Questions linger over the deaths of five people linked to Kirkstall shooting victim Kevin Knowles

There are lingering questions over the deaths of five people linked to Kirkstall shooting victim Kevin Knowles.

Questions have lingered over the deaths of five people linked to Kirkstall shooting victim Kevin Knowles.

Knowles, one of three men to die in a murder-suicide in the southwest town last Friday, knew the five over a period of 30 years.

Police viewed the death of his former partner Amanda Bourke in a 2018 drowning at a remote beach was “highly suspicious”, despite a coroner being unable to say there was foul play.

Ms Bourke had information about the death of Steve Johnston, who died after a brutal bashing police suspect was delivered by Knowles at his Warrnambool home in 2020.

Three men died in the murder-suicide Kirkstall. Picture: Fitzmedia Productions

She was later told by Knowles not to be a “dog” by talking to police over the attack, which left Mr Johnston with a fractured skull.

Another associate of Ms Bourke and Knowles, Shaun Kelson, also died in a drowning accident in 2020.

A friend of Mr Kelson this week told the Warrnambool Standard that Ms Bourke had outlined to his mate details of what had happened to Mr Johnston.

Olivia Dyson, a former partner of Knowles died in 2016, in what was found to be natural causes after a long history of domestic violence incidents with him.

Shooting victim Kevin Knowles’ home. Picture: Owen Leonard

There have for years been murmurings in the Warrnambool area about whether assaults on her by Knowles helped hasten her death.

Their relationship was so volatile police had been called to their property dozens of times.

Years before the deaths of the past six years, there was talk about Knowles’ history in Melbourne.

The Herald Sun has been told he left for the southwest in the 1990s after the suspicious death of another woman.

Former Warrnambool police officer Colin Ryan said Knowles was known for assaults and standover activity.

“He was angry and aggressive and always thought that he was the victim. In reality, he was nothing more than a thug,” Mr Ryan said.

Kirkstall man Travis Cashmore shot Knowles and his mate Benny Ray on a roadside near the town last Friday.

A sign placed on Mr Cashmore’s gate this week gave grim testament to the reputation of Knowles, a man who had been charged more than 300 times.

It read: “Free. Trav, you and the Kirkstall community are now free from Kevin Knowles. RIP.”