Bandali Debs
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| Bandali Michael Debs | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | July 18, 1953 |
| Conviction(s) | Murder x 3 |
| Penalty | Life imprisonment |
| Children | 5 |
Bandali Michael Debs (born July 18, 1953[1]) is an Australian murderer, currently serving multiple terms of life imprisonment for the murder of two Victoria Police officers in August, 1998 and also the 1997 murder of teenager Kristy Harty.[2] Debs is currently detained at HM Prison Barwon.
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[edit] Personal life
Debs, from Narre Warren, an eastern suburb of Melbourne was employed as a tiler. He had fathered five children. The youngest son of Debs, Joseph, was found dead due to a suspected drug overdose at a house in Greensborough in December, 2003.[3]
[edit] Murder of Kristy Harty
On June 20, 2005, police charged Debs with the murder of troubled teenager Kristy Mary Harty,[4] who was murdered at Upper Beaconsfield on June 17, 1997.
Harty was soliciting for sex along the Princes Highway when she met with Debs. The pair drove to a secluded bush track in Upper Beaconsfield where the pair had unprotected sex. Harty was later murdered. Her semi-naked body was later found lying face down by bushwalkers. A single gunshot wound was discovered at the rear of her head.[5]
DNA tests revealed semen located on the body of Harty was linked to Debs.
In May, 2007, Debs was convicted of the murder of Harty and sentenced to a term of life imprisonment.[2]
In sentencing Debs to his third term of life imprisonent, Justice Kaye remarked,
Your murder of Ms Harty was entirely senseless, needless and wanton. The evidence discloses beyond any doubt that this was not a case of a sexual encounter in which, in the heat of the moment, feelings or passions may have led to a spontaneous and irrational act of violence. Rather, and quite to the contrary, this was, most clearly, a callous, craven and senseless murder in cold blood of an entirely innocent, defenceless and vulnerable young woman. The evidence leads to the inevitable conclusion that you murdered Kristy Harty for no other reason than for the sheer sake of it.[2]
[edit] Silk-Miller police murders
In February, 2003, Debs was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment with no minimum term for the murders of two Victoria Police officers, Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller at Moorabbin, Victoria on August 16, 1998.[2]
Accomplice, Jason Joseph Roberts, who was 22 at the time of sentencing, was also convicted of the police murders and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years.
[edit] Prison life
Whilst imprisoned, Debs has undertaken psychology, life skills and computer training and is employed as a prison carpet cleaner.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ DPP v Debs & Roberts 2003 VSC 30, Supreme Court of Victoria, February 24, 2003
- ^ a b c d R v Debs 2007 VSC 220, Supreme Court of Victoria, June 15, 2007
- ^ Debs's youngest son found dead, The Age, December 24, 2003
- ^ DNA tests link Debs to prostitute death, Herald Sun, July 21, 2005
- ^ a b No-parole call on Debs, The Age, July 21, 2005
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Debs, Bandali Michael |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian murderer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 18, 1953 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
