To help revisit and understand the murders, the table on the following page provides an overview of the facts.
The Coroner presented his findings on Thursday, 24 March 1988 about the manner in which the boys had been picked up as well as findings in relation to the murders of Alan Barnes, Neil Muir, Peter Stogneff and Mark Langley.
‘It is apparent from the evidence of Detective Sergeant Kipling that a number of methods were adopted. According to him the main methods were a feigned vehicle breakdown, a lure in the car, in which there would be a reasonably good-looking female or transvestite who would then lure the innocent hitchhiker or pedestrian into the vehicle. On the other hand, it could be a straight hitchhiker situation where the hitchhiker was approached, invited into the car, given a drink which, on many occasions, was laced with some form of drug. This was known of course as a Mickey Finn. A common drug used for this purpose was Noctec, or chloral hydrate. Certain other drugs were also used on occasions including that known as Mandrax. The effect of these drugs with the combination of alcohol rendered the victim sleepy or indeed unconscious. The victim would then be taken to certain premises where various indecencies would be performed upon the body of the victim, including anal intercourse and no doubt other lurid practices.
‘I have, in fact, perused a number of statements from victims who fortunately survived the ordeal. Statements given by these people have been checked and rechecked and there is no doubt that their account of what happened are substantially true and certainly not fanciful.’
Kevin Ahern called for the reward for giving information about the murders to be increased. It had started at $5000 when Richard had first disappeared and risen to $15,000. The amount of money offered by the Government quickly jumped to $100,000 by the time von Einem was arrested, and the reward was eventually for information about all the boys’ murders. Later, in March 1988, it was raised to a new high of $250,000. The Government was accepting that there was a link between them. Community concern had increased markedly, and the Government reacted to that. Now, Kevin Ahern asked for the reward to be increased again and it was raised to the extraordinary sum of $500,000 in September 1989.
Police interviewed many people over the years following the conviction of von Einem. They found more women who were with von Einem when he picked up and drugged boys and they again confirmed what we knew about his activities. However, parts of the investigation led nowhere, were inconclusive, and took an increasing amount of time and effort. Even when I was still involved, we had organised a line-up using a witness who thought she had seen Peter Stogneff at a Tea Tree Plaza coffee shop on the day he disappeared. The line-up included von Einem but the witness could not pick him as the person with the boy. Also, we didn’t know whether or not the boy with the man was actually Stogneff. This possible sighting happened on a Wednesday, which was different to the rest of our findings; von Einem usually went on the prowl on weekends and his work records did not show him to be away from Pipeline Supplies on that day. However, we felt that the records wouldn’t be entirely accurate as von Einem was in a position to manipulate them. So, even though Trevor was convinced that all the murders were linked, there were some differences and these really complicated the investigation.
Things changed when Detective Kent McFarlane went to Sydney on 5 September 1989 to speak to B again. He gave another statement, which convinced Prosecutor Brian Martin to offer him immunity against prosecution if he gave evidence against von Einem. The immunity related to offences that he committed in relation to abusing boys but did not apply if he was involved in the actual murders. This was arranged and again it was time for Trevor to act.
On Friday, 15 September 1989, Trevor went to Yatala Prison and spoke with von Einem for a short time. This time Trevor taped the conversation, which was only three pages long when it was transcribed.
‘Bevan, how are you?’
He did not reply so Trevor introduced Malcolm Howells and Lyn Dunstan, the two detectives who were with him.
‘What has happened is that we have got direct evidence now that implicates you in the murder of Alan Barnes.’
‘That is impossible.’
‘OK. The situation is you don’t have to answer any further questions at this time, do you understand that?’
‘Yes, I understand that.’
A short time later, Trevor said: ‘. . . so the situation is you are being arrested for the murder of Alan Barnes and shortly you will be conveyed to the Adelaide Watch House where you will be formally charged, do you understand that?’
‘I understand that.’
‘Is there anything you want to tell me about it?’
‘I have nothing to tell you.’
Trevor Kipling again returned to the jail on 10 November 1989 in the presence of Mark Griffin, von Einem’s new solicitor. This time, Trevor told the prisoner that he was going to be charged with another murder. He was going to be charged with the murder of Mark Langley when he next appeared in court for that of Alan Barnes.
The committal hearing to determine whether or not there was enough evidence to send von Einem to trial for the two new counts of murder started on 5 March 1990 before David Gurry, an experienced magistrate whose grey hair and black-rimmed glasses suited his profession. The committal started nearly eleven years after the murder of Alan Barnes and eight years after the murder of Mark Langley. Trevor Kipling certainly had been persistent with his investigation. Other detectives would have given it away a long time ago.
Von Einem was asked to stand in the dock and the charges
