Peter Dupas can rot in hell and that's final
THE family Mersina Halvagis have begged the State Government to ban her killer from appealing against his latest conviction.
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THE family of cemetery murder victim Mersina Halvagis have begged the State Government to ban her killer from appealing against his latest conviction for the crime.
The Halvagis family last night pleaded with Attorney-General Rob Hulls to ask the Supreme Court to declare serial killer Peter Dupas a vexatious litigant.
They want Dupas, whose legal fight has already cost taxpayers more than $3 million, to be denied the right to lodge any further appeal.
A Supreme Court jury yesterday found Dupas, 57, guilty for the second time of stabbing Ms Halvagis to death as she prayed at her grandmother's grave at Fawkner Cemetery on November 1, 1997.
Dupas showed no emotion as the jury foreman announced the verdict just after 3pm.
Ms Halvagis's parents, sister, two brothers and family friends and supporters were all in court to hear the verdict after a three-week trial.
Their relief was palpable but they remained silent until Dupas was led from the dock, when Mersina's mother, Christina, told him to "rot in hell".
The jury of nine men and three women had deliberated since Tuesday.
Ms Halvagis's father, George, said outside court it was "time for the legal system to decide what really matters".
"He's been allowed to play the system at our expense for too long already and our nightmare should end here," Mr Halvagis said.
Dupas, with three prior convictions for rape, has now been convicted of slashing to death three women.
He remains the prime suspect in the unsolved murders of three others.
His Legal Aid lawyers have appealed after each of his murder convictions. He has nothing to gain from another appeal because he can never be released from jail.
Dupas, 57, is serving life with no parole for the mutilation murders of Margaret Maher in 1997 and Nicole Patterson in 1999, and was given a third life sentence in 2007 after being convicted of Ms Halvagis's murder.
He was granted a retrial after appealing on the ground the trial judge had misdirected the jury on identification issues.
Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth will sentence Dupas on November 30. He is likely to receive a third life sentence.
At least $3 million of public money has been spent by Victoria Legal Aid, the Office of Public Prosecutions and the courts during 33 separate legal proceedings since Dupas was first charged.
Police investigations involving Dupas are estimated to have added at least another $2.5 million to the total.
Pam O'Donnell, the mother of Nicole Patterson, said the Government and the courts should have the courage to do the right thing by his victims and their families.
"It can not be allowed to continue. Enough is enough," Mrs O'Donnell said.
Legal experts said there was no precedent for a prisoner to be declared a vexatious litigant to thwart an appeal, but it was possible.
Mr Hulls last night called Dupas "an evil human being who will die in jail", adding: "Having met the Halvagis family, my heart goes out to them. I hope this verdict brings them some closure."
wilkinsong@heraldsun.com.au
