Ivan Milat failed to confess to murders while on his deathbed despite detectives last ditch bid

Ivan Milat responded with callous indifference when detectives tried to draw a confession from the serial killer on his deathbed before he succumbed to throat and stomach cancer.   

The 74-year-old was convicted in 1996 for the murder of seven travellers in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney, between 1989 and 1992.

He died at 4.07am in Sydney’s Long Bay jail on Sunday, where was he serving seven life sentences for the killings. 

During his final days with terminal cancer, Milat sat through old media videos of his victims’ grieving families in a last-ditch attempt to seek a confession.

But instead of providing answers, Australia’s most notorious serial killer remained nonchalant, The Australian reported.

Serial killer Ivan Milat (left) failed to confess to his gruesome murders while on his deathbed. Detectives showed him evidence and old videos in a bid to seek a confession 

Ivan Milat pictured in May when he was transferred from prison to receive treatment in a public hospital for cancer which claimed his life on Sunday morning

Ivan Milat pictured in May when he was transferred from prison to receive treatment in a public hospital for cancer which claimed his life on Sunday morning

A detective said Milat responded to the videos with: ‘People die, they should just get over it.’  

NSW police hoped their final interviews with Milat would solve a number of murders.

The serial killer was visited by varying combinations of detectives at least eight times during the last five months.

Milat was shown the evidence which led to his conviction and he was told of authorities’ suspicions about his involvement in further missing-person cases.  

Detectives spoke with Milat at the Prince of Wales Hospital and at the Long Bay jail hospital. 

They thought about sending family members of victims to speak with Milat face-to-face but decided against it amid fears it would harm the relatives.   

Milat's seven victims were Melbourne couple Deborah Everist (top left) and James Gibson (bottom right), both 19, English backpackers Joanne Walters (bottom left) and Caroline Clarke (bottom second from right), and German backpackers Anja Habschied (top centre), Simone Schmidl (top right) and Gabor Neugebauer (bottom second from left)

Milat’s seven victims were Melbourne couple Deborah Everist (top left) and James Gibson (bottom right), both 19, English backpackers Joanne Walters (bottom left) and Caroline Clarke (bottom second from right), and German backpackers Anja Habschied (top centre), Simone Schmidl (top right) and Gabor Neugebauer (bottom second from left)

Caroline Clarke

Joanne Walters

Milat served seven life sentences for the murders of seven backpackers, including British tourists Caroline Clarke (left) and Joanne Walters (right)

‘It was to try and get to him to admit to the other murders, but he wouldn’t even admit to the ones he’s been convicted of,’ the detective said. 

‘To be frank, he wouldn’t admit to breathing.’

Milat maintained his innocence until the end and family members of the clan also stand by claims the serial killer is innocent. 

His nephew Alistair Shipsey said the ‘real killers are still out there’ and wished his uncle was given the chance of a retrial. 

But Milat’s brother Boris publicly denounced the serial killer and told 60 Minutes it was a ‘big relief’ that Milat was dead.  

‘This man is just an evil right to the last bone of him. He was dead to me a long time ago,’ Boris said.

‘Australia is rid of one of the notorious serial killers, psychopaths.’ 

Ivan Milat's brother Boris (pictured) said it was a 'big relief' the serial killer is dead

Ivan Milat’s brother Boris (pictured) said it was a ‘big relief’ the serial killer is dead

The 77-year-old, who is ’embarrassed’ to be a Milat, said be bears no burden of grief for his late brother.

‘He deserves where he is and he deserves what he’s got,’ he said.

Boris suspected there was money involved in Milat’s killings and thinks his brother murdered people for the joy of killing and knowing he could get away with it. 

When asked about the backpackers and how their lives were tragically cut short, Boris said he would get ’emotional’. 

Boris was then forced to excuse himself from the interview before returning in tears.

He said 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown was pulling on his ‘heartstrings’ before adding that ‘people have the right to die properly’. 

Milat is pictured with Maureen who he had an intimate relationship with for about one-year. She married Milat's brother Wally

Milat is pictured with Maureen who he had an intimate relationship with for about one-year. She married Milat’s brother Wally

Maureen (pictured) said she believe's Milat is far from innocent and struggles to understand how the Milat family deny the murders

Maureen (pictured) said she believe’s Milat is far from innocent and struggles to understand how the Milat family deny the murders

‘Seeing he’s dead now, the whole saga is best forgotten but remember the victims… remember these innocent people as well,’ he said. 

Boris also slammed his family for believing Milat’s denial and claiming the police made it all up.

He said they must have ‘small IQ’s’ because a 12-year-old child would be able to figure out Milat was a murderer. 

Milat’s former sister-in-law Maureen said he was dead to her ’20 or so years ago’.

Maureen was married to Milat’s brother Wally but admitted she had an intimate relationship with the serial killer ‘on and off’ for about one-year. 

‘That’s a part of my life I’m not really proud of… At certain points… just things happen,’ she said.

But Maureen said she too hated Milat and was in no way defending the killer. 

‘I believe he did it. He’s not innocent,’ she said.

Milat (pictured at home before his arrest) was serving seven life sentences for the murder of seven backpackers in bushland south of Sydney

Milat (pictured at home before his arrest) was serving seven life sentences for the murder of seven backpackers in bushland south of Sydney

‘To me, he died 20 odd years ago, when he was arrested for this. I have no feelings whatsoever. He’s just a person that’s died. I’d rather remember the person I knew – a nice person.’

She added it was a ‘bit creepy’ to have had a relationship with a psychopath.  

Maureen said she struggles to understand how the Milat family deny the murders. 

‘They all stick together… they’re a strong group, strong family,’ she said.  

Retired NSW police Assistant Commissioner John Laycock said there are a lot of questions still to be answered in the wake of Milat’s death. 

When asked if he suspected if there were more bodies buried, Mr Laycock said he believed in the possibility.

‘He wouldn’t plead guilty to breathing, and he certainly wouldn’t confess to a murder, or to a homicide,’ he said.

Pictured is a room in the hospital section of Long Bay prison where Milat died on Sunday

Pictured is a room in the hospital section of Long Bay prison where Milat died on Sunday

Milat was hospitalised in May and again earlier this month for stomach and throat cancer before being returned to the hospital wing of the jail on Tuesday.

His death was slow and painful as the cancer spread to his liver, lungs, bones and lymph nodes and he developed fluid on his heart. 

Milat’s body will be transferred to the New South Wales State Coroner who will decide, after consultation with his family, how it will be disposed.

There will be an inquest into his death, as is the case with all deaths in custody. 

Former detective Clive Small, who led the investigation into the killings, said there are at least three unsolved murders with good reasons to suspect Milat.

Milat was convicted in 1996 for the murder of seven backpackers in the Belanglo State Forest, south of Sydney.

Milat (pictured) is led from court during his trial in Sydney, Australia July 8, 1996

Milat (pictured) is led from court during his trial in Sydney, Australia July 8, 1996

His victims were English backpackers Caroline Clarke, 21, and Joanne Walters  22; Melbourne couple James Gibson and Deborah Everist, both 19; and German backpackers Simone Schmidl, 20, Gabor Neugebauer, 21, and Anja Habschied, 20.

He stabbed most, decapitated one whose head has never been found and shot another 10 times in the head as if using her for target practice. 

Many were knifed so savagely their bones were chipped, some had been gagged or bound, and some were suspected of having been sexually assaulted. 

‘These seven young persons were at the threshold of their lives, with everything to look forward to – travel, career, happiness, love, family, and even old age,’ said Justice David Hunt who jailed Milat for life in 1996.

‘It is clear that they were subjected to behaviour which, for callous indifference to suffering and complete disregard of humanity, is almost beyond belief.

‘They would obviously have been absolutely terrified, and death is unlikely to have been swiftly applied.’

Timeline of terror: Milat’s murders 

December 27, 1944: Ivan Robert Marko Milat is born in Sydney

December 30, 1989: Melbourne couple James Gibson and Deborah Everist, both 19, last seen in inner-Sydney with plans to hitchhike to Albury on the NSW/Victoria border.

January 25, 1990: British hitchhiker Paul Onions, 24, flees from a driver with a gun near Belanglo State Forest.

January 20, 1991: German backpacker Simone Schmidl, 20, vanishes while hitchhiking from Sydney to Melbourne.

December 26, 1991: German backpackers Gabor Neugebauer, 21, and Anja Habschied, 20, disappear from Kings Cross having planned to hitchhike from Sydney to Darwin.

April 18, 1992: British backpackers Caroline Clarke, 21, and Joanne Walters, 22, leave a Kings Cross hostel.

September 19-20, 1992: Ms Clarke and Ms Walters’ bodies are found in the Belanglo State Forest.

October 5, 1993: The skeletal remains of Mr Gibson and Ms Everist are found less than one kilometre from where the British women’s bodies were found.

October 7-8, 1993: Police launch an intensive search of the area, while not yet formally linking the four murders.

October 8, 1993: After forensic examinations, police say the four were probably murdered by the same person or persons. All had been stabbed. Task Force Air is set up, led by NSW Police Superintendent Clive Small.

November 1, 1993: Fifth body found in the forest about five kilometres from the others. Later identified as Ms Schmidl.

November 4, 1993: Bodies number six and seven, Mr Neugebauer and Ms Habschied, found 80 metres apart and about one kilometre to the east of where Ms Schmidl was discovered.

November 5, 1993: Reward increased from $100,000 to $500,000, matching the previous highest reward for information on major crimes in NSW.

May 22, 1994: Police raid Milat homes and charge Ivan Robert Marko Milat, 49, with the armed hold-up of British traveller Paul Onions.

May 31, 1994: Milat charged with the murders of the seven backpackers.

December 12, 1994: Milat committed for trial on eight charges after a 28-day hearing before a magistrate.

March 25, 1996: Supreme Court jury empanelled to hear trial, which starts the next day.

July 27, 1996 – Milat found guilty of seven murders and one kidnapping.

Sentenced to seven life sentences with no possibility of parole.

February 1998 – NSW Court of Criminal Appeal dismisses his challenge.

May 2004 – High Court application for special leave to appeal fails.

December 2006 – loses a bid for an inquiry into his convictions

January 2009 cuts off his little finger with a plastic knife.

October 27, 2019 – Milat, aged 74, dies in Long Bay Prison of oesophageal and stomach cancer. 

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