Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara sentenced to life in prison
CONVICTED killers Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara have been jailed for life for the murder of Jamie Gao, whose family said it is “absolutely fitting” the duo be “sentenced to essentially die in jail”.
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SPECIAL ROGER ROGERSON ONLINE SERIES
- PROLOGUE: Behind the grin was a bloodthirsty killer
- PART ONE: From choir boy to Dirty Harry
- PART TWO: How Rogerson made a deal with the devil
- PART THREE: No one’s safe as the heat rises
CONDEMNED to spend the rest of his days behind bars, disgraced detective turned convicted killer Roger Rogerson will be held in an aged care wing where he regularly conducts singalongs, to stop him becoming a godfather-type figure to young inmates, prison sources have revealed.
Justice Geoffrey Bellew yesterday delivered a blistering judgment, ordering 75-year-old Rogerson and fellow former police officer Glen McNamara to serve the rest of their lives behind bars for the murder of 20-year-old drug dealer Jamie Gao.
Justice Bellew was scathing in his assessment of the two men, who used their “knowledge and experience” in the force to plan a murder “in cold blood” that was “extensive in its planning, brutal in its execution and callous in its aftermath”.
The duo were found guilty by a jury in June of shooting Gao inside a Padstow storage shed on the afternoon of May 20, 2014 in order to steal the 2.78kg of ice the university student brought with him for a deal that could have netted more than $9 million on the street.
The pair attempted to cover their tracks after the crime by dumping Gao’s body at sea.
Some medical evidence regarding Rogerson’s ailing health was tendered to the court, and The Saturday Telegraph has been told he is being held in an “old man’s” prison wing to keep him away from younger inmates and stop him becoming a “godfather’’ figure.
Further humiliating Rogerson is the fact the NSW Police Force will look to strip him of any awards, medals and citations he received in his 27-year police career.
The charismatic Rogerson is surrounded by dementia sufferers in the Kevin Waller unit in Long Bay where he plays piano and conducts singalongs with fellow inmates.
“Rogerson has become quite a popular performer, a sort of one-man jukebox,” a prison source said.
“His favourite songs are Danny Boy, My Way and Stairway to Heaven, as well as some Beatles songs.’’
Authorities have deliberately put the master criminal in the unit so he can’t weave his influence with younger crims who look up to him. It also stops him from mingling with his considerable network inside the prison, like his good friend Hells Angel bikie boss Felix Lyle.
“He may be singing and playing piano but he would be hating being in that unit,’’ an associate of Rogerson said. “Roger loves to talk about his days as a cop and all the crooks he knows and he would be so frustrated be surrounded by people with dementia.’’
Not far from Rogerson’s cell in the nearby hospital facility at Long Bay is his former number one informant and now arch-nemesis Neddy Smith.
So “grave” was the conduct of both Rogerson and McNamara, Justice Bellew said, that a life sentence should be imposed. “It is clear that the offenders acted with complete disregard for the life of another human being,” he said.
“On Rogerson’s evidence, he apparently had no respect for the deceased because the deceased was a drug dealer. However, Rogerson has now been found guilty by a jury of murdering the deceased … carried out in order that Rogerson and McNamara could obtain possession of 2.78kg of ice.
“Despite Rogerson’s stated disdain for drug dealers, he and McNamara murdered the deceased to become drug dealers themselves.
“Given those circumstances … Rogerson’s stated lack of respect for the deceased because the deceased was a drug dealer is reflective of a position which is dripping with hypocrisy.”
McNamara, who has grown a fluffy silver beard since the verdict, called out to his daughters Lucy and Jessica to “be strong, be strong” as he was taken to the dock.
His lawyer Ali Abbas said they have prepared their notice of intention to appeal against the conviction and sentence, which could be filed as early as Monday.
Rogerson’s barrister George Thomas said they were “considering all options” about an appeal.
His client, who kept his eyes closed during parts of the sentencing and led many inside court to believe he was asleep, showed no emotion when told his fate. A cold and callous killer to the very end.
GAO FAMILY FULL STATEMENT
“This is the best outcome we, as Jamie’s family, could have hoped for. To have these two men, who took Jamie from us, sentenced to essentially die in jail, is absolutely fitting.
“The courts can’t lessen the term of Jamie’s death or the impact that his death, the investigation and ensuing trial has had on our family. Unfortunately, there is no opportunity for a lesser sentence for Jamie or for those of us left behind.
“When it comes to losing a family member you love through murder, there is no real justice. There has been no opportunity to present evidence to clear Jamie’s name of the alleged crimes he’s been accused of committing as put forward at various junctures throughout the trial.
“There was no burden of proof offered to him prior to finding him guilty in the court of public opinion.
“We would however like to thank the police, the DPP and the courts for their efforts in putting Jamie’s killers behind bars for what we hope is the rest of their lives.”
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