What’s next in retrial of accused cop killer?

Almost 100 witnesses have given evidence in a retrial spanning three months, now it’s up to the jury to decide the fate of accused cop killer Jason Roberts.

Jason Roberts at Victoria’s Supreme Court for his retrial over the Silk-Miller killings. Picture: Jason Edwards

The jury hearing the retrial of Jason Joseph Roberts, who is accused of the 1998 Silk-Miller police murders, has retired to consider its verdict.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye finished his lengthy charge to the jury at 12.42pm on Thursday.

The retrial of Mr Roberts has heard from 91 witnesses over the course of more than three months.

Mr Roberts has pleaded guilty to 10 armed robberies he committed between March and July in 1998 with co-offender, and father figure, Bandali Debs.

But he has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Sergeant Gary Silk, 34, and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, 35, who were fatally shot while on duty in the minutes past midnight on August 16, 1998.

Mr Roberts has told the court he was not with Debs at the murder scene.

The 41-year-old accused man has argued he was told about the murders by Debs, who he says went out alone to the Silky Emperor Chinese Restaurant in Moorabbin to commit an armed robbery.

Sergeant Gary Silk. Picture: Supplied

Senior Constable Rodney Miller. Picture: Supplied

Sergeant Silk and Senior Constable Miller, along with two other officers, were staking out the restaurant as part of a major police operation to capture two armed offenders committing robberies on retail stores and restaurants over the preceding five months near closing time.

Officers Silk and Miller intercepted a blue Hyundai in nearby Cochranes Rd shortly after observing the car enter and exit an underground car park where they were conducting surveillance below the Silky Emperor Chinese Restaurant.

After intercepting the suspicious car in the semi-industrial Cochranes Rd, the police officers were ambushed.

A two-year investigation by the Victoria Police Lorimer taskforce led to charges being laid against both Debs and Mr Roberts over the Silk-Miller murders.

Both Mr Roberts and Debs were convicted of the police murders in 2002.

Mr Roberts, in 2020, had his convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal.

Mr Roberts has been in prison since police charged him with the murders of Sgt Silk and Sen Constable Miller on August 15, 2000.