‘He still had hate for her’: Coroner rules ex killed Shandee Blackburn

A coroner says he has “no doubt” that Shandee Blackburn’s ex-boyfriend is the person responsible for her violent death, despite him having already been acquitted over the murder.

A Coroner has named Shandee Blackburn’s former boyfriend, who has already been acquitted over her murder, as the personresponsible for her violent death.

Ms Blackburn, 23, was walking home after a shift at Harrup Park Country Club in Mackay when she was violently killed on Boddington St, not far from where she lived with her mum.

A Coroners Court heard she was stabbed up to 25 times and left to die in the gutter just after midnight on February 9, 2013.

No one has been convicted of the shocking crime that spread waves of fear across the region and sparked calls for improved local safety.

During a two-week inquest in July last year the man acquitted of her murder - her former boyfriend John Peros - was named by two lawyers as the person most likely responsible for her death.

That was backed by Coroner David O’Connell today, when he delivered his findings following an inquest.

Mr O’Connell said “I have no doubt” that a vehicle seen at the scene belonged to Mr Peros and he was the one driving it that night.

“He is the person who attacked her and caused her the injuries,” he said.

Mr O’Connell said a white ute captured on CCTV cameras driving around the area on the night Shandee Blackburn was killed was in fact the white Toyota ute belonging to Mr Peros.

Still photos of the vehicle, captured by multiple CCTV cameras near where Shandee was killed, were tendered to the inquest and Mr O’Connell highlighted multiple similarities between it and the ute owned by Mr Peros.

Shandee Blackburn

“This is the only logical and reasonable conclusion that I am actually persuaded to on the evidence,” Mr O’Connell said.

“It is not some random vehicle with similar features driving down 12th Lane. It is Mr Peros’ vehicle.

“I am very much alive as to the implications this could have - it is not a decision I make lightly or quickly.

“It is the only conclusion I am persuaded to accept.

Mr O’Connell further found “it was Mr Peros who was driving his own vehicle that evening and he is the person driving the vehicle when it was seen in the CCTV footage”.

Three witnesses gave evidence they heard John Peros make comments on Australia Day 2013 that he wanted to harm Ms Blackburn.

The court heard the alleged statements had taken the witnesses by surprise because they had never heard Mr Peros speak like this before.

One witness Charlene Perry alleged Mr Peros “got fairly dark and said something like I f***ing hate that c***”.

Ms Perry, who hosted the party, said over the next minute or so Mr Peros “got fairly venomous” about her and said “I knew the relationship had not ended amicably, but I thought he had moved on”.

“It was apparent to me he still had hate for her.”

Mr O’Connell said he rated Ms Perry as a “very impressive” witness.

Earlier in the day, Mr O’Connell dismissed 10 of the 13 persons of interest police identified during the murder investigation.

He said William Daniel, Norman Dorante and John Peros - Ms Blackburn’s former boyfriend - were “much more central” to the investigation.

In his findings on Friday, Mr O’Connell dealt with Mr Daniel and Mr Dorante together, as the duo had been seen in the vicinity of Boddington St the night Shandee was killed.

“What was evident was they were in no rush,” Mr O’Connell said.

“They were not carrying anything in their hands.”

Levi Blackman, who had been sitting out front of a unit when Mr Daniel and Mr Dorante walked up, had asked what happened in relation to emergency lights and sirens.

It was alleged Mr Blackman said Mr Daniel had told him “someone got murdered up there” and also later claimed responsibility.

Mr Blackman later said Mr Daniel made a second confession while eating noodles in a bedroom.

The court heard Mr Blackman and had asked him if he had been involved and Mr Daniel said “Yeah I did it”.

Mr O’Connell said, however, that Mr Blackman was “very unimpressive as a witness of reliability and credibility” as he had given contradictory evidence on even the simplest of issues.

Mr O’Connell said he had “no hesitation at all” in finding the first confession known as the “street confession was simply not said by Mr Daniel”.

He also said he had “very grave reservations” if even the noodle confession occurred but if it did, it was a “false claim … to try and enhance his street cred”.