Former prison mate of alleged serial killer Steven Hainsworth gives evidence in court

A former prison mate said he was threatened by an alleged serial killer who told him he’d add him to the tally for being “a dog”, a court heard.

A former prison mate of an alleged triple murderer said he was told he would be made his fourth victim for being “a dog”, a court heard.

Steven Leslie Hainsworth, 49, of Mildura in Victoria, is standing trial in the Supreme Court for the alleged murders of his next-door neighbour Phyllis Harrison, 71, in March 1998, his aunt Beverley Hanley, 64, in October 2010, and his associate Stephen Newton, 55. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mr Newton’s badly decomposed body was found in a bedroom of his Davison St home in Mount Gambier on November 4, 2011.

The grisly discovery was made a day after his family reported him missing, but the court heard he had not been seen alive for at least a few weeks before that.

Steven Hainsworth has denied all three murders. Picture: Jason Edwards

The trial previously heard Mr Hainsworth was a “known associate” of Mr Newton – who was determined to have been “punched to death” before evidence inside his home was spray-painted green in an attempt to “conceal” it.

Dale Kennett, a former prison mate of Mr Hainsworth’s and friend of Mr Newton’s, gave evidence during the trial.

He said he saw a television, bank notes and a coin collection that he believed belonged to Mr Newton at Mr Hainsworth’s partner’s house around the time he went missing.

Mr Kennett said he was in Yatala prison last year when he ran into Mr Hainsworth while walking back to his cell after a shower.

“He goes you’re a f***ing dog because you went Crown witness in a murder trial,” he said.

Mr Kennett said Mr Hainsworth also approached him the next day and said: “You and your brother are both dogs and I’m going to get you in this unit or another one and I will make you number four”.

When asked what he understood that comment to mean, Mr Kennett replied: “He has already killed three, I believe and I was going to be the fourth”.

Prosecutors allege all three pensioners were alone in their homes and vulnerable when Mr Hainsworth killed them, and then stole their possessions to finance his illicit drug use.
Ms Hanley died as a result of suffering “blunt and sharp force trauma” in October 2010, while Mrs Harrison was stabbed in March 1998.

The trial, before Justice Adam Kimber and without a jury, has been adjourned until next month for closing submissions.

Originally published as Former prison mate of alleged serial killer Steven Hainsworth gives evidence in court