Ivan Milat star witness Paul Onions speaks after serial killer’s death
The star witness who escaped serial killer Ivan Milat and helped put him behind bars has spoken for the first time since the death of Australia’s most notorious murderer.
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The star witness who helped put Ivan Milat behind bars says his death doesn’t change anything.
Paul Onions, a backpacker who escaped the serial killer as he fired shots at him almost 30 years ago, has moved on from the near tragedy.
News Corp Australia spoke to the 53-year-old’s partner at his home in Britain after news broke of Milat’s death.
His partner said after going upstairs to speak with him: “He said he’s fine, ‘it doesn’t change anything’, he’s absolutely fine.”
Previously she had said: “He just wants to put it behind him.”
Milat died at the weekend after a battle with cancer, taking to his grave secrets of what police believe were many more than the seven murders he was jailed for.
Mr Onions’ evidence was key to Milat’s conviction and he was given a $500,000 reward for his testimony.
He gave the cheque back to Australia House in London, saying at the time he did not want “blood money.”
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Milat’s murderous rampage may have been stopped earlier if a police statement from Mr Onions was taken more seriously.
The Englishman, who spent five years in the Navy, ran from a gun-wielding Milat outside Berrima, near the Belanglo State Forest in New South Wales in January 1990.
Mr Onions, then 23, ran to the Hume Highway and flagged down motorist Joanne Berry of Canberra.
“I was trembling and close to tears and I said to the woman driver (Joanne Berry): “Just drive, he’s got a gun,” he told News Corp Australia after Milat’s trial.
“As the car sped off, I just remember this stupid grin on Milat’s face and that look has stayed with me ever since.”
Mr Onions, who had left his backpack, including his passport in Milat’s four-wheel drive white Toyota LandCruiser, went straight to the Bowral police station.
He filed a report but it was never investigated.
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Five of Milat’s seven murders happened after that report.
Mr Onions reported his brush with death again on November 11, 1993 after he read reports that police had set up a hotline for information following the discovery of the bodies of Milat’s victims in the Belanglo State Forest.
Three months later police had taken a new statement from Joanne Berry at Bowral Police Station.
Detective Sergeant Rex Little then searched the files for a copy of Mr Onions’ original statement, according to a book on the murders by lead investigator Clive Small, former Assistant Commissioner of New South Wales police.
“Eventually he found a typed “Occurrence Entry” relating to the incident, which had also been recorded in the notebook of a constable attached to the police station,” Mr Small wrote. “The information provided by Onions had never been followed up.”
NSW police arranged for Mr Onions to fly to Sydney and on May 5, 1994, he identified a photograph of Milat as the man who had tried to kill him.
That was enough for police to arrange a search warrant for Milat’s home, where they found an Aladdin’s cave of evidence linking him to the murders.
Mr Onions then became the primary witness in Milat’s Supreme Court trial.
“In the months leading up to the trial, I couldn’t sleep,” Mr Onions told News Corp after the 1996 case.
“I knew that the prosecution case depended on my evidence and that was a big burden to carry. It was when I reached my lowest point.
“During the trial, all the memories of my ordeal came flooding back.
“It was a very emotional time for me …
“As I listened to the evidence, I realised how evil he was and took strength from that …
“I considered myself to be the rabbit that got away and I needed to find justice for myself and to stop him murdering any more innocent people.”
stephen.drill@news.co.uk