Leonard Fraser

Leonard Fraser
Born 27 June 1951
Ingham, Queensland, Australia
Died 1 January 2007 (aged 55)
Cause of death
 Heart attack
Other names The Rockhampton Rapist
Criminal penalty
 5 x Life imprisonment + 25 years
Killings
Victims 4-7+
Span of killings
 28 December 1998–22 April 1999
Country Australia
State(s) Queensland
Date apprehended
 1999

Leonard John Fraser (27 June 1951 – 1 January 2007), also known as "The Rockhampton Rapist", was an Australian convicted serial killer.

Biography

Fraser was born in Ingham, Queensland.

Crimes

Before a life sentence on 7 September 2000 for the abduction, rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, Rockhampton, Queensland, Leonard Fraser had spent almost 20 of the preceding 22 years behind bars for the rape of other women. He was subsequently charged with four murders. Police found many trophies of his victims in his flat and ponytails from three different women, which could not be traced to any of his known victims.[1]

Fraser originally confessed to five murders in an apparent deal with police to avoid general population in prison, but one of those victims was a 14 year old, Natasha Ryan, who was found to be alive and living secretly with her boyfriend in a nearby town after having been listed as a missing person for five years.[2] Although there was an obvious problem in his confessions to crimes where no corroborating evidence existed and there was therefore reason for a mistrial, his defence did not file for one. Nor did his defence object to the prosecution using the same confession made in custody, which included the Ryan confession, for three other victims whose remains were found. The Ryan 'murder' was also based on testimony from a fellow prisoner who alleged that Fraser drew detailed maps showing where Ms Ryan's remains could be located.[3] Even so, the judge in the case, Justice Brian Ambrose, heavily criticised the media for commenting on the value of confessions to crimes made to police under duress or to other prisoners while in custody, where no or little corroborating evidence exists.

In 2003 Fraser was sentenced to three indefinite prison terms for the murders of Beverley Leggo and Sylvia Benedetti, and the manslaughter of Julie Turner in the Rockhampton area in 1998 and 1999.[4][5] At his trial, the judge described him as a sexual predator who was a danger to the community and his fellow inmates.[6]

Death

Fraser was being held at the Wolston Correctional Centre and, after complaining of chest pains, he was taken to a secure section of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba, on 26 December 2006,[7] where he subsequently died of a heart attack on 1 January 2007.[6]

Media

Fraser's murders are the focus of the Crime Investigation Australia series 2 episode The Predator: Leonard John Fraser.[8]

Notes

  1. ↑ Bassingthwaighte, Ted (November 2006). "From Sexual Predator to Murderer" (– Scholar search). Police news (New South Wales Police Association). Archived from the original on 15 June 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  2. ↑ McCutcheon, Peter (14 April 2003). "Fraser trial judge criticises media commentary". The World Today (ABC). Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  3. ↑ "Victim in murder trial found alive, but three others are definitely dead, say police". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2003-04-11.
  4. ↑ Doneman, Paula. "Leonard John Fraser". Movement Against Kindred Offenders (M.A.K.O). Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  5. ↑ Landers, Kim (5 September 2003). "Fraser guilty verdict". Stateline Queensland (ABC). Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Qld serial killer dies in hospital". ABC News. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  7. ↑ Doneman, Paula (27 December 2006). "Serial killer in hospital after heart scare". News.com. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
  8. ↑ "Leonard John Fraser". Crime Investigation Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-26.

References

External links