Jason Roberts acquitted after 22 years in jail for Silk-Miller murders

Why Jason Roberts walked free after 22 years for cop murders

Jason Roberts has been freed following a 22-year jail stint after he was found not guilty of the 1998 murders of police officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller following a retrial.

Footage courtesy Channel Seven

On August 16, 1998, 34-year-old Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, 35, were gunned down in Moorabbin while they were staking out the Silky Emperor restaurant.

Rodney Miller Gary Silk

The officers were part of an armed robbery squad operation investigating a series of hold-ups in Melbourne’s east and south when they pulled over a suspicious Hyundai.

Shots were then fired. Silk was killed at the scene after he was hit three times, while Miller died later in hospital from his wounds.

From evidence found at the scene, police traced the Hyundai to Bandali Debs. Debs was charged on July 25, 2000, while Roberts was charged several weeks later.

The accused men went to trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria and were both found guilty in late 2002 and given life sentences.

Roberts, who was 17 at the time of the Silk-Miller murders, always maintained his innocence. He said he went out to dinner with his girlfriend, Debs' daughter Nicole, the night in question, before going back to her house.

Ms Debs did not give evidence at the 2002 trial, but she told police in 2013 she and Roberts were in bed together at her Narre Warren home when the officers were murdered.

Roberts had his conviction quashed in late 2020 and was granted a retrial after a Herald Sun investigation unearthed proof that police had fabricated a statement which had formed part of the evidence in the original trial.

Roberts' new trial started in March. It featured 91 witnesses and lasted more than three months.

Bandali Debs testified against Roberts, saying he was with him when the officers were shot. But the court also heard the convicted serial killer had tried to strike a deal with Victoria Police in return for his co-operation.

Roberts also gave evidence at the trial. After three days of deliberation, the jury ultimately accepted his testimony that he had not been present at the Silk-Miller shootings and that Debs had acted alone.

In a joint statement, the families of the fallen officers said “both deserved a more just outcome” than the acquittal of Roberts, saying nothing would change the loss of the officers' lives.

What cannot be changed is that two young Victoria Police officers – Gary Silk and Rod Miller – who were loved by their families and friends, were callously murdered. Their loss continues to leave a huge hole in our lives.

FAMILIES OF GARY SILK AND RODNEY MILLER

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, a former colleague of both officers, said the acquittal was a “disappointing” end to the 24-year saga.

While Roberts has been acquitted of murder, he must still return to court and face charges of armed robbery, which he has admitted to committing alongside Debs.

There’s also a question of whether Roberts will seek compensation for the 22 years he spent in prison.

Swipe up to read more about the Silk-Miller murder trial

Words: Staff writers Producer: Andrew Piva Learn more

NewsBite

Why Jason Roberts walked free after 22 years for cop murders

Jason Roberts has been freed following a 22-year jail stint after he was found not guilty of the 1998 murders of police officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller following a retrial.

Here’s what you need to know about the case and how Roberts became a free man.

On August 16, 1998, 34-year-old Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rodney Miller, 35, were gunned down in Moorabbin while they were staking out the Silky Emperor restaurant.

The murders

The officers were part of an armed robbery squad operation investigating a series of hold-ups in Melbourne’s east and south when they pulled over a suspicious Hyundai.

Shots were then fired. Silk was killed at the scene after he was hit three times, while Miller died later in hospital from his wounds.

From evidence found at the scene, police traced the Hyundai to Bandali Debs. Debs was charged on July 25, 2000, while Roberts was charged several weeks later.

The accused men went to trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria and were both found guilty in late 2002 and given life sentences.

Roberts, who was 17 at the time of the Silk-Miller murders, always maintained his innocence. He said he went out to dinner with his girlfriend, Debs' daughter Nicole, the night in question, before going back to her house.

Pleas of innocence

Ms Debs did not give evidence at the 2002 trial, but she told police in 2013 she and Roberts were in bed together at her Narre Warren home when the officers were murdered.

Roberts had his conviction quashed in late 2020 and was granted a retrial after a Herald Sun investigation unearthed proof that police had fabricated a statement which had formed part of the evidence in the original trial.

Conviction overturned

Roberts' new trial started in March. It featured 91 witnesses and lasted more than three months.

Bandali Debs testified against Roberts, saying he was with him when the officers were shot. But the court also heard the convicted serial killer had tried to strike a deal with Victoria Police in return for his co-operation.

Roberts also gave evidence at the trial. After three days of deliberation, the jury ultimately accepted his testimony that he had not been present at the Silk-Miller shootings and that Debs had acted alone.

In a joint statement, the families of the fallen officers said “both deserved a more just outcome” than the acquittal of Roberts, saying nothing would change the loss of the officers' lives.

The reaction

What cannot be changed is that two young Victoria Police officers – Gary Silk and Rod Miller – who were loved by their families and friends, were callously murdered. Their loss continues to leave a huge hole in our lives.

“

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, a former colleague of both officers, said the acquittal was a “disappointing” end to the 24-year saga.

While Roberts has been acquitted of murder, he must still return to court and face charges of armed robbery, which he has admitted to committing alongside Debs.

What happens next

There’s also a question of whether Roberts will seek compensation for the 22 years he spent in prison.

Swipe up to read more about the Silk-Miller murder trial