jailed. His conviction was swiftly over-turned and Judge Murphy returned as a working Judge, this led Bob Hawke to invoke an inquiry into the matter.

The case was reported in The Australian (newspaper) in December 2016 as “one of the greatest judicial scandals since federation was left with no conclusion, the commission being abandoned when it was revealed Murphy had been diagnosed with cancer and had only months to live” by reporter Kylar Loussikian.
-----

Sounds like BS to me. If these people were there, there'd be witnesses.