Police failed to intervene to save woman’s life after finding ‘kill list’

Police had an alleged murderer’s “kill list”, which included Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, months before he stabbed a mother-of-one to death but failed to act because he posed “a moderate risk”.

• Crime stops in honour of slain cop
• Five arrested after remains found burning in bushland

Police had an alleged murderer’s “kill list” months before he stabbed a woman to death but failed to act because he posed “a moderate risk”.

The blunder was one of two lost opportunities to intervene to save the mother-of-one, who told friends her accused killer had been stalking her for months.

Australian Federal Police and Police Transport Command officers both found a list that allegedly named the woman as a target when they stopped the man on separate occasions.

She was murdered in her home in regional NSW last year and the notepad was allegedly found at the scene.

The suspect was arrested after a three-day manhunt and charged with murder.

The woman, told friends the accused killer had stalked her for months before she was later found dead inside her home. Picture: Generic

MORE FROM AVA BENNY-MORRISON

Inside Sydney’s ice belt: where police have busted drug labs

Missing persons unit shut down after failing to solve cases

Driver in alleged hit run thought cyclist was ‘scrap metal’

But as detectives built the case against the accused killer, they realised he had previously come across their radar. The AFP first spoke to him after he was spotted acting suspiciously around government buildings in late 2017, police sources said.

At the time it was claimed he had a notepad containing what he called a “kill list”, including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition leader Bill Shorten and up to a dozen names of associates including the woman he was allegedly stalking.

The AFP’s Fixated Threat Assessment Team evaluated the man using a standard checklist and found he only posed a moderate risk.

It is understood the AFP did not pass on information about the list and his suspicious behaviour to NSW police.

A few weeks later, transport officers searched the man on a train and again found his notepad.

But while the PTC officer logged the incident and mentioned the list on an internal police system, it is understood the names were not forwarded on.

It was claimed he had a notepad containing a “kill list” which included former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

As well as Opposition leader Bill Shorten. Picture: Liam Kidston

Eight months later, the man allegedly crept into the woman’s home and stabbed her to death while her baby slept in the next room.

It was only the following day that police realised officers had already come across the “kill list”.

The identities of those involved can’t be revealed due to pending legal proceedings.

The oversight, coupled with the victim’s Facebook posts about her fears about the man have left detectives frustrated that the chilling list wasn’t acted upon.

One source said: “The names on that list should’ve been forwarded on, don’t bother doing the job if it’s only half done.”

While the victim had claimed she went to police about the man, investigators last year found there was no record of a report.

The man has been charged with murder but has not entered a plea. He underwent a psychological assessment earlier this year and was deemed fit to stand trial.

He is due to appear in court on May 29.

The AFP said it would be inappropriate to comment as the case.