Chilling moment Melbourne serial killer admitted to killing three young women with six chilling words
A former detective responsible for putting one of Australia’s worst serial killers behind bars has shared the chilling moments Paul Denyer admitted to killing three young women.
In the seven weeks between June 11, 1993 and July 30, the Victorian man brutally murdered Elizabeth Stevens, 18, young mother Deborah Fream, 22, and Melbourne schoolgirl Natalie Russell, 17. He was just 21 years old at the time.
A former detective involved in the investigation, Charlie Bezzina, said Denyer was “absolutely soaked” the day after he killed Natalie, with blood residue under his fingernails during a two-hour marathon grilling by police.
‘And just out of the blue, I think his words were, ‘I’ve done all three.’ Three of what? “Well, those three women you asked me about, I killed them,” Bezzina said on Sunday’s episode of 60 Minutes.
The retired detective said Natalie – believed to be Denyer’s last murder – was killed as he walked home from school, and that this was his first planned murder.
Paul Denyer (above) was just 21 years old when he was arrested for the murders of three women in Melbourne in 1993
Former Detective Charlie Bezzina said Denyer (right) had blood residue under his fingernails during his interview with police
Natalie Russell (above) was murdered by Denyer at the age of 17 – she was the serial killer’s last victim
Bezzina described the crime scene and said Denyer had been “in a frenzy” at the time.
“I won’t go into details, but the brutality of it was so important,” he told journalist Tara Brown.
Mr Bezzina – who Denyer rated as “one of the highest categories of a murderer, without remorse or mercy” appeared emotional as he described the moment.
After pleading guilty to the three murders, Denyer received three consecutive life sentences, with a non-parole period of 30 years.
In May this year, Victoria’s Adult Parole Board rejected an application for Denyer’s bid for freedom, with Natalie’s family and Victorian MP David Limbrick – who was her boyfriend at the time – calling for tougher laws to keep Denyer locked up for life.
Natalie’s brother Darren Russell, who also appeared on the programme, said he did not believe Denyer had changed.
“He was an extremely callous, dangerous, and I don’t use this word lightly, an evil person. “We have no reason to believe that has changed,” he said.
Speaking publicly for the first time about his sister’s death, Dr Russell said he took comfort in the fact that Natalie had done ‘something good’ by putting an end to Denyer’s killing spree.
Mr Bezzina (above) said Denyer was in a ‘frenzy’ when he killed Natalie, recalling that ‘the brutality of it was so important’
Debbie Fream (above) was one of Denyer’s three victims during his killing spree from June 11, 1993 to July 30
“That was the only small source of light: it was because of Natalie’s death that Denyer was arrested,” he said.
After pleading guilty to the three murders, Denyer received three consecutive life sentences, with a non-parole period of 30 years.
‘Her death meant no one else had to die. No other family had to suffer.”
Earlier this year, prior to the Adult Parole Board’s denial of Denyer’s bail, Natalie’s family made an emotional plea to ensure Denyer would not be able to apply for parole in the future.
Similar steps have been taken to ensure Hoddle Street gunman Julian Knight and Russell Street bomber Craig Minogue remain jailed for life.
“I think the whole idea of him even being considered for parole is ridiculous,” Natalie’s father Brian Russell told Sunrise
“He had a good trial and… had psychologists and psychiatrists and everyone agreed that he should never be allowed into normal society.”
In June, Victorian Daniel Andrews flagged off tougher laws requiring the state’s worst criminals to wait at least five years between applications for parole.
Denyer received three life sentences for the murders of Natalie Russell, Debbie Fream and Elizabeth Stevens (above)
Natalie’s brother, Darren Russell (above), described Paul Denyer as an ‘extremely callous, dangerous and evil person’
He also admitted that the families of Denyer’s victims were not “as well supported as they should have been.”
“The system has had 30 years to prepare for this day,” he said.
‘I take responsibility for that and we will ensure that it does not happen again.’