Australian SK Ivan Milat appeals his 7 murder convictions,represents himself in court

[Joe1orbit]

Hello,

Over in Australia, one of the most infamous serial murderers in that
country's history, Ivan Milat, who was found guilty of serially slaughtering
seven backpackers, appeared in court today, and made a bid to have his seven
murder convictions overturned, on the grounds of unfair pretrial publicity,
juror irregularities, and the testimony of a key witness.

Ivan acted as his own attorney at this appeal. Which is a very cool tactic,
even though from a legal point of view, in terms of winning the appeal, his
chances would obviously be better if he retained expert attorney's on his
behalf. Still, nothing beats the freedom and ability to capture the attention
of the courtroom spectators, as well as the media, when an infamous killer
like Ivan chooses to seize the spotlight and represent himself.

Security was very tight, and it sounds like Ivan did behave himself and
presented his case in a calm and non threatening manner and demeanor. His
sister offers us some supportive comments, declaring that she believes he is
being mistreated in prison. I agrbecause ALL prisons are designed to inflict
punitive punishment, and I do not believe any society has any right to inflict
punishment upon their human creations.

It was only about six months ago that Ivan did try to break out of prison,
but was unsuccessful, unfortunately.

This court hearing will apparently NOT resume until later this month, when
Ivan will have additinal arguments and documents to submit in his quest to his
the murder convictions overturned.

Take care, Joe

The following appears courtesy of today's Agence France-Presse news wire:

Convicted Australian serial killer makes bid for freedom

Agence France-Presse

Mon, 4 Nov 1997

SYDNEY, Nov 4 (AFP) - Australian serial killer Ivan Milat made a renewed bid
for freedom Tuesday by challenging his conviction for the murders of seven
backpackers.

Milat, 52, represented himself in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal
as he appealed for his conviction to be quashed on four grounds.

Looking gaunt and drawn after being confined to solitary for smuggling out an
interview to a current affairs magazine proclaiming his innocence, Milat said
pre-trial publicity had led to a miscarriage of justice.

He also claimed jury irregularities and questioned the evidence of a key
witness.

A New South Wales Supreme Court jury found Milat guilty in July last year of
the murder of three German, two British and two Australian backpackers whose
bodies were found covered in branches in a forest south of Sydney between
September 1992 and November 1993.

Milat, also convicted of kidnapping British traveller Paul Onions in January
1990, was sentenced to life in prison.

Dressed in green prison shorts and sweatshirt, the former road worker told the
court Tuesday that at a bail hearing long before his trial the Crown had said
he was charged with a rape in a forest south of Sydney in 1971.

"This was not true and I don't know why he said it, but he created such undue
prejudice from that instant when he said it," Milat said.

After the pre-trial pubicity his lawyers unsuccessfully tried to have a trial
without a jury.

"I feel that that caused a miscarriage of justice, allowing it to have an
ordinary jury trial," he said.

Milat also referred to evidence given by Onions, who described the car driven
by his attacker -- a description which Milat said did not fit his car.

Security was tight inside and outside the court and the public gallery was
full. Supporters of Milat claim the killer is still on the loose.

Outside the court, his sister Diane said he was being discriminated against.

"Ivan is very weak, he's lost a lot of weight and his eyes hurt him," she told
reporters. "He is not coping well mentally at all.

"He's in solitary with no access to a library. He is being discriminated
against. He's entitled to a fair hearing but no-one wants to give him a
chance."

An attempted jailbreak by Milat and notorious drugs baron George Savvas was
foiled by prison officials in May this year.

Milat had told fellow prisoners that he was desperate to escape and ready to
kill to achieve his goal, Corrective Services assistant commissioner Ron
Woodham said at the time.

Since the the magazine interview, in which Milat claimed he knew nothing of an
escape bid and he was set up, he has been confined to solitary and watched
almost constantly.

Savvas later hanged himself.

The hearing was adjourned until Milat makes further submissions later this month.