Family killer Ljube Velevski to fight child protection register charge

Quadruple killer Ljube Velevski, who slaughtered his wife and children, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to comply with obligations under the child protection register.

Convicted killer Ljube Velevski leaves Wollongong Police Station in July after he was arrested on a warrant. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Quadruple killer Ljube Velevski will fight a charge of failing to report to police under child protection legislation, which was laid against him a week after he was released from a 25-year jail sentence for the murder of his wife and three children.

The now 57-year-old chose not to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, however his lawyer, Vanja Pjevalica, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf to a single charge of failing to comply with obligations under the child protection register.

The case has been set down for hearing in February next year, where Velevski will be assisted by a Macedonian interpreter.

If convicted, Velevski faces up to five years in jail.

Velevski, who was sentenced to 25 years behind bars after being found guilty of killing his wife Snezana, their six-year-old daughter Zaklina, and three-month-old twins Daniela and Dijana in June 1994, will remain on bail ahead of the hearing.

Ljube Velevski and his wife Snezana at the christening of their eldest daughter Zaklina.

On Tuesday, Magistrate Chris McRobert allowed Velevski to change his registered address to his sister’s home in Blackbutt and cut down his thrice weekly reporting to Lake Illawarra Police Station to once a week.

In a crime that shook the nation, Velevski was found to have slashed the throats of his wife and children, then stacked their bodies on top of each other in a locked bedroom inside the family’s home at Berkeley, south of Wollongong.

He was handed a non-parole period of 19 years and became eligible for parole six years ago but never applied for release, instead choosing to serve his entire sentence behind bars.

He walked free from Junee jail in July this year, however found himself back behind bars eight days later after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Velevski’s bail has been relaxed ahead of a court hearing next year: Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Police allege prison staff handed Velevski a written notice in his last days in custody advising him he had to attend his closest police station within a week of his release so he could be entered onto register.

However, documents tendered to the court said police will allege Velevski refused to sign the notice at the jail, then failed to report to police within the seven-day time frame.

The Telegraph understands Velevski learned of the arrest warrant from media reports and immediately handed himself into Lake Illawarra Police Station.

He was released on bail the following day.

Under the terms of the register, Velevski is required to provide police with an extensive list of personal information including any employer details, affiliations with clubs or organisations where children are members, any vehicle he owns and his mobile phone details.