Convicted murderer Shane Seater out of jail and allegedly armed with a knife at a Melbourne chemist

A convicted murderer who stabbed and killed a Richmond teacher has allegedly entered a Melbourne chemist armed with a knife.

Shane Andrew Seater is led away from the Supreme Court in April 2000.

A convicted murderer who stabbed and killed a Richmond teacher during a brazen burglary has allegedly been seen walking the streets armed with a knife.

Shane Seater, 42, allegedly entered a northern suburbs chemist armed with a knife, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court was told on Tuesday.

Seater, who was sentenced to a 20-year maximum jail term for a crime spree which included the brutal murder of Richmond teacher Peter Orr, allegedly approached Reservoir man Kane Osmond inside the chemist.

The court heard Osmond, who is contesting an assault charge, fled the chemist via a side door

hopped in his car before spotting Seater approach the female friend outside the pharmacy.

Osmond then allegedly drove his vehicle towards the pharmacy and Seater.

The court heard Seater was thrown into the doors of the pharmacy after Osmond allegedly struck him with his vehicle.

The prosecution said the incident was witnessed by many people in the chemist.

Osmond also damaged the chemist before he drove from the scene with his friend, the court was told.

Osmond’s lawyer said his client is contesting the charge on the basis he had acted in “self-defence”.

The defence submitted Osmond drove at Seater to protect his friend and had no intention of damaging the chemist.

“Self defence and the defence of others?” Magistrate Bernard FitzGerald said.

The court heard three witnesses including Osmond, his friend and a pharmacist allegedly saw Seater with a knife in the back of his pants.

The defence submitted Osmond and Seater, who is not facing criminal charges, were known to each other and Seater was “known to be a violent man”.

The court heard Osmond left the chemist to “avoid a front-on confrontation” because of he and Seater’s “history”.

Seater was the subject of a statewide manhunt after he escaped police custody while in the middle of an escalating crime spree between November 28 and December 15, 1998.

Seater escaped custody after he drove off in an unattended police car while still handcuffed at Burwood on November 30.

Seater, 21 at the time, posed as a police officer in an attempted robbery at Melton about an hour later.

Seater became Victoria’s most wanted criminal in an instant with his brazen escape played out on the nightly news.

Police attempted to collar Seater in Blackburn South on December 14 but he fled in a stolen Magna, almost running over two policemen who fired shots back at the desperado.

Multiple police were camped and ready to pounce at Heathmont Shopping centre when Seater arrived in a stolen Range Rover on December 15

Police again fired shots at Seater who evaded capture after he sent an officer flying into a tree.

It was unknown at the time but Seater stabbed former Lynall Hall teacher Peter Orr in the head earlier that day.

Mr Orr and another teacher attempted to capture Seater after he committed a burglary at the school.

Seater’s savage single knife strike lodged 8cm into Mr Orr’s head.

Seater was sentenced in July 2000 to a maximum 20-year jail term with a non-parole period of 15 years after a jury found him guilty of murder.

Sentencing judge Justice Bernard Teague said Seater had shown a “readiness” to use “extreme violence”.

“You have shown a capacity and a readiness to use extreme violence to achieve what you figure is best for you, and regardless of who might be hurt in the process,” Justice Teague said.

“The policemen who tried to apprehend you at Blackburn South and Heathmont can count themselves fortunate not to have been injured more seriously from your readiness to resort to violence to outsmart them whatever the cost.

“There are no signs of your being remorseful for injuring the policemen who were just doing their duty, or for causing anguish to the many people whose homes or privacy you invaded …

“Your attitude towards Peter Orr was little or no different from that you showed towards the police. Like the police, he got in your way. He was not as fortunate as they were. You made him pay the ultimate price.”

Osmond will return to court in May next year.

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