Jason Roberts’ jail plea to Bandali Debs: ‘Tell the truth’ on police shooting
JASON Roberts pleaded with Bandali Debs in 2014 to “come clean and tell the truth’’ about the murders of two police officers. Read his prison letter here.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Police killer bombshell: Jason Roberts ‘was not there, Ron Iddles says
- Roberts’ ex-girlfriend: I’ll testify in court to clear Jason
- How Jason Roberts became the protege of killer Bandali Debs
JASON Roberts pleaded with Bandali Debs in 2014 to “come clean and tell the truth’’ about the murders of two police officers.
In a prison letter, Roberts reminds Debs he made a deal to “tell the truth’’ that he (Roberts) was not present at the scene of the shootings of Gary Silk and Rodney Miller.
The letter offers an explanation of Roberts’s years of silence after being charged — and then convicted — of the Silk-Miller murders.
ROBERTS’ PLEA TO DEBS FROM JAIL: TAP HERE TO READ THE LETTER*
*Letter edited for legal reasons
He writes that Debs had told him to “keep my mouth shut’’ until the case was over and then, as Debs faced other murder charges, he had been “strung along’’.
Roberts repeats those claims in an affidavit, sworn in June 2016, to support his petition for mercy.
In the affidavit, seen by the Herald Sun, Roberts says Debs had instructed him to tell his lawyers:
HE knew nothing about the Silk-Miller murders, or any armed robberies or who committed them;
NOT to implicate Debs as the offender; and
THAT Debs’ daughter, Nicole, must not be called as an alibi witness because it could bring him “undone’’.
Roberts’ desperate 2014 letter was sent to Debs, a maximum-security inmate at NSW’s Goulburn Prison, a year after the four-time killer was interviewed for the review of Roberts’ conviction over the Silk-Miller murders.
Then detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles, who led the review, said in an affidavit in support of Roberts’ petition Debs refused to co-operate and denied ever having a deal to exonerate his junior crime partner.
RON IDDLES’ RAINMAKER REPORT: TAP HERE TO READ THE SECRET DOCUMENT*
*Document edited for legal reasons
“Debs was very cautious and wanted to read the statement made by Roberts,’’ Sen- Sgt Iddles writes.
Sen-Sgt Iddles said Debs commented he and Roberts had both been through the court process and the court “must have been satisfied we were both there’’ at the 1998 police shootings.
“I am just doing my time,’’ Debs told the detective.
He did, however, remark there were “many holes in the original police brief’’ of evidence.
It is understood Debs hinted he would consider
co-operating if he could be moved to a Victorian prison.
In Roberts’ letter, he calls on Debs to do the “right thing’’.
He adds: “But you haven’t — it’s been 14 years, Ben, and I am still sitting here for something you did, and did alone.
“You have strung me along like a puppet, just as you have always done,’’ he writes.
“You strung me along so as I would not repeat anything that you have told me. Your excuses went on and on.”
An increasingly agitated Roberts continues: “You have f----- my entire life, Ben — and for what.
“Because you say that you don’t want to give them (police) the satisfaction.
“Not only my life have you f-----, but also your daughter’s. I loved your daughter and she will always have a spot in my heart.
“We were two kids, crazy in love — and happy.
“We had planned to marry and have two children, they would have been your grandchildren.”
POLICE KILLER BOMBSHELL: SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
VETERAN COP’S SHOCK VERDICT: JASON ROBERTS ‘WAS NOT THERE’
ROBERTS’ EX-GIRLFRIEND: I’LL TESTIFY IN COURT TO CLEAR JASON
HOW A TEEN BECAME A KILLER’S PROTEGE
WEDNESDAY: READ PART TWO