Retired detective says bodies-in-barrels killer Robert Joe Wagner must stay in jail

The detective who spearheaded the police taskforce that investigated the Snowtown murders says he would be “absolutely amazed’’ if serial killer Robert Wagner was successful in his Supreme Court action.

Former SA detective Paul Schramm says he would be “amazed” if Robert Wagner won his freedom.

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The detective who spearheaded the police taskforce that investigated the Snowtown murders says he would be “absolutely amazed’’ if serial killer Robert Wagner was successful in his Supreme Court action.

Retired detective chief superintendent Paul Schramm said he believed Wagner should remain in jail indefinitely because of the sheer scope and nature of the shocking murders of which he was convicted.

Robert Joe Wagner at the Snowtown bank vault during a court visit.

“Certainly the victims’ relatives and I think the community of South Australia would be horrified at the prospect of him ever being released,’’ he said.

“The sentence with no parole was set for a good reason.’’

Mr Schramm, who was officer-in-charge of Major Crime Investigation Branch at the time of the murders, said the lengthy investigation and subsequent year-long Supreme Court trial had left a lasting impact on not just himself but each member of the police taskforce.

“The nature of the investigation, what was uncovered, the horrific nature of the offences certainly still sticks in my mind,’’ he said.

“And I’m sure that is the case with the other investigators, certainly the public and absolutely the close relatives of the victims.

“It is up there as a terrible part of our criminal history.

“The sheer nature, particularly the number certainly amazed us. The time over which they were committed was significant.’’

Mr Schramm said while Wagner admitted to only three of the 11 proved murders, the fact he was convicted of a further seven indicated his role in the killing spree was significant.

“I think the evidence given, what the court heard and determined and the final sentence indicated Wagner was clearly a primary participant in these pretty horrifying murders,’’ he said.

“I think his culpability is certainly up there with John Bunting and that should be reflected in the sentence.’’

The Snowtown investigation started as a missing persons’ inquiry, with detectives probing the cases of Clinton Trezise and Barry Lane when Elizabeth Haydon — Mark Haydon’s wife — went missing.

Inquiries then focused on the group and further investigations linked them to the other victims.

Killers John Bunting, Mark Haydon, James Vlassakis and Wagner were arrested the day after the gruesome discovery of eight mutilated bodies hidden in acid-filled barrels in the vault of the former Snowtown bank.

Vlassakis would later turn Crown witness against his co-accused.

Mr Schramm said the breakthrough in the investigation was when Snowtown was identified as the base the killers were using.

“Finding the vehicle involved and being able to identify the bank vault, although towards the end of the investigation, that was the turning point,’’ he said.

“Not finding bodies in an investigation like this doesn’t not make it impossible to get a conviction, but it certainly makes it much more difficult.’’