Quadruple murderer Ljube Velevski claims he “never killed” his wife and kids in Illawarra home

The cold-blooded killer, who slaughtered his wife and three children in their family home, has maintained his innocence during a hearing into a reporting breach.

Ljube Velevski after being released on bail in July, last year. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

One of Australia’s most notorious family killers has revealed why, during his 25-years behind bars for murdering his wife and three kids, he never applied for parole.

Ljube Velevski was jailed in 1997, three years after he killed his wife Snezana, their six-year-old daughter Zaklina, and three-month-old twins Daniela and Dijana inside their family home in the Illawarra suburb of Berkeley.

The now 58-year-old man became eligible for parole in 2016, however, despite multiple opportunities to do so, he never sought to be released, instead waiting until the maximum sentence expired in July, last year.

“I never killed my wife and children so I will never sign for something I didn’t commit,” Velevski revealed in a courtroom on Monday.

Velevski fronted Wollongong Local Court, supported by his nephew, to contest a charge of failing to comply with his reporting obligations under the child protection register.

The Macedonian national was released from Junee Correctional Centre on July 14, 2022, and eight days later police issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to report within a week.

The court was shown footage of Velevski attending Lake Illawarra Command in the company of his sister and niece, with whom he was living with in Barrack Heights.

A memorial to Ljube Velevski murder victims, his wife Snezana and daughters Zaklina, Daniela and Dijana. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

An officer was heard on the recording saying “Good to see you’ve come in, you should have come days ago”.

“I didn’t know that,” Velevski said with the officer responding he had to be “put on the child protection register for murdering your three children”.

Junee Correctional Centre manager of operations, Amanda Hyder, was the last person Velevski dealt with during his time on the inside.

Ms Hyder said she didn’t know of Velevski, but had received an email from a colleague stating he was a “high-profile inmate”.

Ljube Velevski outside Wollongong Courthouse in 1994 after being charged with the murders of his family.

She told the court Velevski became “irate” when she asked him to sign the ‘Form 3’ which enters one onto the child protection register.

Ms Hyder said Velevski began yelling at her his charges “weren’t child related” and refused to sign the form.

After entering the witness box for the first time since being charged with murder, a softly spoken Velevski said through the occasional assistance of an interpreter he was confused between the words “protection” and “support”.

“I said my wife killed my children, I do not need to pay for child support,” he said.

“I do not need to sign that.

“Protection for me means support, it is the same word. [It means] Supporting the family when they are not with you.”

Velevski continued, telling the court he doesn’t sign anything he doesn’t know and claimed Ms Hyder didn’t answer his questions regarding the document.

“She never say [sic] one word, not once about reporting to police,” Velevski said.

Ljube Velevski (right) leaving Wollongong Local Court with his nephew on Monday. Picture: Dylan Arvela

“100 per cent otherwise I would.”

Velevski told the court he would report to police if he had known he was required to, pointing to his compliance while in bail in the 1990s and in the months since being charged with the current offence.

“Of course I would report to police,” he said.

“I wouldn’t risk 25 years.”

During cross examination Velevski said it took “five to six years” in jail before he began to grasp English and that since his release he has applied for a passport and his learner driver’s licence.

Magistrate Gabriel Fleming will hand down her decision later this month.