Bandali Debs claims Lawyer X pushed self-defence plea in Silk-Miller killings

Convicted killer Bandali Debs has told a court lawyer Nicola Gobbo told him to plead self-defence over the Silk-Miller police shootings.

Bandali Debs claims he was told him to plead self-defence when first charged with the 1998 Silk-Miller police shootings

Cold-blooded killer Bandali Debs has testified lawyer Nicola Gobbo told him to plead self-defence after he was initially charged with the 1998 Silk-Miller police shootings.

Debs, who is convicted of the murders of Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, is a witness in the retrial of his former co-accused Jason Roberts.

During his evidence, Debs has admitted to shooting officer Miller, but says he only did so in self-defence after the policeman drew his gun and pointed it at him.

Jason Roberts. Picture: Jason Edwards

Lawyer X Nicola Gobbo.

But when he was asked why he claimed he was not even in Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin — where the police murders took place — at his trial in 2002, Debs answered: “That’s what my lawyers told me to say’’.

Debs then told the court he believed he was acting in self-defence and had been told by Ms Gobbo to run a defence case.

“Nicola Gobbo tried to run it as a self-defence,” he told the Supreme Court.

“She told me to run self-defence ... she had the paperwork,’’ Debs said.

He was reminded by Mr Roberts’ barrister, David Hallowes SC, that Ms Gobbo did not act for him at the 2002 trial.

Debs is giving evidence in Mr Robert’s retrial from Goulburn Prison in NSW where he is serving a life sentence.

The 68-year-old has already given evidence over two previous days, during which his evidence has been heavily scrutinised by the prosecution and defence.

Although he confessed to shooting officer Miller, Debs has denied he shot Sergeant Silk.

Debs has told the court Sergeant Silk was shot by Roberts after they were pulled over in Moorabbin.

Sergeant Gary Silk.

Senior Constable Rodney Miller.

But the prosecution and defence has accused Debs of lying about how the shooting unfolded.

Mr Roberts has pleaded not guilty to murdering Sergeant Silk and Constable Miller, arguing he was not at the shooting scene.

Ms Gobbo would later gain infamy as “Lawyer X’’ after the exposure of her role as a Victoria Police informer.

The barrister later aided the force in solving Melbourne’s gangland wars and also tipped off police in major drug trafficking operations. 

The court also heard that Debs told Mr Roberts’ lawyer, Simon Moody, in June 2017, that Mr Roberts was not with him when he committed the Silk-Miller murders. 

Mr Moody had visited Debs at Goulburn jail.

“He’s a bloody liar. I never spoke to him at all,’’ Debs said.

Mr Hallowes told Debs: ‘’He suggested he sign an affidavit and you said you would if you got back to Victoria’’.

The court heard Debs later asked another inmate who had brokered a deal with police his advice about how to do it.

“That’s right,’’ he said.

Audio was played to the court during which Debs can be heard talking about killing two more “CPs’’ to make the police investigation into the Silk-Miller murders “spread stupidly’’.

Bandali Debs in 2002. Picture: Craig Borrow

Jason Roberts in 2002. Picture: Joe Castro

Debs told the court “CPs” was an acronym he used for police and that he had been drinking when he held the conversation with his daughter Joanne.

It was followed by audio in which Debs discusses “getting rid’’ of Dean Thomas, a detective investigating him, who he testified was “pressuring’’ him to make a new statement in 2000.

But the most chilling conversation he had with his daughter was about murdering Sen Constable Miller’s wife and child.

“Were you willing to consider killing Miller’s wife and child because you were pissed off that he had fired at you?’’ Mr Hallowes asked Debs.

“Like I said, I was pissed off because Miller fired at me and I could have been dead,’’ Debs answered.

Asked about shooting officer Sen Constable Miller, Debs said ‘’It happened on the night.’’

Mr Hallowes then reminded him he had also killed two unarmed women and shot at two other police officers, asking he if he did so for the “fun of it’’.

Hallowes: “You shot women who were unarmed.”

Debs: “Correct.”

Hallowes: “You shoot at police who are just doing their jobs.”

Debs: “Correct.”

Hallowes: “You kill for the fun of it.”

Debs: “No I don’t.”

The infamous quote Debs uttered at the last armed robbery he committed with Mr Roberts in Surrey Hills, “Tell them Lucifer was here’’ was also raised.

“Do you believe in God,’’ Mr Hallowes asked Debs.

“There’s a God out there,’’ Debs answered.

“You’ve sided with Lucifer, haven’t you?’’ Mr Hallowes probed.

Debs, however, said it was something he said to “scare people’’.

But he admitted he had lived a selfish life causing pain and misery to others.

“I haven’t been a good person,’’ he confessed.

Debs also admitted to telling “mistruths’’ in conversations caught on police surveillance recordings.

“Everyone tells lies, I’m not the only person,’’ he said.

The trial continues.