‘No chance’: SA’s top judge orders Salt Creek kidnapper Roman Heinze’s Nissan Patrol destroyed, dismisses his chances of an appeal

Roman Heinze has spent five years fighting to save the Nissan Patrol he used to commit his crimes. Now the state’s top judge has given him a scathing reality check.

The Salt Creek backpacker kidnapper’s 4WD is “an instrument of violence” that must be destroyed because the rape pornography-obsessed criminal has little to no chance of overturning his conviction, SA’s top judge says.

On Wednesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Chris Kourakis brought the five-year saga over Roman Heinze’s vehicle to an end, granting SA Police permission to finally wreck it.

Heinze shook his head, rolled his eyes and frowned as Chief Justice Kourakis retold the events in which his “sensible, courageous” victims outwitted and outsmarted him.

One of Roman Heinze’s victims, known as “Beatriz”, with his 4WD prior to the kidnapping.

He said that material, combined with Heinze’s collection of rape pornography which matched his assault upon one victim, weighed heavily against the 4WD playing any role in an appeal.

“This vehicle was an instrument in a course of violent offending against two young women (who) sensibly and courageously (survived),” he said.

“In the face of their uncontested testimony, corroborated by the observations of eyewitnesses and supported by the evidence of the rape pornography, it’s difficult to see Heinze has any real prospect of success.”

Roman Heinze.

Heinze’s other victim, known as “Lena”.

Heinze, 68, is preparing to challenge his conviction and 17-year prison term for abducting and assaulting two foreign backpackers at the remote beach in February 2016.

He is funding that bid with $100,000 of his late father’s estate, obtained by threatening to sue his children over their inheritance.

The kidnapper, who has also been harassing his estranged daughter via letters from prison, has insisted the 4WD is central to his mooted High Court appeal.

Heinze claimed forensic analysis would “prove” the women were “liars who played dumb”.

On Wednesday, however, prosecutors said brand-new testing had recovered three DNA profiles from parts of the car touched by Heinze and the women, scuttling his claims.

An SA Police evidence photo of Heinze’s 4WD, tendered during his trial.

Heinze, who previously said police could “burn” the car once the forensic analysis had been done, then changed his mind and asked for additional testing.

He said he wanted DNA swabbing of its roof, rear and door seals – Chief Justice Kourakis said that was not going to happen.

“Mr Heinze was sentenced almost seven years ago which, in itself, tells strongly against his prospects for success in any appeal (to the High Court),” he said.

“He’s declined to give any (contradictory) account (of the kidnapping), and the failure to do so also bears strongly against an appeal.

“There’s no cogent reason to preserve the 4WD.”

The vehicle, which has been held in SA Police lockup since February 2016, will now be destroyed.