New evidence that could clear triple killer Sef Gonzales

Convicted murderer Sef Gonzales, jailed over the horrific deaths of his parents and sister, has made another bid for freedom.

Exclusive: A microscopic spray of blue paint, found on a jumper sleeve, is at the centre of convicted triple murderer Sef Gonzales’ latest bid for freedom.

In a submission recently lodged with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission of NSW (LECC), Gonzales alleges his conviction for the 2001 murders of his mother, father and younger sister was secured through police corruption and the tampering of evidence.

Sef Gonzales leaves a police press conference before his conviction. Picture: Mark Williams

“My name is Sef Gonzales … These submissions are in relation to the unlawful police conduct which occurred in Strike Force TAWAS,” the submission reads.

“I was convicted of three murders which occurred on 10 July 2001 and sentenced to life in prison. I have always maintained my innocence.

“The case against me was circumstantial. However, there was a decisive piece of forensic evidence: the Crown alleged that paint found on my jumper linked me to graffiti at the crime scene left by the killer.”

The blue paint on Gonzales’ jumper sleeve was a key piece of forensic evidence during the trial. However Gonzales’ submission alleges it was planted by police.

On the night of July 10, 2001, the bloodied bodies of father Teodoro “Teddy” Gonzales, 46, mother Mary Loiva Gonzales, 43, and Sef’s 18-year-old sister Clodine were discovered in their home in North Ryde, Sydney, as well as a spray of blue graffiti covering the lounge room wall. “F**k OFF ASIANS KKK” it read.

Sef Gonzales, who has always maintained his innocence, after his arrest.

The house in North Ryde where the Gonzales family were murdered.

Gonzales’ submission states that the paint found on his jumper was tested by three different forensic experts to match it to paint at the crime scene. However, the jury was allegedly denied access to the reports which it is now claimed may have supported his innocence.

The submission states the first and second expert reports could not link the paint found on Gonzales jumper to the graffiti paint, with the first expert noting some “differences” between the two paints.

Sef Gonzales visiting his family’s grave before his arrest.

The submission puts into question how a third expert, consulted several months later, could then find that the graffiti and jumper paint were an “indistinguishable” match, thereby solidifying Gonzales’ guilt in the eyes of the jury.

Gonzales’ submission alleges for that to occur the paint must have been planted on the jumper sleeve while in police possession.

Racist graffiti spray painted on the kitchen wall of the Gonzales family home.

The Gonzales family — from bottom, Clodine, Loiva, Terry and Sef.

The scene of the horrific murders.

Blood stains at the murder house.

“A number of witnesses observed me in the immediate post event period including ambulance and police officers. No one noticed any blue discolouration on my jumper,” Gonzales writes in his LECC submission.

He alleges that as such the police were tasked with placing a microscopic amount of blue paint on his jumper to stitch up his conviction.

“The great difficulty which [police officer name redacted] had in tampering with the evidence is that because no one who saw the jumper before him noticed any blue discolouration, the paint which he placed had to be a microscopic amount,” Gonzales wrote.

NSW Police were contacted for comment:

“The submission is a matter for the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission at this time.”

Gonzales is currently serving life in Lithgow Correctional Centre and is approaching the 20th anniversary of his family’s murder in July.

Originally published as New evidence that could clear triple killer Sef Gonzales