Convicted killer Arthur Greer claims innocence

He spent 25 years in prison for the murder of a Perth schoolgirl. But in a case that has divided his family, Arthur Greer claims he was jailed for a crime he did not commit.

He spent 25 years in prison for the horrific murder of Perth schoolgirl Sharon Mason.

But in a case that has divided his family and prompted calls for a new trial, convicted killer Arthur Greer claims he is innocent and that he was jailed for a crime he did not commit.

Greer, who has a shocking criminal history, told 60 Minutes there was compelling evidence to prove he was telling the truth.

“I’m innocent of any of that charge,” Greer told 60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown.

“And I can only tell you the truth on that … I’m not going to lie to you, Tara.”

Arthur Greer told 60 Minutes there was compelling evidence to prove he was telling the truth.

Sharon Mason, 14, was last seen on February 19, 1983 after getting off a bus in the Perth suburb of Mosman Park.

In 1992, nearly 10 years later, her body was uncovered during excavation work.

Greer had owned the former dress shop that was being excavated at the time the young girl went missing.

The location of Sharon’s body, combined with Greer’s damning criminal past, made him an obvious suspect for police.

Sharon Mason’s body was found nearly ten years after she disappeared from a Perth suburb.

Perth barrister Jonathan Davies told 60 Minutes police had an obvious suspect in Arthur Greer, who has been deported to the UK.

“There’s no doubt about it that Mr. Greer had a chequered past that included offences of violence,” he told 60 Minutes.

Just a day after police found Sharon’s body, they charged Greer with her wilful murder.

“They did a check of who owned the shops in 1983 and my name came up and they found out I’d been in trouble before and I couldn’t answer the questions because I didn’t know anything about it,” Greer said.

He would go on to serve 25 years in jail for the crime – but it is a crime he has denied committing.

Greer’s daughters — Susan and Chrissy — are bitterly divided over their father’s case.

Arthur Greer’s daughter, Susan, says her father was convicted of molesting her.

Susan is brutal when it comes to her father. She told 60 Minutes he was convicted of indecently assaulting her when she was just seven years old.

“I can tell you he was a paedophile,” Susan told 60 Minutes.

Greer vehemently denies his daughter’s accusations. When asked by Tara Brown if he had molested his daughter as a child, he strongly denied the allegation.

“No, I did not. No. No, it’s ridiculous,” he said.

But in 1986 Greer was jailed for five years over three counts of attempted murder — for trying to run over his former girlfriend and two friends in a drunken attack.

Greer claims, as he does to explain the sexual abuse convictions, that his intentions were misunderstood.

“I never hurt anybody” he told 60 Minutes.

The police case against Greer in the Sharon Mason case centred around three main pieces of circumstantial evidence.

The jury was told Sharon had gone to his shop enticed by a “help wanted” sign.

But as 60 Minutes reported, no one saw the young girl go in and there was no evidence the sign existed.

Sharon’s body was found wrapped in plastic bags and tied with ribbon. Police said both items were particular to Greer’s dress shop, but it was later revealed the bags and ribbon were widely available.

A single fingerprint that was found on the bag did not match Arthur Greer’s when it was forensically tested.

And then finally there was a mask - supposedly once owned by Greer - found when Sharon’s body was uncovered. But no trace of Greer was found on it.

Chrissy, Greer’s other daughter, believes her father is innocent.

Despite no forensic evidence to link him, or no known cause of death, in 1994 at the second of his two trials, Greer was convicted of Sharon Mason’s murder and sentenced to life.

He was to serve a minimum seven years before being considered for parole.

“I was just utterly devastated. Just devastated,” Greer told 60 Minutes.

“It took me a long while to get over it, and once I did, I decided I was going to fight, and prove my innocence.”

Greer fronted the parole board six times during his 25 years behind bars, but was denied release each time because he wouldn’t admit to murdering Sharon.

Now that he is finally out of jail, he is determined to clear his name of murder.

Former Governor of Western Australia QC Malcolm McCusker has been advocating for Greer.

He told Tara Brown that no matter how bad the record, no one should be judged on their past.

“That attitude, that a person who’s been convicted of a crime, therefore, must be guilty of another one, is a huge and illogical step,” Mr McCusker said.

He went on to reveal that since Greer’s conviction, compelling fresh evidence has been uncovered that suggests a miscarriage of justice.

The Innocence Project at Perth’s Edith Cowan University, led by Professor Jane Tudor-Owen, is preparing a petition for the fresh evidence to be judged at a new trial.