By Cydonee Mardon
Ivan Milat wants NSW Corrective Services to pay for his funeral and has urged his brother Bill, who has been left his entire estate, not to contribute one cent.
In his final letter penned on October 24 - and reprinted by the Illawarra Mercury with permission from the family - Milat said he was "pretty crook" but wanted his wishes known while his "mind was still ok".
Backpacker killer Ivan Milat.Credit: Darren Pateman
"Due to my health issues, I wish to leave you all I have: all funds held in my prison account and to possession of all other the items/property and legal trial and appeal review documents held on my behalf by Corrective Services NSW," Milat said.
He acknowledged that this might not be considered a true will, or legally-binding document, however he wanted his intention known that Bill was to have everything he owned.
"Keep this letter Bill, show it to your solicitor, that you are sole beneficiary," he said.
"Please don't pay for any funeral service or contribute in any way. Corrective Services NSW to fund it all, a pauper burial or whatever is suitable.
"I have advised the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW of my wishes."
Milat signed off for the last time reiterating what he has been saying since his trial in 1996 where he was convicted of seven counts of murder.
"I am innocent of the crimes convicted of."
A Corrective Services spokeswoman on Monday said it would "under no circumstances" be paying for the funeral.
Bill and Carol opened the letter on Sunday a few hours after hearing the 74-year-old had lost his battle with cancer.
"We opened the letter we didn't know what was going to be in the letter. He says he's innocent and we still believe him," Carol told the Illawarra Mercury.
"I can't go along with the media saying 'oh he's guilty, he's guilty he must be because they are all saying he's guilty'.
Carol and Bill have been fiercely supportive of Ivan, known in the family as "Mac", since he was first charged with the brutal murders of seven backpackers whose bodies were found in the Belanglo State Forest.
"It's called the Hitler syndrome," Bill said on Monday night.
"You say it long enough and big enough and it becomes the truth."
Illawarra Mercury with AAP