NCA bombing: Perre a worthless, wannabe gangster who should never see freedom, court told

Evil, cowardly, abhorrent, worthless – the victims of the NCA bombing have passed their verdict on murderer Domenic Perre, and prosecutors want him jailed with no hope of parole.

NCA bomber Domenic Perre is an evil wannabe gangster who is worthless as a human being and will never be forgiven for his cowardly and abhorrent crime, his victims have told a court.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, say the infamous incident falls into the category of “the worst type of murder” and have called for Perre to be jailed with no hope of ever receiving parole.

Perre’s lawyers, however, have warned such a penalty exposed their client to “harsher” prison time that other inmates, given he has had three heart bypasses since being found guilty.

If Justice Kevin Nicholson agrees with prosecutors, Perre will become only the third criminal in SA jailed without parole – after bodies in the barrels serial killers John Justin Bunting and Robert Joe Wagner.

National Crime Authority bomber Domenic Perre under heavy guard. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

On Monday, the families of Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and lawyer Peter Wallis publicly denounced Perre for 28 years of loss, pain and trauma caused by his act of domestic terrorism.

The Supreme Court heard nine victim impact statements written by members of the Bowen and Wallis families, unified in their loathing of Perre – who sat with his eyes closed throughout the hearing.

Detective Sergeant Bowen’s widow, Jane, told the court she knew Perre was responsible “from the moment the bomb went off”, but had to endure decades of denials, investigations and trauma.

“You, Domenic Perre, are evil … you had no right to determine the fate of my family while you were able to continue your family life,” she said.

“You’ve never shown any remorse or taken responsibility for your actions, you have shown behaviour that is fundamentally inhumane and utterly immoral.”

Her son, Simon, agreed, dubbing the bombing “cowardly and abhorrent” and Perre “a stain on society, your ancestors and every generation to come” of his own family.

“I struggle with the motive and relevance of your actions … you caused so much hurt, irreparable damage and suffering, all for what?” he asked Perre.

“So you could grow some dope and walk around South Australia like a wannabe gangster?

“You are worthless as a human being.”

Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen.

Peter Wallis.

Following a marathon trial, Perre, 65, was found guilty of murdering Detective Sergeant Bowen and attempting to murder lawyer Peter Wallis, who has since passed away.

Justice Kevin Nicholson was satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that Perre’s guilt was “the only rational conclusion” that could be drawn from almost 30 years of evidence.

Perre, who underwent heart surgery following the verdict, has appealed against his conviction – that will be considered at a two-day hearing in February 2023.

On Monday, Mr Wallis’ daughter, Genevieve, said she was still recovering from her parents’ divorce when the bombing occurred.

She and her sister, she said, went from “vulnerable and unstable” to “terrified, traumatised and robbed of our innocence”.

“Dad lived with profound PTSD and, through osmosis, so did I,” she told the court.

“People would often comment I was strong and mature for my age … the reality was by the time I was 8 1/2 I had learned to create a very unhealthy barrier between the emotions I felt and what people perceived.

“The bombing had taken from me any sense of routine and the privilege of being a child.”

She and her family members paid tribute to Mr Wallis, saying he fought to stop the bombing from defining his life.

Detective Sergeant Bowen’s eldest son, Matthew, said there would always be a sense of emptiness in their family no matter their successes or joys.

“I will never forgive Domenic Perre … he is undeserving of my forgiveness,” he said.

Prosecutors say Perre should be jailed for life without parole. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Lisa Dunlop, prosecuting, said the bombing was “premeditated, cold-blooded” and executed against law enforcement officers, putting it in “the worst category of murder”.

“Perre has demonstrated, time and again, he acts and believes he is outside the law,” she said.

“Imprisonment with no hope of parole is reserved for the most serious of crimes – in our submission, this is such a crime.”

Gilbert Aitken, for Perre, said his client wanted to “convey his sympathies” to the Bowen and Wallis families for their loss, but “maintains his innocence”.

“He reiterates that he had no part in, and was in no way responsible, for the death of Detective Sergeant Bowen or the injuries suffered by Mr Wallis,” he said.

A sentence of life without parole would, he said, leave Perre vulnerable to further health problems given his heart condition “went undiagnosed” by prison doctors.

“After the verdict, he had major open heart surgery, three bypasses and other matters,” he said.

Justice Nicholson remanded Perre in custody for sentencing next month.

Originally published as NCA bombing: Perre a worthless, wannabe gangster who should never see freedom, court told