The Queen St killer Frank Vitkovic's evil mission reconstructed by the Herald Sun's Keith Moor
SPECIAL REPORT: WE reconstruct the terrible day trouble loner Frank Vitkovic unleashed hell 25 years ago in the Queen St massacre.
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IT is 25 years on December 8 since troubled loner and loser Frank Vitkovic walked into the Australia Post building in Melbourne's Queen St and started shooting employees.
Herald Sun Insight Editor Keith Moor has reconstructed what happened on that dreadful day, used Vitkovic's own diary to indicate the disturbed state of Vitkovic's mind and painted a picture of each of the eight victims he shot dead.
DECEMBER 8, 1987, was just another day as far as Con Margelis was concerned.
The 22-year-old credit officer woke, dressed, had breakfast and left his West Preston home at the usual time to head for the Telecom Credit Union office on the 5th floor of 191 Queen St, Melbourne, where he had worked for two years.
TOMORROW: A 25-year-old secret about the Vitkovic diary is revealed in the Saturday Herald Sun, in print and online.
READ VITKOVIC'S DISTURBING DIARY NOW
THE VICTIMS: How innocents died in Vitkovic's calculated attack
I'm going to take you all with me
Eight people died in those 17 minutes. Margelis survived simply because the weapon Vitkovic bought to fulfil his mission was faulty.
That many more did not die can probably be put down to a defect in the semi-automatic M1 carbine .30 calibre rifle, which prevented it being rapidly fired.
A fully operational M1 can fire a full magazine of 30 bullets in a matter of seconds simply by cocking it and pressing the trigger after each bullet has fired.
Each cartridge in Vitkovic's defective weapon had to be loaded manually. He had difficulty even doing that. Many witnesses spoke of him constantly fiddling with the weapon as he strolled casually around the building.
WITNESS STATEMENTS
Brave Tony Gioia tackled Vitkovic during rampage
Wounded Queen St hero Frank Carmody's story
Donald McElroy tells of killer's 'dead pan expression'
Glen Shilling sent back into the killing zone
But he did manage to discharge his gun 41 times, although he had to eject many more that failed to fire. He was carrying more than 200 rounds. Many potential victims fled while Vitkovic struggled to make the gun work.
Whether Vitkovic would have carried on with his killing spree if he had initially achieved his aim of murdering Margelis is something on which police can only ponder.
Vitkovic was 22 and an unemployed student - he had deferred his Melbourne University law course for a year. He began his last day alive by writing a suicide note and making his final entry in the diary he had kept since 1979.
He dressed casually, putting on red, white and blue underpants, white socks, light blue trousers, a blue and white check shirt and white and blue Nike runners.
He spent part of the morning packing in readiness for his mission.
He pulled out a large maroon bag and put in things he thought he would need for his task: a pair of binoculars, a knife in a sheath, a pair of spectacles in a case, a large amount of .30 calibre cartridges, a packet of cigarettes, a white T-shirt, a blue T-shirt, a brown and white flannelette shirt, a white skivvy and a black jacket - and finally, his US made gun.
Vitkovic had sawn the barrel and butt stock off the weapon, reducing its overall length to 57cm.
Just after lunch, he put on a bulky, bone-coloured jacket, slung the bag over his shoulder and left the modest, weatherboard home in May St, West Preston.
Vitkovic boarded the Number 4 West Preston/City tram at 2 pm and bought ticket number 767223 for $1.30.
He arrived at the Melbourne University Union House about 2.30 pm and walked up to the counter to speak to the head receptionist, Mary Cooke. In the past he had gone to Ms Cooke with various problems and this afternoon she asked him if something was wrong because he was looking sad.
"Yes, I have failed three subjects. I have deferred,'' Vitkovic said.
They chatted for a minute or so about his problems and Ms Cooke suggested he should see one of the university counsellors. She even offered to get one for him.
Vitkovic did not express any interest in seeing a counsellor. He told Ms Cooke he had a job to do at the post office. She presumed he meant the GPO in Melbourne.
But Vitkovic was talking about the Australia Post building at 191 Queen St and the job was killing.
I will put you out of your misery
Vitkovic grabbed Ms Cooke's hands and said: "You're always a lovely lady to me. But I hate your assistant.'' As he turned to walk away, Ms Cooke said "you poor fellow''.
A week earlier, Vitkovic had had an argument with one of her junior assistants. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Alan Bartholomew agreed under questioning during the Queen St inquest that it was possible that if this girl had been at the university on December 8 then Vitkovic might have killed her. He said it was quite possible Vitkovic's rampage would then have taken place at the university instead.
Vitkovic then made his way to Queen St, arriving at the 18-storey Australia Post building about 4 pm. An employee saw a man fitting his description walking down the stairs near the 9th floor. Clothing Vitkovic had earlier put in his maroon bag was later found hidden in a 9th floor toilet cubicle.
Vitkovic had either carried this spare clothing to conceal the weapon in his bag or intended changing into the clothing to alter his appearance and aid escape. The presence of binoculars in his bag suggests Vitkovic envisaged some sort of siege situation developing.
Vitkovic entered the Telecom Credit Union, which was on the 5th floor of the Australia Post building, from the lift foyer area about 4.16 pm.
He walked up to the inquiry counter and waited quietly to be served. The sawn-off rifle was hidden under his jacket.
Rina D'Argenio left her desk and walked up the counter. Vitkovic asked to speak to Con Margelis.
She walked out of sight, round the back of partitioned walls housing five counter tellers, to Margelis' desk and told him he had a visitor.
Margelis came up to the counter and greeted Vitkovic with a cheery "hello''. Vitkovic responded by pulling out the gun. Margelis shouted "you have to be joking'' as Vitkovic pointed the weapon directly at him and pulled the trigger. The gun failed to fire.
Shani Milliken, who was sitting at her desk in front of the inquiry counter, thought Vitkovic was fooling around and told him not to be stupid and to put the gun down. Vitkovic turned the gun on her and told her not to move. He then started to climb the counter.
As he did so, Margelis turned and ran back round the partition towards his desk shouting "he's got a gun''. Shani Milliken turned and fled round the opposite corner.
Margelis, Andrew Milovac, Cathy Woods and Judy Morris all hid behind Milovac's desk by the door leading into the tellers' area. Alison Coulsland was hiding behind a small safe in the tellers' area. Vitkovic started firing shots. The first shattered a glass window above their heads.
They looked up and saw Vitkovic approaching them on the staff side of the inquiry counter. They ran into the tellers' area. Vitkovic jumped back over the inquiry counter into the public side to cut off their escape route.
This cat and mouse game went on for about 30 seconds, with the group moving between the counter and the office behind it and Vitkovic alternating behind the public and staff side of the counter to block them.
Vitkovic then started walking round the back of the tellers' area to the door on the staff side.
Margelis jumped on to the counter in front of Alison Coulsland's desk and Milovac bounded over the counter in front of Cathy Woods' desk.
Just as Margelis was climbing the counter Vitkovic fired at him from inside the door leading into the tellers' area. The bullet hit and killed 19-year-old Judy Morris, who was standing between Vitkovic and Margelis.
Vitkovic ran past his first victim - and Cathy Woods and Alison Coulsland, who were trapped in the tellers' area - placed his gun on the counter where Margelis had jumped and hoisted himself over to give chase.
Milovac sprinted across the public side of the office and down the stairs. Margelis went through the first door he saw, which led into the women's toilets. He shut himself inside and was to stay there until police arrived.
Rita Vamer was sitting in her office near the lift foyer when she heard the first shot fired on the 5th floor. She looked out of her door and saw Vitkovic and the gun. She pressed the alarm button in her office at 4.17 and 30 seconds, then hid under her desk.
Con Margellis, the former friend of crazed gunman Frank Vitkovic, was the initial target of his hatred before he embarked on a killing spree in Queen St, Melbourne. Picture: HWT library
Frustrated at not having caught Margelis, Vitkovic walked back across the public side of the Telecom Credit Union floor and caught the lift to the 12th floor.
He walked up to the security door leading into the Philatelic Bureau, on the eastern side of the building, and either rang the doorbell or knocked on the door. The security door has a panel next to it so regular staff can punch in the correct sequence of numbers to gain entry. The solid door has a small glass panel at head height to enable those on the staff side to see who wants to get in. One metre to the side of this door is a bullet-proof glass window for interviewing visitors. When Vitkovic called this window was blocked with piled up stationery, meaning Vitkovic could not be seen through it.
John Dyrac was standing by his desk when he says he heard the doorbell ring, other staff said they heard no bell but did hear banging on the security door. Dyrac walked up to the door, looked through the small viewing panel, could not see anything suspicious about Vitkovic, who was standing up straight with his arms pointing down, and opened the door. Dyrac told the Queen St inquest that had the door not been opened then Vitkovic could not have entered the 12th floor.
Jennifer Ridgeway got out of the lift on the 12th floor and started to walk the short distance to the security door leading into the Philatelic Bureau when she saw Vitkovic, who was standing outside the open door, shoot Dyrac. Dyrac fell face forward to the ground. Vitkovic shot Dyrac twice more as he lay on the ground. Although seriously wounded, Dyrac was one of those to survive the encounter.
Louise Anne Emmett was one of about 20 staff in the Philatelic Bureau when Vitkovic barged in.
She saw several staff members run past her desk and around the corner to hide in a storeroom. Vitkovic started to walk across the office floor towards her desk. She decided to hide under it.
At the desk next to her was 18-year-old Annunziata Avignone. Known as Nancy, she had been an Australia Post worker for only a matter of weeks. She too lay on the floor behind her desk.
In front of them was Julie McBean, 20, who crouched behind her desk at the first sound of shots.
As Vitkovic advanced slowly towards the three young women he appeared to be having trouble with his weapon. He cocked and re-cocked it.
"They expect me to kill people with this gun,'' he shouted. He smashed a window as he got closer.
Julie McBean screamed. He walked straight towards her and said: "Who's this here?'' He then fired at her twice, killing her.
Young workers (L-R) Judy Morris, 19, and Julie McBean, 20, both had promising careers and lives before them before being randomly shot dead by Frank Vitkovic. Picture: HWT library
He then walked past where Louise Emmett and Nancy Avignone were cowering and into a partitioned office just behind them and discovered David Spencer, 28, hiding under a desk. Spencer was heard to shout "please don't do this'' as Vitkovic shot twice, killing him.
Vitkovic left the office and walked back to where Nancy Avignone was trying to hide. He shot her twice from about three metres away. Then as she repeatedly screamed "please no'' he stood over her and shot her in the head.
She was fatal victim number four, and the last on the 12th floor.
Vitkovic walked back through the scene of carnage and out the same door he came in. As he did so he saw several staff members peering from behind a bullet-proof glass security door opposite him.
Vitkovic immediately fired off a shot, sending staff members flying.
He walked across the lift lobby and fired a shot into the glass at point blank range.
He then walked down the fire escape stairs in search of more victims.
Shooting victim Rod Brown (left) was a popular figure in the Australia Post offices, while Michael McGuire had been hoping to get home for his five-year-old son Brian's birthday. Picture: HWT library
Glen Shilling got the lift down from the 14th floor at 4.27 pm and tried to walk out of the building to go home. He had heard three bangs while in the lift, but did not associate them with shots. A uniform police officer in the ground floor lift foyer shouted at him to get back in the lift and to go back up.
He got out at the 11th floor with another employee.
Shilling walked into the 11th floor training room and looked out of the window down on Queen St.
He saw a number of police and police vehicles in the street. He then looked behind him and saw the gun-toting Vitkovic coming through the swinging glass doors leading into the 11th floor office. Shilling dived under a collection of desks in the middle of the training room.
Michael McGuire, 38, a father-of-three, also saw Vitkovic as the gunman walked through the swinging doors. McGuire ran into the training room where Shilling was sheltering and hid in an alcove behind the door.
Vitkovic followed McGuire into the room and headed straight for the alcove. McGuire began pleading with Vitkovic, saying: "I haven't done anything to you. I won't hurt you. Don't shoot me.''
Vitkovic fired a single shot and walked out of the room. McGuire was still standing in the alcove behind the door, and was moaning with pain and calling for help. Vitkovic was away for about a minute but he returned and walked straight up to McGuire. Again McGuire pleaded with Vitkovic not to shoot him. Vitkovic pulled the trigger once and McGuire collapsed to the ground.
David Spencer's daughter Sarah Jane is escorted at his funeral. Marianne van Ewyk was set to go on leave in a few days before her brutal and untimely death. Pictures: HWT library
Vitkovic turned and walked towards the window overlooking Queen St.
As he reached a spot level with where Shilling was hiding he reloaded the gun and turned back towards McGuire, who was lying on the ground saying "please don't kill me'' over and over again.
As Vitkovic neared McGuire he said, without emotion: "I'm going to kill you.'' Vitkovic bent over and held the weapon against McGuire's head and pulled the trigger. Death number five.
Vitkovic walked out of the training room, closing the door behind him, and started across the open plan office towards the north-east corner. Several people were crammed into this corner, hiding under desks and behind cupboards. They had congregated in the corner when they heard shots on the floor above.
As Vitkovic walked across the office he fired several shots at random. He was also shouting such things as: "You're all scum. Well, who is laughing now? What's the point of life when nobody loves you? I'm going to take you all with me.''
Vitkovic approached the corner and saw Don McElroy in an exposed position. He raised the gun and shot McElroy in the shoulder, sending McElroy crashing against a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Queen St. The window smashed.
His next victim was Marianne Van Ewyk, 38, who was hiding under the desk she normally occupied. She was quivering with fright. Vitkovic came up to her and said: "Not to worry. I will put you out of your misery.'' He then shot her in the head at close range.
Rosemarie Spiteri was hiding under the desk immediately behind that of Marianne Van Ewyk. Crammed under and around the same desk were Frank Carmody, Rod Brown, Erica Johnson and Cathy Dowling.
Vitkovic began firing in their general direction. Cathy Dowling became the next victim when she was hit five times.
Annunziata "Nancy" Avignone's coffin is carried from the church following her death at the hands of lone gunman Frank Vitkovic. She was just 18 years old. Picture: HWT library
Don McElroy was lying wounded on the floor, and Vitkovic shouted at him: "You're giving me a lot of trouble fat man.'' He shot him again. McElroy survived.
The volley of shots continued and Rosemarie Spiteri was hit in the head. Then Vitkovic walked round the back of the desk and shot her in the back of the neck. He fired again and wounded Frank Carmody.
Carmody then heard Vitkovic say "this bastard of a gun is jamming''.
Despite being wounded, Carmody got up and was about to try to tackle Vitkovic when Vitkovic saw him and fired another shot, hitting Carmody in the back. Both Carmody and Rosemarie Spiteri survived.
Vitkovic then walked back to the desk and shot Rod Brown in the back of the head. He became fatal victim number eight, the last of those murdered by Vitkovic.
Tony Gioia was crouched behind a cabinet door just behind Rod Brown.
He saw Vitkovic shoot Brown and feared he would be next. Vitkovic had his back to Gioia and he took advantage of that to grab the gunman.
Gioia had his arms round Vitkovic's middle and was shouting: "Please help. Take the gun from him.''
Tony Gioia and Frank Carmody, pictured with his wife Val, were recognised for their acts of bravery in tackling the murderous Vitkovic. Picture: HWT library.
Frank Carmody looked up and saw Gioia had Vitkovic in a bear hug, but that the gunman's hands were still free. Carmody, with four bullet wounds, got up just as Gioia and Vitkovic fell to the ground. They were rolling on the floor as Carmody wrestled the gun away from Vitkovic and passed it to Emma Nixon, who had rushed to join the struggle. She hid the weapon in a fridge in the kitchen.
Don McElroy, also seriously wounded, managed to sit on Vitkovic, as did Clare Chalkley. Vitkovic was struggling furiously, lurching himself forward towards the window broken earlier by McElroy falling against it.
Vitkovic got himself halfway through the window, cutting his stomach badly on the jagged glass, and was resting the top half of his body on the balcony outside. He gave another almighty lunge forward, shaking off all but Tony Gioia, who managed to grip on to Vitkovic's ankles.
Vitkovic's ankles were where the window pane had been. He gave one last kick to break Gioia's hold and plunged to his death.
D24 record the death occurring at 4.34 and 30 seconds.
