Australia’s most notorious serial killer, who murdered at least seven people including two British tourists, has died in prison at the age of 74.
Ivan Milat, who was convicted in 1996 of the murders of seven backpackers, died of stomach and oesophageal cancer early on Sunday morning in Long Bay prison’s hospital wing.
He had recently given his brother a sealed envelope to be opened upon his death, telling him it was not a confession, Australian news site 10 Daily reported, citing police sources. It is understood that it contained a one-page letter, but no details are publicly known.
New South Wales Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts issued a statement in which he said Milat “can rot in hell”.
“He showed no remorse,” the minister said.
While Milat maintained he was innocent to the end, police suspected his involvement in a number of other disappearances – including three young women in Newcastle, New South Wales, in the 1970s.
He was serving seven life sentences for the murders of British women Caroline Clarke and Joanne Walters; Deborah Everist and James Gibson, a couple from Melbourne; and three German backpackers, Gabor Neugebauer, Anja Habschied and Simone Schmidl.
PA
Ian Clarke, the Northumberland-based father of Caroline Clarke, killed at the age of 21 while travelling with 22-year-old Walters, said: "No matter how Christian one might be, you can’t help but be glad that this has happened."
Milat, who inspired the horror film Wolf Creek, was successfully prosecuted in part due to the testimony of British backpacker Paul Onions, who escaped from the murderer in 1990.
Mr Onions was hitchhiking from Sydney to Mildura, a country town in Victoria, when he met Milat in a shop near Mittagong. Milat, noticing his accent and backpack, offered him a lift.
When approaching Belanglo state forest, Milat slowed the car down and pulled out a gun. Mr Onions leapt out and ran, and Milat fired a shot at him and missed. The British tourist ran back to the road to flag down another car for help and wrestled with the notorious murderer before breaking free and jumping into the next car.
STR/Fairfax Ltd/AFP
Joanne Berry, the Australian grandmother behind the wheel, quickly drove them away from Milat.
Earlier this year, Ms Berry told Seven News that “things could have taken a dramatic turn for the worst”.
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"Looking back now, I can just count my blessings that I was being looked after… Milat could have come after us all,” she said.
After his astonishing escape, Mr Onions reported the incident to police who took his details.
Four years later, when police found bodies in the very same state forest, they revisited Mr Onions’ report and contact him. He identified Milat from a photo and helped seal the case against him.
As well as the life sentences, Milat received an additional six years in prison for the attack on Mr Onions, who reportedly donated the £250,000 reward he received.