Serial killer Bandali Debs gave evidence under the protection of a ‘certificate’ which allowed him to give evidence without incriminating himself

Cop killer Bandali Debs has admitted under oath he committed dozens of unsolved armed robberies and shot at two policemen – but he is unlikely to ever be charged.

Serial killer Bandali Debs is unlikely to ever be charged with dozens of crimes he has admitted to under oath.

Debs, who is serving four life sentences, told the Supreme Court last year he had committed dozens of unsolved armed robberies and that he had also shot at two policemen in 1994.

But the 68-year-old gave that evidence under the protection of a “certificate” which allowed him to give evidence without incriminating himself.

Debs is, however, convicted of the 1998 murders of Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller.

He was also subsequently found guilty of the murders of two women, Sydney sex worker Donna Hicks in 1995 and Melbourne teen Kristy Harty, in 1997, which occurred a year before the Silk-Miller ambush.

Herald Sun podcast The Devil’s Apprentice delves into Debs’ dark past, including his links to sex workers soon after arriving in St Kilda in 1977-1978.

In 2018, Victoria Police stated that Debs’ remained a “live” suspect for the 1994 attempted murder of Sergeant Allen Beckwith and Constable Jason Bryant.

During Debs’ evidence in May last year admitted he had pointed a gun at a patrol car and fired at the officers.

He also admitted to committing numerous holds ups.

Debs was also asked about crimes in NSW.

Police in NSW and Victoria have investigated Debs over numerous unsolved crimes.

In Melbourne, Debs was a prolific criminal before he was finally jailed in 2000.

It ranged from thefts from worksites to cold blooded murder.

A former trans sex worker, Marion King*, who has used an alias to speak exclusively to the podcast about her experiences, says she fears Debs to this day.

Ms King’s story formed part of clandestine police operation dubbed Trencher in the early 2000s which delved into the 1978 death of Adele Bailey.

Sergeant Gary Silk was killed by Bandali Debs in 1998.

Senior Constable Rodney Miller was also shot dead by Debs.

Investigators established that Debs’ had known Ms Bailey, whose body was found down a mineshaft near Bonnie Doon in 1995.

It is not suggested there is any proven connection between the death of Ms Bailey and Debs.

Upon Ms Bailey’s body being discovered, her former friend, Ms King, rang police and nominated Debs as a suspect.

“When you look at the bigger picture, most definitely,” Ms King said of the likelihood Debs killed prior to the 1990s

“He’s murdered people all his life.

“If you go back far enough I’d almost guarantee he’s murdered before that happened (the Silk-Miller ambush) and the Donna Hicks issues …

“He definitely likes to be in control and from what I’ve seen … if you try and take that control away from him he will try and destroy you for it.”

A brief of evidence was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions over the murder of Sarah MacDiarmid almost a decade ago, but fell short of the standard to charge Debs.

Ms MacDiarmid, 23, vanished after being attacked outside Kananook railway station in 1990.

Her body was never found.

Debs has also been linked to several other unsolved murders, including the Frankston-Tynong North killings in the early 1980s.

The ageing Debs made several demands in return for turning Crown witness in the retrial of his former co-accused, Jason Roberts.

It involved being moved from Goulburn Prison to a Victorian jail, a parole date and immunity from further prosecution.

He told the Supreme Court no deal was signed-off.

Listen to episode 5 of The Devil’s Apprentice today.

Originally published as Serial killer Bandali Debs gave evidence under the protection of a ‘certificate’ which allowed him to give evidence without incriminating himself