Secrecy order lifted on identity of alleged SA serial killer who is charged with three murders

Legal secrecy orders have been lifted on the identity of a South Australian man accused of murdering three people, including a member of his own family.

Steven Hainsworth arriving at Adelaide Airport after being extradited from Melbourne in May 2019. Picture: Tom Huntley

The identity of a man charged over three notorious cold-case South Australian murders can be revealed after a suppression order on his identity was lifted.

The legal secrecy order barring the identification of Steven Leslie Hainsworth, 49, was lifted by Justice Anne Bampton on Monday following an application by 7NEWS lawyer Peter Campbell.

Mr Hainsworth is charged with murdering grandmothers Phyllis Harrison, 71, in 1998, Beverley Hanley, 64, in 2010, and invalid pensioner Stephen Newton, 55, in 2011.

The cases have been before the courts since 2019 but it is only now, after 7NEWS applied to have the suppression order revoked, that The Advertiser can report that Mr Hainsworth has been charged with all three murders.

Justice Bampton told the Supreme Court on Monday the suppression order – barring the publication of his name, image or anything that could identify him – was revoked.

Steven Hainsworth pictured in Mildura. Picture: Jason Edwards

Steven Hainsworth arriving at the City Watch House in May 2019. Picture: Dean Martin

Phyllis Harrison, Beverley Hanley and Stephen Newton. Picture: SAPOL

Mr Hainsworth told The Advertiser in 2019 that he was a suspect in each of the murders, but denied any involvement.

“They’ve tried to say I’ve done three murders,” he said.

“I’m pretty upset because I’ve been accused of a triple murder. I lived next door to one, one was my aunty and the other person I didn’t know.”

Mr Hainsworth was initially charged with the murder of his aunt, Ms Hanley, in her Elizabeth North home in May 2019.

At the time, the 49-year-old was arrested in Victoria by SA Police Major Crime Branch and Victorian Homicide Squad detectives and extradited to Adelaide.

Ms Hanley suffered severe head injuries, her house had allegedly been ransacked and her handbag stolen.

Five year anniversary of Beverley Hanley murder – pictured at one of Beverley's favourite places to go, Carisbrooke Park are granddaughter Tasha Hanley, daughter Robyn Schafer, son Rob Hainsworth and close friend Gloria West. Picture: Mike Burton

A friend arrives and talks to police at Ms Hanley’s house.

Mr Hainsworth’s arrest for the 2010 murder followed fresh investigations by Taskforce Resolute which was instated to also probe the other two murders.

Police said Mr Hainsworth had been a suspect in his aunt’s murder from the beginning with his DNA allegedly found at the scene on a phone plug.

At the time, Mr Hainsworth was living two streets away from his aunt.

Murder victim Beverley Hanley. Photo: Supplied by family

Beverly Hanley and her great- granddaughter Makennah.

Following his arrest, Robyn Schaefer, Ms Hanley’s daughter, told The Advertiser she was “elated and relieved” to hear an arrest had been made.

“I still keep pinching myself. I have never been so happy before in my life,” she said.

“I have waited 3149 days for this moment.

“People will be pleased this has happened and I feel my Mum will now be able to be at peace because her children now know (someone has been charged).”

In November 2019, Mr Hainsworth was also charged with murdering Mr Newton in Mount Gambier in 2011.

SA murder victim Stephen Newton whose body was discovered inside his unit at Davison Street, Mt Gambier.

Detectives at Mr Newton’s Mt Gambier home.

At the time, police said Mr Newton, was a known associate of Mr Hainsworth.

Evidence – including a whipper snipper, plasma TV, a PlayStation console, seven souvenir banknotes, 25 DVDs and 39 PlayStation games – was later recovered from pawn shops, police said.

In June 2020, Mr Hainsworth was charged with a third murder – Elizabeth South woman Ms Harrison in 1998.

The arrest came after an alleged DNA breakthrough in the case by Forensic Science SA.

Ms Harrison was living alone, following the death of her husband, when she was found to have been stabbed numerous times in her kitchen.

SA murder victim Phyllis Harrison.

Daughters of murder victim Phyllis Harrison Julie Lane and Dianne Smoker. Picture: Mark Brake

The 71-year-old was a prominent member in the community as a foundation member of the Elizabeth Grove Uniting Church and a member of the Elizabeth Bowling Club.

At the time, family members paid tribute to Ms Harrison in a joint statement describing her as a “caring, loving and lovely person”.

“She loved her family and the community loved her,” they said.

“She was always busy either being involved in church and bowls, or having friends around her.

“She was a human dynamo with so much energy.

“It was a family joke that she was always so busy you had to make an appointment to see her.

“She was the most special mum to us and grandmother.”

Mr Hainsworth, who has plead not guilty to the charges, is due to stand trial for all three murders, in the absence of a jury, in the Supreme Court in August.