His 'threat' came shortly after the release of my first book on him. Rogerson claimed Lanfranchi was armed and he shot him in self-defence. In 2016 after the men were jailed, he met with Rogerson's solicitor Peter Katsoolis and police then began to investigate. [13], Rogerson worked on some of the biggest cases of the early 1970s, including the Toecutter Gang Murder and the Whiskey Au Go Go Fire in Brisbane. [33] However, Rogerson then lodged an appeal in 2020. The 20-year-old student was shot dead in a Padstow storage unit in 2014 and his body was wrapped in a tarpaulin anddumped in Cronulla. [39] The journalist has refused to discuss the matter. Corrupt cops Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara are contemplating a lifetime behind bars after losing their appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeal threw out their cases in Sydney this morning, almost five years after they were jailed for life for murdering Jamie Gao. A three-judge panel of Justice Andrew Bell, JusticeRobert Beech-Jones and Justice Robert Allan Hulme in the NSW Court of Appeal today unanimously dismissed the appeals. Similarities to the true life scenes played out in Sydney and involving the real Roger Rogerson and a body in the ocean in 2014 must have had Blue Murders producers minds reeling. A Sydney prostitute, Lyn Woodward, later vanished within hours of giving evidence in the case. [2] In September 2016, both were sentenced to jail for life for the murder of Gao. The exchange had the writer looking over his shoulder for a few days, which he notes is the art of the threat. 'He did mention that he probably would have been dead long before if he hadn't been in jail but that's about it,' Ms Melocco said. While Smith was virtually untouchable as he ran amok across Sydney many of his criminal associates on the 1980s died violently. He spent nine months in jail in 1990 before being released on bail pending an ultimately unsuccessful appeal. He was released from Kirkconnell Correctional Centre on 17 February 2006. He could get them out of strife with the coppers, he could tell them how the coppers operated, how best to avoid things, the depth of his knowledge. The unlikely pairing culminated in Gao, through contacts with a Triad gang in Hong Kong, arranging the import of 3kg of ice from mainland China. [26] On 21 January 2015, he and his co-accused, Glen McNamara (also a former police detective), were committed to stand trial over the alleged murder. It was the beginning of the end for Rogersons police career, and Flannerys hot heatedness and ready gun toting would be his own demise. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Ken Bruce finishes his 30-year tenure as host of BBC Radio 2, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Hershey's Canada releases HER for SHE bars featuring a trans activist, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Family of a 10-month-old baby filmed vaping open up. [31], On 2 September 2016, Justice Geoffrey Bellew sentenced Rogerson and McNamara to life in prison, with the statement "The joint criminal enterprise to which each offender was a party was extensive in its planning, brutal in its execution and callous in its aftermath". Violent and sinister characters populate the script: Neddy Smith, played by Tony Martin, is the charismatic big man of Sydneys gangland. This was tainted by Purdey's claims that Rogerson assaulted him, prevented him from calling his solicitor and typed up to five different records of the interview. Former Sydney detectives Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara have lost an appeal against their convictions for murdering a drug dealer. But the three appeal judges agreed Witness A was a "liar". Smith was a major heroin distributor in Sydney when the city's streets were awash with that drug. But Justice Bell said the Crown had established a circumstantial case against the men. What an interesting confluence: one man who has an appalling reputation but has rehabilitated himself to genial rogue for hire, and a bloke whos supposed to be pure and downtrodden, McNab says. Still, it fascinates me that Rogers career was brought to an end by a 20-year-old Asian kid with an education.. Read about our approach to external linking. His only hope for freedom, now, would be an uphill battle to try to find new and compelling evidence that will change the court's mind and give him one last chance to appeal. In 1992 he gave evidence at an Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into the relationship between police and criminals, implicating Rogerson and others in organised crime. "Oh it's a little f------ beauty isn't it Oh and by the way, don't tell Roger about this," the witness alleged McNamara said. His wife Anne Melocco told Daily Mail. [17][18], Rogerson received a criminal conviction, which was overturned on appeal, for involvement in drug dealing, allegedly conspiring with notorious Melbourne drug dealer Dennis Allen to supply heroin. Smith was born in 1944 and was a major criminal, involved particularly in armed robbery, heroin trafficking, and murder. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. He grumbles about the attention but relishes telling old stories to a fresh audience. He claimed that he was trying to arrest Lanfranchi for five suspected armed robberies. John Ibrahim's secret date with Rogerson. According to Camden, the noted historian of the 16th century, this name Roger was a valiant . They dont reminisce over a cup of tea and a Scotch Finger. Made in 1995, by the time all the court cases, ICAC and royal commission hearings about the cops and crims had been cleared for the ABC to broadcast in 2001, countless people had watched it. ), English footballer; Stan Rodgerson (1894-1955), Australian rules footballer; See also. He was as floored as anyone when, one Sunday evening in 2014, calls and emails came flooding in pointing to an astonishing final act in the Dodgers criminal career. To improve your experience. McNamara told the trial Rogerson shot the student dead as he "seethed with anger" over the exchange of drugs and cash. [14][15], The Peter Mitchell Award was presented to Rogerson in 1980 for the arrest of escaped armed robber Gary Purdey. And Rogersons last application for an extension of time to do so has been refused by the Supreme Court. In June 2016, Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara were found guilty of killing student Jamie Gao for his drugs (Partridge, 2016a). Rogerson had once been the brightest star in the New South Wales Police Force and Smith one of the heaviest criminals that Sydney has known. There was a whole coterie of men who liked Roger because Roger could do things for them, says author Duncan McNab. Smith would claim that before Jones disappeared - his body was not found until 1995 - the sometime used car salesman had been arranging to pay Rogerson $60,000 to make gold bullion theft charges go away. He was also a man who possibly, if you were locked up, could walk up to arresting police and crack a deal for you, either through payment of money or say to the copper, by the way, Ive got a brief [compromising information] on you. [32] However, neither Rogerson nor McNamara formally lodged appeals, and in July 2019 Rogersons last application for an extension of time to do so was refused by the NSW Supreme Court. That was close. New light is shed on Rogersons link to heroin importation via Thai sex workers and trafficking in the 1980s with Melbourne criminal Dennis Dr Death Allen, who was believed to be involved in the killings of up to 15 people. This included auctioning signed photos of himself standing near Lanfranchi's dead body. Big Sky Publishing. All the benefits of simply switching from white to brown - AND how purple, Why is Britain experiencing so many earthquakes? The comments below have not been moderated. Disgraced former detective Roger Rogerson is appealing his life sentence, arguing he didn't know Glen McNamara had sourced a gun before the murder. The murder attempt at Drurys Chatswood home makes for dramatic scenes in Blue Murder and the aftermath when Drury almost died from his gunshot wounds. Roger Rogerson is escorted to a prison van at the Supreme Court in Sydney, Wednesday, 15 June, 2016. Roger Rogerson was the teak-hard. An . , who was shot dead inside a Padstow storage unit in 2014. Both pleaded not guilty in January 2015. Justice Bell said although both accused had denied the existenceof a joint criminal enterprise to kill Mr Gao, the Crown had shown the men cooperated to dispose of the body. Low income Aussies and pensioners could be forced out of homes, Tens of thousands flock to Bondi for one-off dance party, Major traffic chaos warning for Sydney across busiest weekend in years. Roger Rogerson leaves a court hearing in 2014. Huckstepp, a heroin addict and prostitute, appeared on numerous current affairs programs, including 60 Minutes and A Current Affair, demanding an investigation into the shooting. Stunning new image reveals rare glimpse at oldest known supernova, Shane Warnes children remember cricket legend on first anniversary of his death, The real reason boys and men join gangs: Its a world of violence, Desperate Aussies are turning to Facebook Marketplace but this one act could cost $11,000, Teenager fighting for life after hit-and-run north of Brisbane, Viewers done with living in Australia after battle with Huntsman spider caught on camera, Man charged over alleged sexual assault of woman at popular Melbourne lake, Warning as thousands of Aussies try DIY teeth whitening. "Mr McNamara said don't tell Rogerson because that goes to the whole issue whether or not the applicant had any knowledge of whether or not there was a gun," John Stratton SC argued. Dont watch it before reading this. "Oh it's a little f------ beauty isn't it Oh and by the way, don't tell Roger about this," the witness alleged McNamara said. CORRUPT cop and convicted killer Roger Rogerson has been working as a prison cleaner at Long Bay since he was jailed for life last year. ISBN9781925675443. They have not been seen or heard from since. Aw mate, it couldnt be Roger, hes too good a bloke, the boss said. However, on 20 November 1989, Rogerson was acquitted. On 6 June 1984, Drury was shot twice through his kitchen window as he fed his three-year-old daughter. The idea was quite simply the Triad in Hong Kong and their enforcers would not know who Jamie Gao was selling to, so if Jamie Gao disappeared and it was done cleanly and concisely, hed just become a disappeared person.. "Roger would like to see you," she said. The initial approach to Rogerson has been aired via a series of taped phone calls made between . The coronial file and findings into her disappearance are now missing. Rogerson It implicated Roger Rogerson in Drurys attempted execution at the behest of a heroin trafficker. In 1984, undercover policeman Michael Drury was shot in his Sydney home as he fed his young daughter. He later joked in court that the media had changed his name by deed poll from decorated officer to "disgraced former detective". It was quite disturbing. He was released on appeal after nine months, but in 1992 that appeal was quashed and he was re-imprisoned until 1995. He moved his bashing and murder business to Sydney where he made the big-time, including his failed attempt to murder police officer Mick Drury in June 1984. In Blue Murder, Smith is shown murdering Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, although in real life he was charged but acquitted of that murder. Train fares will rise by 5.9% TOMORROW - but travellers can still get cheaper tickets if they buy them Will El Salvador's new mega-prison turn into a bloodbath? Smith, who survived Sydney's 1980s gang wars, had suffered from Parkinson's disease for the past four decades and spent his last 33 years behind bars. CONDEMNED to spend the rest of his days behind bars, disgraced detective turned convicted killer Roger Rogerson will be held in an aged care wing where he regularly conducts singalongs, to stop him becoming a godfather-type figure to young inmates, prison sources have revealed. Read about our approach to external linking. Their trial was started in July 2015, but was aborted after two days because of the potential prejudice caused after McNamara's then-barrister Charles Waterstreet made a reference to Rogerson "killing two or three people when he was in the police force". In 1995 he was charged with the murders of Huckstepp, brothel keeper Harvey Jones (1983) and drug dealers Lewton Shu (1983), Danny Chubb (1984), Barry McCann (1987), Barry Croft (1987) and Bruce Sandery (1988). "Extensive in its planning, brutal in its execution and callous in its aftermath," he said. Rogerson has called a new witness, who told the court he picked up what he thought was a gun wrapped in a towel from a doorstep in the months before the murder. Sallie-Anne Huckstepp was a Sydney private schoolgirl who fell into heroin addiction and prostitution and in 1981 began a relationship with Sydney dealer Warren Lanfranchi. Based on the years before Smith was jailed for life for murder it depicts the armed robber and heroin dealer as a charismatic player on the Sydney scene. . He even bragged of a close encounter with singer Dame Shirley Bassey, after allegedly nabbing a man who had just stolen her handbag. [11] Rogerson attended Bankstown Central School and later Homebush Boys High School. She also claimed that Neddy Smith had lied at Lanfranchis inquest and was in cahoots with Rogerson. Late last year, as Rogerson languished in a cell in the geriatric unit of Sydneys Long Bay jail over the Gao murder, I received a call from his wife Anne. Harsh words forgotten. The men were due for trial in the Supreme Court on 20 July 2015. "Roger would like to see you," she said. During Rogerson's career, he was one of the most decorated officers in the police force, having received at least thirteen awards for bravery, outstanding policemanship and devotion to duty including the Peter Mitchell Trophy, the highest annual police award. CORRUPT cop and convicted killer Roger Rogerson has been working as a prison cleaner at Long Bay . Rogerson is serving life in prison, alongside fellow former police officer Glen McNamara, over the murder of 20-year-old drug dealer Jamie Gao in May 2014. It is one thats shatteringly at odds with Rogersons public rebirth as a genial rogue through his regular media commentary and improbable stints on the stand up comedy circuit with Mark Chopper Read under the banner of the Wild Colonial Psychos. Rogerson was charged with the shooting and Williams testified that Rogerson and Christopher Dale Flannery had agreed to murder Drury for A$50,000 each. "Extensive in its planning, brutal in its execution and callous in its aftermath," he said. An aerial view of Long Bay Correctional Centre in Sydney. Rogerson and McNamara were found guilty after a four-month trial that showed CCTV footage linking them to the death of Gao, whose body was found floating in a bag in the ocean off Sydney. Early Origins of the Rodgerson family. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Rogerson, 79, appeared in the Court of Criminal . Roger Caleb Rogerson (born 3 January 1941) is a former detective sergeant of the New South Wales Police Force, and a convicted murderer. With Smith jailed for life Rogerson took to the speaking circuit for a while, telling wild stories of his days on the force, and wrote a memoir. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. Test yourself with this Cockney Rhyming Slang quiz. The CCTV footage of the entirety of the crime was devastating - it's probably the 'most recorded' murder in Australian history. It is understood many of Rogersons fellow prisoners at the Kevin Waller wing suffer age-related memory loss, allowing him to persuade them into letting him use their allocated phone time. Loose Women star Jane Moore puts her seven-bed Battersea home on the market for 4.5M three months after Are YOU a romantic comedy buff? He was granted bail but in December the next year was arrested with two others outsideBotany Council preparing to snatch its Christmas payroll drop. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara sentenced to life in jail for Jamie Gao murder. He said he arranged for it to be handed over to McNamara. Justice Bell said both accused had run "cut-throat defences". Lawyer's murder hints at secrets of Australia mafia, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. Australia's most corrupt cop Roger Rogerson launches appeal. The death of Lanfranchi, whose girlfriend was heroin-addicted prostitute turned police corruption whistleblower, was ruled in the line of duty. They also rejected the claim the jury should have been told about a conversation McNamara said he had with Rogerson before the murder where he allegedly admitted to murdering or conspiring to murder six other people. BLUE Murder was the original true crime TV blockbuster with scenes so shockingly thrilling about the lives of Sydneys cops and gangsters that it was a hit even while it was still banned. Smith insisted the pair became partners in crime. He was brought in to investigate the Ananda Marga conspiracy case, despite having no connections to the Special Branch investigating the case. Theres just something horribly wrong with Rogers head. Smith insisted the pair became partners in crime. As a former NSW detective, I met Rogerson regularly when we were both stationed at the Criminal Investigation Branch headquarters. Smith'sfinal downfall had begun in October 1987 when he and another criminal killed tow truck diver Ronald Flavell during a road rage incident at Coogee. His family was among those in court for today's hearing. He was last seen catching a taxi in the city, and never seen alive again. Actors Steve Bastoni and Peter Phelps play the roles of Detective Michael Drury, who survived an assassination attempt, and Smith friend Graham Abo Henry. Pictured left to right are Gary Sweet playing hitman Chris Flannery, Peter Phelps as Henry, Richard Roxburgh as detective Roger Rogerson and Tony Martin as Smith, Rogerson has always maintained Smith was no more than a valuable informant for the Armed Hold-Up Squad. Rogerson joined the New South Wales (NSW) police in 1959, aged 18. Rogerson was eventually jailed in 1990 for conspiring to pervert the course of justice over the transfer of A$110,000 into bank accounts under false names during the Drury trial. Rogerson, 79, appeared in the Court of Criminal Appeal via video link, dressed in a prison issued green tracksuit and seated beside a walker. McNamara is yet to make any submissions. At 78 years old, and with a body worn by hard work, hes well qualified. "The case relied upon by Rogerson was completely lacking in credibility and did not raise any doubt about his guilt," the judgement read. Perhaps most striking is the account of Rogerson touting himself as a murderer for hire, asking for $50k upfront, thanks very much and dont worry, I can still fire a gun even though my knees arent great. Set in 1980s Sydney, this acclaimed mini-series tells the story of the relationship between corrupt Detective Roger Rogerson and one of Australia's most infamous criminals Neddy Smith. Unlike the remains of lawyer Brian Alexander, which has never been found, Gaos body wrapped in a blue tarpaulin bobbed to the surface off Cronulla beach in May, 2014. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. It was McNamara who met Gao through his own consultancy work for lawyers, when the young man was acting as a translator for a friend in strife. Rogerson was welcomed in Bandidos and Rebels clubhouses across the country and was regularly seen briefing queues of bikies in coffee shops. Rogerson and fellow former detective Glen McNamara were caught on CCTV removing Gaos body in a surfboard bag from a storage facility. [16], Fellow police officer Michael Drury has alleged that Rogerson was involved in his attempted murder. The latter is what brought Rogerson together with McNamara, whose own cultivated image as a former honest cop hung out to dry likewise unravels under McNabs inspection. Australia's most corrupt cop Roger Rogerson is making a last ditch attempt not to die in jail as he has applied to the High Court of Australia to appeal his life sentence. Credit: Daniel Munoz. Rogerson is in the Kevin Waller Unit for aged and frail prisoners at Long Bay. The surname Rogerson was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland from ancient times, some say as early as the 11th century. Most of Jamie Gao's murder was caught on CCTV. She began a relationship with a police officer. There was no gloating when disgraced detective Roger Rogerson learnt of the death in prison of once feared gangster Neddy Smith, his longtime accomplice turned ferocious foe. Blue Murder burst onto the screens with scenes of Detective Sergeant Roger Rogerson in a bulletproof vest stalking crims in a line of Sydney traffic with an assault rifle. At an inquest into Flannery's suspected murder, Coroner Greg Glass said he suspected Rogerson had killed him. He was known for his hothead and tendency to go off and empty his gun into the victims. Theres a long and sad list and I reckon there would be a few people who have just gone, disappeared, that no one cares about.. Rogerson and his second wife Anne Melocco were convicted of lying to the Police Integrity Commission, and this is portrayed in Blue Murder: Killer Cop. Behind his brazen public persona, however, lies a dark and deadly history. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [16] During the inquest, the coroner found Rogerson was acting in the line of duty, but a jury declined to find he had acted in self-defence. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/roger-rogerson-glen-mcnamara-lose-appeal-murder/100298452, Australia's biggest drug bust: $1 billion worth of cocaine linked to Mexican cartel intercepted, 'Pincers are closing': Ukrainian forces under pressure as Russians shell roads out of Bakhmut, Four in hospital after terrifying home invasion by gang armed with machetes, knives, hammer, 'We have got the balance right': PM gives Greens' super demands short shrift, Crowd laughs as Russia's foreign minister claims Ukraine war 'was launched against us', The tense, 10-minute meeting that left Russia's chief diplomat smoking outside in the blazing sun, 'Celebrity leaders': Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley take veiled jabs at Donald Trump in CPAC remarks. Born in 1921, McPherson was convicted of various crimes as a boy and . The Chubb, McCann, Croft and Sandery cases were dismissed at committal and the Shu case was no-billed. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Rogerson, 82, serving life term for murder of drug dealer. Allegations bounced off. More than three decades later, Rogerson now stands as both the definitive figure of police corruption in Australia and also arguably the best-connected figure ever to stalk the criminal underworld. A big Beckham birthday! This page was last edited on 7 January 2023, at 20:08. One of three children, Rogerson grew up in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown (moving there from Bondi at six years old). [14][dead link], Rogerson was responsible for the 1981 shooting death of Warren Lanfranchi. He was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and, more recently dementia, and lives in a prison unit for aged and frail inmates. [25], On 27 May 2014, Rogerson was charged with the murder of Sydney student Jamie Gao, allegedly after a drug deal having gone wrong. Rogerson had publicly accused Smith of informing on other criminals in media interviews and in the early 1990s the crook spectacularly turned on the copper. [10] Rogerson's father Owen Rogerson emigrated from Kingston upon Hull, England during his career as a boilermaker; his mother Mabel Boxley emigrated from Cardiff, Wales with her parents as a youth (her English born father Caleb Boxley was the reason for Roger's middle name). He was part of a drug trafficking ring with notorious paedophiles including Robert Dolly Dunn and bent police. Reborn as an investigative journalist and author, McNab became Rogersons unauthorised biographer with his 2006 book The Dodger. The following day her body was found floating in Busby Pond, in Centennial Park. Huckstepp's body was found floating in a pond at Centennial Park in 1986 and Smith would later be charged with murdering the sex worker, with unproven suggestions Rogerson had been involved. The man denied any involvement but was visibly shaken. In 1984, Flannery moved his family up to Sydney and went to work as a bodyguard for crime figure George Freeman. [8][9] Following a retrial, both Rogerson and McNamara were found guilty of murder. Rogerson, who. Crooks loved him. He became a Sydney celebrity because of his close relationship during the 1980s with corrupt police detective Roger Rogerson. You start meeting so many people whove had their lives trampled on by this guy, both coppers and civilians, McNab says. He was the master of the police verbal, an unsigned confession from a suspect, and operated in an era later classified as corrupt. On 15 June 2016, Rogerson and McNamara were found guilty of Gao's murder. The Court of Criminal Appeal threw out their cases in Sydney this morning, almost five years after they were jailed for life for murdering Jamie Gao. Lennie McPherson. Since joining Smith at Long Bay there have been occasional reports from criminal and police sources of the pair being sighted together which Corrective Services always denied.
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