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Family murderer Ljube Velevski to walk free with no supervision after 25 years in prison

Ljube Velevski murdered his babies, his six-year-old and his wife; he has never accepted guilt and never spoken to a psychologist. Now he’s about to walk out of prison a free man.

Ljube Velevski was convicted of murdering wife Snezana and three daughters, Zaklina and twins Daniela and Dijana.
Ljube Velevski was convicted of murdering wife Snezana and three daughters, Zaklina and twins Daniela and Dijana.

He brutally slashed the throats of his wife and children and piled their bodies in the dark, now this heinous murderer will walk out of a NSW prison with nothing to stop him vanishing into a crowd.

Ljube Velevski slaughtered his family inside their Berkeley home in June 1994, killing his wife Snezana and their three young children, Zaklina, 6, and twin babies Daniela and Dijana.

He stacked their bodies on top of each other in a locked bedroom and stashed the murder weapon under the bed.

Detectives who discovered the gruesome scene initially thought Snezana had killed her children then taken her own life.

Lead investigator, then-senior constable Scott Whyte, later told media the theory didn’t sit well with him from the start. Velevski was interviewed six times before he was charged.

Supplied Editorial
Supplied Editorial

Velevski was tried and found guilty of four counts of murder before being sentenced to 25 years in jail with a non parole period of 19 years in 1997.

Convicted murderers often seek parole toward the end of their sentences as authorities try to reintegrate the worst of the worst back into society.

Parole comes with conditions ranging from tracking devices to forced psychological therapy, restrictions on alcohol, drugs, weapons and even exclusion from suburbs or regions.

But Velevski never applied for parole – and that means he will have no restrictions when he is released on Thursday.

Velevski’s choice to serve his entire 25 year sentence behind bars, without going for parole, also means he did not need to engage with psychologists, educators or the serious offenders review council.

It’s understood he did not engage at all behind bars and now will be able to walk out of prison and start a new life, as unsupervised as any other citizen, with no evidence he has reformed or even accepted his guilt.

The family home where Velevski killed his wife and children.
The family home where Velevski killed his wife and children.

The government can apply to the NSW Supreme Court for court orders that either keep an inmate locked away for a period of time or impose restrictions similar to those on parole.

The Daily Telegraphunderstands NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman and the justice department were advised such orders had no prospect of success against Velevski.

A spokesperson for the Department of Communities and Justice, on Wednesday, said Velevski was “legally entitled to full liberty”.

“There is a robust, thorough and lengthy process that involves a number of committees, and commences up to six years before release, in determining whether an offender is suitable for an Extended Supervision Order or a Continuing Detention Order application under the high risk offender legislation,” the spokesperson said.

“This includes a risk assessment report prepared by a psychologist and an assessment by Corrective Services’ High Risk Offender Assessment Committee.

“Following consideration of the assessments and advice relevant to the legislation, it was determined there were no prospects of success for an application for an Extended Supervision Order or a Continuing Detention Order.”

The Daily Telegraph understands NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman and the justice department were advised court orders to keep the family killer behind bars had no prospect of success. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper
The Daily Telegraph understands NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman and the justice department were advised court orders to keep the family killer behind bars had no prospect of success. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Throughout his prison term, Velevski maintained his innocence and has made no attempt to prove he is ready to return to society.

He denied any involvement in his family’s deaths, claiming he had slept soundly for 17 hours after his depressed wife had locked herself in the bedroom with their children, and killed herself and the girls.

He appealed the finding of guilt to a three-judge bench in the High Court of Australia, however it was thrown out in a 2-1 majority.

Velevski became eligible to apply for parole in 2016 but has never sought to be released, despite being given the chance to on six occasions since, the most recent in May last year.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/family-murderer-ljube-velevski-to-walk-free-with-no-supervision-after-25-years-in-prison/news-story/136be8f416377a2f6104c0b36f5ce69e