Pair confess to manslaughter over disappearance of Michael Purse

Michael Purse vanished four years ago and has never been found – today, on the morning of their trial, two of his three alleged killers confessed to their crime.

For the past four years they have maintained near-total silence, speaking only to deny allegations they brutally took the life of another man.

On Monday, Edwin James Hinrichsen and David Graham Young stood in the Supreme Court dock and finally confessed to killing Michael Jeffrey Purse – whose body has never been found.

The duo pleaded guilty to manslaughter on what was to be the first day of their trial, alongside co-accused Mark-Bry Andrew Leedham, for murder.

Their pleas were entered on the fourth anniversary of the last time Mr Purse was seen alive, as he left the Adelaide Casino bound for an address at Kilburn.

It also marks the first time The Advertiser can name Leedham – who maintains his innocence – following the revocation of longstanding suppression orders granting him anonymity.

Michael Jeffrey Purse was murdered in 2019, police believe.

Outside court, Mr Purse’s father Jeff – who has repeatedly called for his son’s killers to reveal the whereabouts of his body – said the confessions came as a surprise to his family.

“I’d like to thank the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the progress they have made today … it’s very, very important we’ve made this progression so far,” he said.

“We’re happy with that result … that has some settling point for us, that (the pleas have) occurred.

“It’s been tough, very tough, for me, for Michael’s brother Andrew and his sister Kelly and for (her partner) Rob.”

However, he said he did not know whether the guilty pleas meant his son’s body would be located.

“I don’t know what’s going on with that, unfortunately … we certainly hope that may occur, but we don’t know,” he said.

Mr Purse’s mother, Donna Ipers, and brother Andrew speaking in 2019 following his disappearance. Picture: Mark Brake

Mr Hinrichsen, 38, Mr Young, 41, and Mr Leedham, 26, had each pleaded not guilty to having murdered Mr Purse at Kilburn in April 2021.

Previously, prosecutors alleged Mr Purse, 32, had attended the Casino on February 6, 2019, before being “lured” to the Kilburn address and murdered.

Prior to his death, Mr Purse had served prison time for $130,000 in fraud and taxation offences arising from the exploitation, buying and selling of valuable online domain names.

His disappearance was not formally confirmed until April 24, 2019, when a concerned friend revealed he had not seen nor heard from Mr Purse for months.

Mr Purse outside the District Court in 2014.

On Monday, counsel for Young asked the trio’s scheduled trial be delayed for two hours to enable discussion about “a possible resolution” with prosecutors.

The court resumed just before lunch, at which time both Hinrichsen and Young were asked to re-enter their pleas to the charge of murder.

Each replied: “Not guilty, but guilty to manslaughter.”

David Moen, for Leedham, said his client “maintained his plea” of not guilty.

Chief Justice Chris Kourakis remanded all three men in custody to a further hearing on Thursday.