Pre-inquest conference to be held into death of Garry Dubois

The final step before a coronial inquest into the death in custody of one of Queensland’s most notorious killers is in motion. DETAILS.

Garry Dubois, who was serving time for his part in the high profile McCulkin murders, was found dead in his jail cell.

A pre-inquest conference is set to be held as a coroner prepares to examine the death of one of Queensland’s most notorious murderers.

Garry “Shorty” Dubois, 74, took his own life in his single-occupant cell at Maryborough Correctional Centre in June, 2021.

In 2016 Dubois was sentenced to life in jail for raping and murdering Leanne McCulkin, 11, and her sister Vicki, 13 in 1974.

He was also found guilty of the manslaughter of their mother Barbara McCulkin, 34.

Dubois and accomplice Vince O’Dempsey took the McCulkins from their Highgate Hill home and drove them to an area of bushland.

A criminal associate of the men, Peter Hall, told a trial Dubois confessed the killings to him, saying O’Dempsey took Mrs McCulkin off into the darkness where he believed she was strangled.

A photo of Garry Reginald 'Shorty' Dubois from the 1970s.

When O’Dempsey returned, the pair raped the girls before killing them.

He said Dubois told him they buried the bodies when the sun came up, saying “it was a horrific sight”.

O’Dempsey was found guilty of all three murders and a single count of deprivation of liberty.

The McCulkin bodies have never been found.

During their trials, the court heard the motive may have been that O’Dempsey wanted to silence Mrs McCulkin, fearing she might implicate them in the firebombing of the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub in 1973 that killed 15 people.

Her husband Billy was an associate of Dubois and O’Dempsey.

L to R, Garry Dubois (bald) Vincent O'Dempsey, sitting in the dock, in relation to the 1974 murders of Brisbane sisters Vicki and Leanne McCulkin and the manslaughter of their mother Barbara.

Dubois died just a week before the Whiskey Au Go Go firebombing inquest.

An inquest is required into Dubois’ death because he died in custody.

The pre-inquest conference is scheduled for March 12, 2025, at Brisbane.

It will be overseen by Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher.

The inquest is set to consider whether the supervision of Dubois was adequate and appropriate in the three months leading up to his death; whether the medical care afforded to Dubois by the Maryborough Correctional Centre was adequate and appropriate in the three months leading up to his death; whether the mental health care afforded to Dubois by the Maryborough Correctional Centre was adequate and appropriate in the three months leading up to his death; and whether the provision of razors to Dubois in the three months leading up to his death was appropriate.

Prior to being imprisoned, Dubois had lived with his wife Jan at Torbanlea.

She has always maintained his innocence.