Milat

by Clive Small, Tom Gilling

  At the same time, Milton remained convinced there was more than one killer, the older stronger and dominating the younger. The use of different types of weapons—guns and a knife—supported the idea that there were two killers.

  By now our opportunities for covert inquiries were largely exhausted; the only way to find the evidence we needed to prove Ivan was the killer was to go in and search every inch of his house and other properties belonging to members of the Milat family—to pull them apart if we had to. A large number of police would be required, and the planning alone would take several weeks. We couldn’t afford to make mistakes.

  Security and the avoidance of any leaks were critical to the operation’s success. At the same time, we had to be careful not to make the media suspicious that we were planning a major operation. When we arrested Ivan for the attempted abduction of Onions, there was to be no comment whatsoever about the backpacker murders.

  Meanwhile, I felt that we owed it to the families of the victims to let them know something big was about to happen, even if we couldn’t tell them what it was. (For a start, we could not risk compromising their role as witnesses in any future court proceedings.) We told them we would keep them informed as far as we could, but asked them to say nothing to the media.

  Over the next few weeks, together with Rod Lynch and other senior members of the task force, I drew up a list of people of interest and of properties to be raided. We decided to make Campbelltown Police Station the command post. Search warrants were to be obtained for seven properties, while police would also visit four other properties (two in Queensland) that did not justify the issue of search warrants. The raids called for around 300 police, led by members of the task force, backed by patrol support groups from locations across south and western Sydney, the South West Region Major Crime Squad, State Protection Group personnel, the Physical Evidence Section, the Dog Squad and the Radio Electronics Unit, as well as lawyers. Police Media staff would be attached to the task force for the duration of the raids, and ambulances and the local hospital were warned to be on standby.

  The operation was to be split into three parts: Queensland (Alex Milat’s home in West Woombye, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and Michael Milat’s home in Nanango); North (properties at Eagle Vale, Kearns and Guildford), to be led by Detective Senior Sergeant Bob Benson; and South (Richard Milat’s house at Hill Top and other properties owned by various members of the Milat family at Hill Top, Bargo, Buxton and Wombeyan Caves), to be led by Detective Inspector Bob Godden.

  To ensure the search teams knew exactly what they were looking for, we prepared a list of more than a hundred items of property belonging to the victims, and more than twenty items—including ammunition, firearms, ropes, plastic ties and other items—identical to those used during the murders.

  Most of the searchers were to be housed in the Police Academy at Goulburn on the Friday, for what they were told was to be an ‘exercise’ to be carried out over the weekend. They would be briefed at the academy on Saturday night and taken direct to their search locations early on Sunday, 22 May. Others were told to report direct to Campbelltown.

  The movement of so many police from a range of commands and specialist areas was certain to arouse curiosity, no matter what cover story we told. As it was going to be impossible to prevent leaks to the media, we decided to give confidential press briefings to tell senior media executives that Task Force Air was going to carry out raids on Sunday. We emphasised the need for secrecy and made it clear that no media outlet would be allowed to get a jump on the others. Anyone breaching the arrangements would be excluded from future briefings. Journalists were invited to come to Campbelltown Police Station on Sunday morning, where they would receive a more detailed briefing once the raids were underway, but only if they stuck to the deal to keep the operation secret.

  With the raids only days away, we made an important change to the schedule. Our original plan had been to complete the New South Wales end of the operation before visiting the houses in Queensland. Instead, we decided to send Detectives Bob Benson, Stuart Wilkins and Tony Roberts to West Woombye in Queensland to interview Alex Milat on Saturday, 21 May, the day before the raids in New South Wales. Ivan’s phone was being intercepted and we had him under observation. If Alex rang Ivan to warn him we would know.

  Detective Roberts had worked as a miner in a colliery with Alex Milat before joining the police. We hoped that his presence would make the interview seem more casual and relaxed. The pretext for their visit was Alex’s earlier statement about seeing two bound girls, whom he had identified as Caroline Clarke and Joanne Walters, in Belanglo State Forest, in two cars in the company of several young men.

  In fact, Alex didn’t add anything significant to what he had told us already, but a bombshell awaited the three detectives as they chatted to Alex and his wife, Joan.

  When Benson asked Alex whether he owned any ammunition, Alex produced a large amount, some of which was Winchester Winner .22 calibre ammunition—the same type as that found near the bodies of Gabor Neugebauer and Caroline Clarke. Benson said nothing and turned to another subject. ‘What about backpacks or stuff like that?’ Benson asked casually. Joan said they had a backpack: it was in the shed in the backyard. Alex took the police to the shed, unlocked it and showed them a Salewa-brand backpack. ‘Where did you get it?’ Benson asked. Joan replied, ‘Ivan gave it to me.’ She explained that Ivan had given it to them before they had moved to Queensland. According to Ivan it had belonged to a friend ‘who was going back to New Zealand and she didn’t want it, so I could have it’. The detectives were stunned: they recognised it as Simone Schmidl’s backpack. Alex also willingly provided a mouth swab for DNA testing before the detectives left with the backpack.

  Benson could not wait to ring Rod Lynch in Sydney. We all sat there as we listened to the news, excited but somewhat bemused. What on earth had induced Joan to tell us about the backpack, and why had Alex been so willing to give it to us? In response to Benson’s inquiry about ammunition, why had Alex showed them his arsenal of .22 calibre bullets? It seemed inconceivable that Alex did not have some suspicions about his brother Ivan, but if he did he showed no sign of it to Benson and his colleagues. Nothing in his behaviour indicated that Alex realised the significance of what he had just done: that is, provide us with the first concrete evidence linking Ivan with the backpacker murders.

  Back in Sydney, a preliminary examination of the backpack confirmed that it belonged to Simone, boosting our hopes of finding further mementos during the Sunday raids.

  The interception of Ivan’s phone revealed another surprise: Alex made no attempt to tip off his brother about either the police visit or the backpack. Was Alex himself innocent after all—and if not, what was he up to?

  The same day that Benson and his colleagues visited Alex Milat and his wife in West Woombye, Detectives Royce Gorman, Mark Feeney and Brett Coman drove to Bargo, about 100 kilometres south-west of Sydney, to speak to Bill Milat. Bill wasn’t there, but was said to be staying in a caravan at Lake Tabourie on the south coast. Soon after the three detectives left, Bill’s daughter, Debbie, phoned Ivan and told him police had been asking about a silver 4WD vehicle similar to the one he owned. Luckily for us, Ivan dismissed Debbie’s warning. We weren’t sure whether he was just trying to give Debbie the impression of a clear conscience, or whether he suspected his phone might be intercepted and was trying to convince the police he had nothing to fear, or both.

  When Gorman and his colleagues reached the lake, they spoke to Bill and asked him why Ivan’s car was registered in his name. Bill replied, ‘Because the registration and insurance was cheaper if you live in the bush.’ Gorman had told Bill they were making inquiries about armed hold-ups. About 2 a.m. the next morning, Bill rang Ivan and told him he had been visited by detectives asking questions about his car. Once again, Ivan seemed unconcerned. Our surveillance of his house showed no sign of movement: Ivan still believed he was in control and had not been panicked i
nto getting rid of incriminating evidence.

  Meanwhile, on Saturday night, Detective Inspector Bob Godden was at the Goulburn Police Academy briefing teams for the next morning’s raids. More than 200 officers would be involved; they would be taken to their target areas before dawn, and all of them would be in place by 6.15 a.m.

  Detective Benson’s North group comprised a force of 60, including 21 investigators, two dogs and handlers, four trained negotiators and 26 heavily armed members of the State Protection Group (eight of whom would remain on standby at Campbelltown Police Station).

  Police began arriving at Campbelltown Police Station around 3 a.m. on Sunday. The command post was already operating. Some bleary-eyed journalists also started to gather. They all wanted to know what was going on.

  The command briefing began on time. I could see the expectation in the faces of everyone present. The pressure on all of us had been intense. After months of painstaking investigation, we were finally ready to act. My message was short and simple:

  We’re here to arrest Ivan Milat over the attempted abduction and attempt to shoot Paul Onions. Milat is considered a violent and dangerous person. He is believed to be well armed. We don’t know what to expect and are not taking any chances. We will also be executing search warrants on seven properties and visiting and interviewing people at another four properties (two in Queensland) relating to the backpacker murder investigations. Operational discipline is critical. Ensure your team leaders are kept informed of all developments at all times. In turn, they will keep the command post informed. The integrity of the operation is vital. Any property to be seized will be secured by the designated exhibit officer at each location. Team leaders have a list of property we are looking for. We will not leave a property until we are satisfied there is nothing left to be searched, no matter how long it takes. Team leaders will brief you with respect to specific properties.

  Not until Ivan Milat’s home at Eagle Vale is secured and we have Ivan in custody will there be any move on any other property.

  Do not make any comment to the media. Command will make any comment that is required or will at least approve all comments. The media is not to be allowed on any property being searched.

  We have one shot at this. Let’s do it right, no matter how long it takes.

  Rod Lynch then addressed the group, providing a more detailed operational overview. He finished with a warning: ‘Milat is dangerous. Don’t take any chances and keep the command centre informed. The entire investigation rests on what happens during the next couple of hours.’

  Rod and I received a briefing from Bob Godden by phone. He was at the Police Academy and would soon be taking his teams out to the search locations.

  I decided to give the journalists at the police station an ‘off-the-record’ briefing. Task Force Air, I said, was preparing to execute a number of search warrants during the course of the day. There would be no interviews with task force police; all inquiries could be made through two Police Media staff attached to the command post. The media staff would have to follow strict task force instructions before releasing any information, to ensure the operation was not compromised. No further information could be provided at this stage, but as the day progressed we would do all we could to cooperate with the media. Reluctantly, the media agreed. They understood that this operation was about more than headlines; it was about protecting the community. As professionals, they were also shrewd enough to know that if they did the right thing by us, there would be no shortage of opportunities for photographs and stories in the days and weeks to come. And just to make sure, I left them in no doubt that breaching the arrangements would result in a complete media blackout.

  As dawn approached, the State Protection Group, negotiators and support team left Campbelltown Police Station in convoy for Eagle Vale. At a nearby intersection a few doors up from Ivan’s home, we set up a local command centre. Uniformed police formed an outer perimeter preventing access to the street and ensuring the safety of local residents.

  The houses on either side of Ivan’s were both occupied. Behind his property was a vacant block. Teams of police dressed in black, with bulletproof vests and armed with shotguns and submachine guns, were sent in to secure the perimeter to Ivan’s property. At 6.36 a.m., Detective Sergeant Wayne Gordon (no relation to Detective Paul Gordon), the lead negotiator with the State Protection Group, phoned Ivan’s number.

  ‘Mr Ivan Milat, is it?’

  A male voice answered, ‘No.’

  ‘Is Ivan Milat there?’

  ‘No, he’s not here at the moment.’

  Gordon knew it was Ivan’s voice. Surveillance had put Ivan and his girlfriend, Chalinder Hughes, in the house the previous night, and since then no one had left or entered.

  ‘Is that the premises at . . . Street, Eagle Vale?’ Gordon asked.

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘I’m a negotiator with the State Protection Group.’

  ‘Mmm.’

  ‘I want you to come outside for the safety of yourself and whoever’s in the house with you. Now what I want you to do is to come out the front door. I want you to turn left, go through the front gate. I want you to walk with your arms out, exposed from your body . . . ’

  ‘Mmm.’

  ‘You’ll be met by some State Protection Group police who’ll be dressed in black. They will be armed and

  I want you then, at their direction, to lie face down on the ground.’

  ‘Okey dokey.’

  Negotiations continued for a short time, during which Ivan confirmed that his girlfriend, Chalinder Hughes, was the only other person in the house. He agreed to come out, leaving the front door open, and to follow Gordon’s instructions, once he had ‘put me pants on’. Gordon hung up.

  The door remained closed. Noise and movement was heard in the house. A few minutes went by. Gordon rang the house again. It was answered by Hughes. She didn’t know what was going on; Ivan hadn’t told her who was on the phone. Gordon introduced himself and explained what he wanted. She put Ivan on the phone and Gordon repeated his direction for Ivan (and now Hughes) to leave the house. Ivan sounded calm and told Gordon he thought it was ‘someone from work’ ringing up for a joke.

  Gordon assured Ivan that it was no joke and that there was a warrant to search his house over an armed robbery. Milat laughed and told Gordon he had looked out of the window but couldn’t see any police. While Gordon repeated his instructions Ivan went on laughing, ignoring the instructions and trying to take control of the situation. When Gordon suggested that he leave the house first, followed by Hughes, Ivan replied, ‘I think we’ll just walk out together.’

  Again, Ivan hung up and the police outside heard movement in the house. A car door in the garage could be heard opening and closing. For a few moments Gordon and the police surrounding the house worried that Ivan might try to make a run for it—not that he could get far. If he was on foot he would be stopped by the perimeter teams. If he tried to break out in his vehicle, as he seemed to be preparing to do, he would be blocked at the outer perimeter.

  Still the front door did not open. At 6.48 a.m.—twelve minutes after Gordon had made his first phone call—he rang for the third time and spoke with Hughes, who told him they were about to come out. Gordon waited . . . and finally Ivan emerged.

  Being confronted by men in black, pointing shotguns and machine guns at him, was not quite what Ivan had expected. When they ordered him to ‘Get down!’ he quickly obeyed. Detectives Steve Leach and Paul Gordon, who were to interview Ivan, approached. As the handcuffs were being put on Ivan, another team of men in black rushed past him and into the house, securing it one room at a time.

  Hughes had followed Ivan out of the house, but the two had been quickly separated by the police. She seemed bewildered by the scale of the raid, believing there must have been some mistake. After a short conversation she was taken to the Campbelltown Police Station.

  Back at the command centre, we had been kept informed at each step
of the operation. I’m sure I was not alone in wishing I could have been present when Ivan was arrested, but at the same time I knew that standing back was the only way I could maintain an overview of the entire operation. I had absolute faith in the skills and judgement of the people I had entrusted with leading the raids; my job was to see the broader picture, to make sure each strand of the investigation came together and to minimise the risk of mistakes. After all, the raids were not an end in themselves, but a crucial step in the larger operation to successfully prosecute the killer or killers. That said, all of us in the command centre felt an overwhelming sense of relief at the news that Ivan had been arrested and the house in Eagle Vale secured without incident. With Ivan safely in custody I gave the order for search warrants to be executed on the other properties.

  Detective Leach told Milat we were investigating the abduction and armed robbery of Onions and cautioned him that he was not obliged to answer any questions, to which Milat replied, ‘I understand that, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Milat was also shown and had explained to him the warrant to search his house. Told he would also be asked questions about the backpacker murders, Milat again replied, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Even with detectives milling around his doorstep, Milat still seemed to believe he could bluff it out.

  Milat was taken into his house, where he showed Leach each of the rooms and told him what they were used for. He denied having any guns in the house or owning any guns.

  The search began and it was not long before the police started finding incriminating material. In Ivan’s bedroom police found a postcard that began, ‘Hi Bill’—the name used by Ivan when he picked up Onions. When shown the card by Leach, Ivan denied ever using the name Bill and said, ‘It must have been a mistake.’ The writer of the postcard asked whether ‘Bill’ would be visiting New Zealand soon; if he was, the writer said he would ‘see a guy about deer shooting’. The writer was later identified as a friend of Ivan. Some New Zealand dollars were also found in his room, which Ivan explained by saying that he had ‘been to New Zealand’. (Ivan had fled to New Zealand in 1971 while on bail for rape and armed robbery charges. In 1974 he returned to Australia and was acquitted of all charges.) The postcard was dated 22 April 1992, four days after Caroline Clarke and Joanne Walters had disappeared.