Disgraced Sydney detective Roger Rogerson is a consummate storyteller who loves a beer, writes Mark Morri

HAVING a quiet beer with Roger Rogerson anywhere in Sydney was almost impossible, writes Daily Telegraph Crime Editor MARK MORRI.

Roger Rogerson took his storytelling talent to the stage.

HAVING a quiet beer with Roger Rogerson anywhere in Sydney was almost impossible.

In any pub or restaurant someone knew him or wanted to know. And he loved it.

I have seen him walk into a pub and within 20 minutes total strangers were sitting next to him buying him a beer mesmerised.

A consummate storyteller with a an incredible ability to drink he lapped up the attention.

It was easy to fall under his charm. He never baulked at a question. “Who killed Flannery?”, “Who murdered Sallie-Anne Huckstepp”, were the two most frequent.

“Probably Neddy,” was his most common reply.

It may be a while before Roger finds himself in a bar answering questions about his favourite crooks.

The only question he’ll be answering will be from the dock without a beer in sight.

Former detective Roger Rogerson faces the media outside the NSW Supreme Court at Darlinghurst in 1989. Picture: Geoff Henderson

Former Police officer Roger Rogerson was taken into custody today and charged with murder. Picture: AAP

Rogerson takes his first step to freedom from Berrima prison in December 1995. Picture: Paul Hutton

The characters in Rogerson's stories

Sub-type: comment CAPTION: The characters in Rogerson's stories

Christopher Dale Flannery was a hitman known as “Mr Rent-a-Kill”. He was a career criminal having left school at 14 and being convicted of his first criminal offence later that year.

Underworld hitman Flannery. Picture: Supplied

Christopher Dale Flannery. Picture: NewsCorp Library

In 1974 Flannery and two other men allegedly committed armed robbery at a David Jones store in Perth.

They were arrested in Sydney by Rogerson and some allege Flannery paid a bribe to Rogerson to escape conviction.

The trio was extradited to Perth but acquitted of the crime. Flannery was jailed on an outstanding Victorian warrant for rape.

Sallie-Anne Huckstepp was a Sydney prostitute and heroin addict who became a writer and whistleblower before being murdered in 1986. No one has been convicted of her murder despite one of the longest running inquests of its kind in Australia - 1987 to 1991.

Huckstepp had met heroin dealer and standover man Warren Lanfranchi in 1981 and became his girlfriend.

Lanfranchi, who worked with Sydney gangster Arthur “Neddy” Smith, was shot dead by Rogerson in 1981. Rogerson claimed self-defence and was eventually given a bravery award.

Sallie-Anne Huckstepp’s body was found in a pond in Centennial Park. Picture: Channel 7

Sallie-Anne Huckstepp faces media after the inquest into the death of drug dealer Warren Lanfranchi.

Warren Lanfranchi was shot dead by Det-Sgt Roger Rogerson at a meeting set up by Neddy Smith.

Det-Sgt Roger Rogerson (far right) with other detectives after Warren Lanfranchi was shot dead. Picture: Frank Violi

Neddy Smith turned whistleblower too and was a star witness for the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Wood Royal Commission.

He received immunity for all crimes he had committed except for murder in exchange for testifying against former NSW detective Roger Rogerson and others.

Smith is serving a life sentence for the murder of brothel owner Harvey Jones and murder-in-company of tow-truck driver Ronnie Flavell during a road rage incident.

Smith was interviewed several times by detectives over implicated in Huckstepp’s murder, even allegedly confessing to occasions, but was never charged.

ROGER ROGERSON CHARGED WITH MURDER

JAMIE GAO’S MEETING WITH THE DEVIL

Arthur Stanley "Neddy" Smith with wife Deborah and brothel owner Harvey Jones in 1982.

Arthur "Neddy" Smith leaves Central Court in custody of prison officer after pleading not guilty to seven murder charges.