Some secrecy provisions concealing the identities of the two women attacked by Roman Heinze at Salt Creek last year have been lifted by the Supreme Court in Adelaide.
Justice Trish Kelly has revoked a suppression order concealing the names of German backpacker Lena Rabente and her Brazilian travel companion, who were attacked at a remote beach south of Adelaide, according to The Advertiser.
However, an additional statutory provision remains in place protecting the identity of the Brazilian woman who was sexually assaulted by Heinze, 61.
Provisions concealing the identities of two women attacked by Roman Heinze at Salt Creek last year have been lifted by the Supreme Court in Adelaide (pictured is German backpacker Lena Rabente)
The victims of Salt Creek kidnapper Roman Heinze (pictured) asked for suppression orders on their identities to be lifted
Heinze was jailed in May after being found guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life over the attacks in February 2016 (pictured is the camping ground where the women were attacked)
The two women applied to the Supreme Court on Tuesday to have the suppression order lifted.
It’s believed they want to be identified to be able to participate in paid television interviews, but no details were provided to the courts.
Both women were reportedly approached by producers for Channel Seven’s Sunday Night and Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes during the trial, The Advertiser reported.
Their application was opposed by counsel for Heinze who said his client currently had an appeal before the court and releasing the identity of the two women could prejudice his arguments and possibly the administration of justice, should there be a retrial.
Heinze was jailed in May after being found guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life over the attacks on the SA Coorong in February 2016.
His trial was told he met his victims through the Gumtree website, where the Brazilian and Ms Rabente had advertised for a ride to Melbourne.
He drove the women to isolated sand dunes and after setting up camp launched his violent assaults.
Heinze answered an ad the women posted on Gumtree requesting a lift from Adelaide to Melbourne last year (pictured: camp site at Salt Creek)
The 61-year-old took the women to a remote beach in Salt Creek where he tied up and sexually assaulted one and hit the other over a head with a hammer (pictured: part of the crime scene)
That included tying up and sexually assaulting the Brazilian woman and using a hammer to hit Ms Rabente on the head several times before trying to repeatedly run her over with his 4WD.
Ms Rabente said during Heinze’s trial she intervened when she saw him assaulting the Brazilian.
‘He came from behind and I got a pretty hard smash on the back of my head,’ she said, according to The Advertiser.
‘It was like on a boat, it felt like I was drunk when I got a hard smash.
‘I thought ‘that’s it, that’s the end’ and I saw myself already buried in the sand … I was thinking of my parents, that they would never see me again.’
The women managed to escape the frightening ordeal, and Heinze (pictured) was found in his car further down the beach
In sentencing, Justice Trish Kelly said the man had shown no remorse for his actions and gave him 22 years behind bars
Between that incident and the Salt Creek attack, Heinze contacted 13 other backpackers on Gumtree, and had also accumulated depraved pornography on his computer and phone.
During sentencing, Justice Kelly said Heinze had not shown the slightest remorse or contrition for any of his crimes and there were no reasonable prospects of rehabilitation.
‘In fact, the totality of the evidence convinces me, that if undetected, your offending would have continued and quite probably escalated,’ she said.
DETAILS OF ROMAN HEINZE’S ATTACKS
2016 SALT CREEK ATTACKS:
* Two female backpackers are attacked on the rugged sand dunes at Salt Creek by 61-year-old Roman Heinze whom they meet after one posts an advertisement on the website Gumtree seeking a lift from Adelaide to Melbourne.
* A Brazilian woman is thrown down on the sand, her arms tied with rope. Heinze then takes out a knife and cuts off her bikini before indecently assaulting her.
* Heinze then goes after the German backpacker with a hammer, hitting her in the head four times. As she tries to flee he also drives at her in his 4WD, knocking her down several times.
* A jury found Heinze guilty of six charges including indecent assault, aggravated kidnapping and endangering life but not guilty of attempted murder.
Justice Trish Kelly jailed Heinze for a total of 22 years and four months with a non-parole period of 17 years
2014 ATTACK:
* Heinze pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting another backpacker at a property in Adelaide’s south in 2014. He had also agreed to give the woman a ride interstate.
2014 ASSAULT:
* Heinze was placed on a bond in relation to an assault on a woman in December 2014.
THE SENTENCE:
* Justice Trish Kelly jailed Heinze for a total of 22 years and four months with a non-parole period of 17 years.
* Justice Kelly described his offending as depraved and defying any rational or reasonable explanation. She said his crimes had a common theme – sudden, violent and predatory sexual behaviour.
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