Ex-girlfriend’s shock act behind accused cop killer Jason Roberts’ acquittal for Silk-Miller murders

Acquitted cop killer Jason Roberts never expected to taste freedom again, until his ex brought unstuck a decades-long wrongful conviction.

Acquitted life prisoner Jason Roberts, who spent 22-years in jail, never expected his ex-girlfriend to become a lifeline.

But when a covert police operation reviewing the 1998 fatal shootings of Sgt Gary Silk and Sen Constable Rodney Miller, dubbed Rainmaker, tracked Nicole Debs through parking tickets in 2013, she purged.

Ms Debs told homicide Detective Ron Iddles that her former boyfriend, who she had not seen for at least six years, was in bed with her when her father ambushed the policemen in Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin.

Jason Roberts and Nicole Debs as a young couple. Picture: Supplied

In the latest episode of The Devil’s Apprentice, a Herald Sun and True Crime Australia podcast, hear for the first time the moment Ms Debs’ corroborated Roberts’ alibi, 15 years after the crime.

It shocked Roberts, who was convinced Ms Debs would remain silent after moving on with her life.

The alibi would become a central plank in his decade-long pathway to get a retrial, held last year.

The episode delves into Ms Debs’ account of the morning of the murders, which in most ways mirrored Roberts’ version.

It details how Ms Debs found her father, Bandali Debs, downstairs at the family home in Fountain Gate after shooting the officers who had followed him after he drove into the carpark of the Silky Emperor Chinese restaurant in Moorabbin.

Senior Constable Rodney Miller was fatally shot in 1998. Picture: Supplied

Sergeant Gary Silk was gunned down alongside partner Senior Constable Miller. Picture: Supplied

Bandali Debs had driven his daughter’s car to check out the restaurant, which was considered a potential armed robbery target.

Two years later, he and Roberts would be charged with the police killings.

But Ms Debs would not give evidence at the 2002 trial where her father and boyfriend, who were co-accused, were convicted of the double murder.

Two decades later, at Roberts’ retrial, she was expected to give testimony.

In revelations to be explored by the podcast, Ms Debs would claim she came under police pressure.

Jason Roberts spent 22-years in jail over the fatal shooting of two Victoria Police officers. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Ms Debs’ co-operation with Rainmaker investigators would have dramatic ramifications, including police tapping her phone, a decade after speaking to Operation Rainmaker.

The 2021 police probe into her account came as the force prepared for Roberts’ retrial.

During a period in May, police allegedly uncovered Ms Debs doing a voluntary placement at a hospital while taking sick leave from work.

She was subsequently charged with fraud totalling $1664.

The case, which is before the Magistrates’ court, is now heading for the Supreme Court for review as police fight handing over documents under subpoena.

Originally published as Ex-girlfriend’s shock act behind accused cop killer Jason Roberts’ acquittal for Silk-Miller murders