Gregory Brazel
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| Gregory John Brazel | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 17, 1954 Blacktown, New South Wales |
| Penalty | Life imprisonment |
Gregory John 'Bluey' Brazel is a convicted Australian arsonist, armed robber and multiple murderer, currently serving a life sentence for the murders of prostitutes Sharon Taylor and Roslyn Hayward in 1990, and the murder of Mordialloc hardware store owner Mildred Hanmer during an armed robbery in 1982 for which he confessed some eighteen years later.
Brazel is often described as one of the most manipulative and violent prisoners in Victoria's prison system [1] [2], and was estimated to be worth more than AUD$500,000 in 2000. He will be eligible for parole in 2020.
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[edit] Early life
Enlisted in Australian Army 1974. Trained at 1RTB (Kapooka) 14Platoon B Company. Posted September 1974 to Aust Army medical training school Healsville Victoria. In 1976, Brazel took five privates hostage during an army medical corps exercise in Healesville. Shots were fired before Brazel was persuaded to release the hostages. He was later dishonourably discharged.
[edit] Murder of Sharon Taylor
On 28 May, 1990, while on early release from prison, Brazel murdered prostitute Sharon Taylor. Her body was found in a shallow grave at Beeac, East of Colac on 23 September, 1990 [3].
[edit] Murder of Roslyn Hayward
On 13 September, 1990, Brazel murdered prostitute Roslyn Hayward at Sorrento. Her body was not discovered until 1 October, 1990.
[edit] Murder of Mildred Hanmer
Mildred Teresa Hanmer was shot in the chest on September 20, 1982 during an armed robbery on her Mordialloc hardware and gift store. She later died in the Alfred Hospital from her injuries. Her murder remained unsolved until August, 2000.
On August 18, 2000, Brazel voluntarily confessed to the 1982 murder, seeking to make a deal with police officers that no life term would be imposed before agreeing to make a statement [3].
[edit] Prison life
Brazel has continued to regularly offend whilst imprisoned and is often described as being manipulative and violent. In November, 1991, Brazel took a staff member hostage while imprisoned at the HM Melbourne Assessment Prison when he learned of his impending transfer to HM Prison Pentridge.
In 2003, Brazel conned an elderly woman into deposting more than AUD$30,000 into a TAB telephone betting account for his own personal use [1]. In 2006, Brazel was awarded AUD$12,000 in damages in an out of court settlement after suffering a violent attack with a broken bottle whilst imprisoned at Melbourne's privately operated Port Phillip Correctional Centre in Laverton in May, 2001 [1]. In October 2006, Brazel was caught collecting personal information relating to senior prison staff [2].
[edit] Summary of criminal convictions
During the period of March 1983 until August 2000 Brazel was convicted of 37 offences from fifteen court appearances. Offences since 1992 occurred while Brazel was in prison custody apart from the 2005 conviction for murder which occurred in 1982.
| Date | Conviction | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| June, 1983 | Contempt of court | Sentenced to 2 years imprisonment [3] |
| November, 1987 | Armed robbery | Sentenced to 6 years imprisonment [3] |
| August, 1992 | Murder | Sentenced to 20 years imprisonment Reduced to 17 years on appeal [3] |
| May, 1993 | Murder | Sentenced to 20 years imprisonment [3] |
| October, 1994 | False imprisonment Threating to kill |
Sentenced to 7 years imprisonment [3] |
| June, 1997 | Arson | Sentenced to 2 years imprisonment [3] |
| December, 1998 | Bribery | Sentenced to 2 years imprisonment [3] |
| March 22, 2005 | Murder | Sentenced to life imprisonment [3] |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Killer gets compensation payout, The Australian, September 14, 2006
- ^ a b Killer caught with jail list, Sunday Herald Sun, October 13, 2006
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j R v Brazel, Supreme Court of Victoria, March 22, 2005
