Why Jason Roberts’ alleged Gary Silk, Rodney Miller murder ‘confession’ in back of police van wasn’t mentioned in court
There was no mention of Jason Roberts’ alleged ‘confession’ in the back of a police van during his retrial over the Silk-Miller police murders. Here’s why.
Police & Courts
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The Jason Roberts retrial over the 1998 Silk-Miller police murders was not told of an alleged “confession” he made in the back of a van during his initial arrest.
Roberts was “snatched” from the street by the highly trained Special Operations Group (SOG) in an “early bird special” on July 25, 2000, shortly after he arrived at a worksite in South Morang.
His armed robbery co-offender, Bandali Debs, was also arrested by a second SOG crew at a warehouse in Clayton about 7am the same day.
There has been persistent speculation in police circles Roberts confessed to the murders of Sgt Gary Silk and Sen Constable Rodney Miller in the minutes after his arrest, particularly since the review of his case gained traction in 2017.
But, stunningly, Roberts has never been asked by police or a prosecutor during this 24-year saga about his alleged “confession” in the back of a van.
Roberts was subjected to extensive police interviews on July 25 and August 15, 2000.
He has also faced two marathon trials two decades apart.
In a 2016 affidavit, obtained by the Herald Sun, Roberts described being tortured by seven hooded SOG officers.
“I was taken from a building site where I was working by members of the Special Operations Group, thrown into the back of a van, cable tied and beaten,’’ Roberts states.
“My pants were pulled down and my legs were pushed back over my head while I was lying on the floor of the van.’’
Roberts then details an assault too graphic to publish.
The brutality includes his genitals being pinched and battered with the butts of guns in the minutes after he was taken from the street.
“This caused me severe pain and humiliation,” Roberts states.
Roberts was later captured on police bugs talking about being assaulted in the van.
“If I was guilty (of the murders) I would have told them in the van. I thought I was gonna die. I was shittin’ myself,’’ Roberts was secretly recorded saying in a conversation with his mother on August 5, 2000.
The alleged attack in the back of an undercover police vehicle was known to some members of the Lorimer taskforce investigating the police murders.
It is understood a description of the assault formed part of Roberts’ petition for mercy to the then-Attorney-General Martin Pakula.
The Lorimer taskforce decision to have the SOG arrest Roberts was tactical.
Roberts had just six days earlier, on July 19, voluntarily been interviewed by Lorimer taskforce Detective George Buchhorn at Cranbourne police station.
Lorimer taskforce sources have also revealed detectives were desperate for Roberts to “roll”.
The van with Roberts in it did not take him directly to the force’s former crime headquarters in St Kilda Rd, South Melbourne.
Instead, the SOG rendezvoused with Lorimer taskforce detectives waiting in a car with a tape recorder running and handed him over.
“I knew he was under the spell of Debs,” a Detective, who did not want to be identified, said.
“There was no way he was going to tell us because he’d been schooled by Bandali Debs.”
Roberts, however, states he was offered deals by police.
He claims Lorimer taskforce detectives offered him an accessory to murder deal on August 15, 2000, the day he was charged with the Silk-Miller murders.
“On that date I was told by investigating police that I should make a statement against Ben (Bandali Deb),’’ he stated.
Lorimer taskforce sources have confirmed offers were made to Roberts for his co-operation, which he declined.
One of his original lawyers, Sean Grant, said he was told by Roberts of the offer soon after he was charged, but said there was never a formal offer.
“He told me that there was an original offer of accessory to murder (made) off tape.
“Once he wasn’t prepared to give information, it was war.’’
Roberts was found not guilty of the Silk-Miller murders after a marathon retrial ended on Monday.
He walked free from the Supreme Court after spending 22 years in prison.
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