Seven Time Killer Sought Minimum Term

This case is a little different to the general tenor of cases that are posted on this blog.  These murders occurred decades ago and Paul Steven Haigh (described as "Victoria's worst serial killer") was sentenced in 1980 and again in 1986.  He received life sentences for all murders committed and at the time, a minimum term could not be fixed.  The practical effect of a life sentence without a minimum term is that a prisoner will never be released.

The judgment summarised in this blog entry determined whether or not Paul Steven Haigh should be granted a minimum term to his sentence, to permit the possibility that one day he will be allowed back into society.

Crime:  Murder x 6

Occurred:  1978 - 1991

Where:  Windsor, Caulfield, St Kilda, Ripponlea, Olinda and Pentridge Prison

Sentenced:  Early 1980s

Convicted:  Paul Steven Haigh

Victims: Wayne Keith Smith, Sheryle Ann Gardner, Danny William Mitchell, Lisa Maude Brearley, Evelyn Abraham, Bruno Cingolani and Donald Hatherley.

What happened?

Paul shot Bruno Cingolani in the abdomen during an armed robbery at a pizza shop in Caulfield South.  Bruno later died in hospital.

Paul shot Evelyn Abraham in the head at an armed robbery of a Tatslotto agency in Windsor.  She died at the scene.

Paul's other murders took place in a broader killing spree by a lethal trio of men that lasted 11 months.

His mates, convicted killer Peter Wright and convicted killer and prison escapee Barry Quinn, were embroiled in a jealous circle.  Whilst on the run, Barry Quinn's girlfriend was murdered at Missipppi Lake.  Barry later confessed to the murder but police were suspicious it was actually committed by Sheryl Ann Gardner, a former lover of Quinn's who shared some animosity towards the murdered woman.

Paul's third victim was St Kilda man, Wayne Keith Smith, who had let Barry stay with him for a few days after he had fled prison.  Paul and an associate shot Wayne dead - the motive is unclear but it seems he was a former criminal associate and murdered in order to cover up the trio's crimes.

Two of Paul's victims: his 19 year old girlfriend, Lisa Bearley, and former associate Wayne Smith (source)

Paul then murdered Sheryl Ann Gardner by shooting her in her car at Ripponlea.  Also present was her nine year old son, Danny William Mitchell, who Paul pretended to console before shooting from behind once his head was turned.  It also appears they were murdered because Sheryl "knew too much".

Paul around the time he was first convicted (source)

During his hearing to have a minimum term imposed, Paul handed up a book to the judge entitled "The House of Blue Light", a series of letters that documented his murders.  Paul wrote of his sixth victim, his 19 year old girlfriend Lisa Maude Brearley:

I invited my girlfriend to a non-existent party, and she, accepting the invitation, went to the bush with my co-offenders and I.  However, the only thing that awaited her up the dark forest track was rape and Death.

He took her out to a secluded area in Olinda and later described the murder as follows:

I hadn't known my girlfriend for long, but I experienced her as a kind-hearted and nice enough lass. Unfortunately for her, because there wasn't a gun to shoot her with, a knife was used to take her life. This being the case, when the fellow who wanted sex with her had finished using her body to that end, I attacked her with the blade. Amazingly, it seems I stabbed her one hundred and fifty-seven times.

I hadn't stabbed anyone to death before, and she didn't, as you might see in a movie, die after one blow with the knife.  She fought surprisingly hard, and this fazed me.  Because of this, when she was finally still, I decided to stab her more, in order to make sure she was dead.

The last murder committed by Paul was in 1991.  He assisted a prisoner to commit suicide by hanging.  A minimum term was set for this murder, the law in Victoria having changed by this time.

Convicted's background

Paul is now 55 years old and was 21 years old at the time of the first murder.  He was adopted at the age of three months and did not complete Year 9.  His parents were unable to control him and he appeared regularly in the Children's Court for, amongst other things, stealing, car theft, malicious damage, breaking and entering and various assaults.

A psychiatrist has said of Paul:

He admitted he might stuff up again if he was released.  He might even kill but only with a good reason.  Education and religion provided no answers but he had "learned to play the game" and "learned to manipulate people".

In 2010, Paul's father died and was rumoured to have left behind approximately $850,000, which was inherited by Paul.  Despite this, in the current hearing, he chose to represent himself.  He was permitted to leave prison in order to attend his father's funeral.

Although he is considered to present some symptoms of a person with borderline personality disorder, this has not been conclusively diagnosed.

Paul Haigh, today (source)

Outcome of hearing

Carefully weighing a number of considerations, the judge determined that no minimum term should be set down.

Sentence

Paul will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.

You can read more about the crimes here and here and the judgment here.