Inside crooked cop Roger Rogerson’s last days

Roger Rogerson’s final days have been revealed during an inquest into the notorious crooked cop’s death.

Roger Rogerson was bedridden in his final months, an inquest has been told, as a coroner confirmed the crooked cop died due to natural causes.

One of NSW’s most notorious figures, Rogerson died aged 83 in a Sydney hospital in January 2024 due to a brain aneurysm, with a mandatory inquest examining his care and treatment.

At the time of his death, Rogerson was serving a life sentence after he and former detective Glen McNamara were in 2016 jailed for the murder of drug dealer Jamie Gao.

“During his career as a police officer Mr Rogerson became notorious for his alleged involvement in numerous serious crimes, including murder and the fabrication of evidence,” Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan said on Tuesday.

Three days before Rogerson’s death, he was transferred from Long Bay prison to the Prince of Wales Hospital, where he received end-of-life care after his health deteriorated dramatically.

Roger Rogerson was serving a life sentence when he died. Picture: Adam Taylor/Newspix

The inquest revealed the details of Rogerson’s final months as he suffered a sharp decline.

From June 2016, he was placed in a specialist unit for elderly and frail inmates at Silverwater jail, the court was told. 

Rogerson was in June 2023 transferred to the aged care unit at Long Bay Hospital and remained bedridden for the rest of his life.

He was admitted to hospital in July 2023 due to physical and mental issues and he suffered a significant decline in his final seven months.

His health declined after he suffered a series of falls, and scans of his brain found areas of dead tissue.

Counsel assisting Matthew McAuliffe told the court that Rogerson was “confused and disorientated” in his final months.

In September 2023, he was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital after suffering limb weakness and declining mobility and was fitted with a pacemaker.

Three days before his death, Rogerson was taken to hospital for the final time.

“He was drowsy, confused and had a decreased level of consciousness,” Ms Ryan said.

A CT scan revealed Rogerson had suffered an intracranial haemorrhage and was given end-of-life care.

“On 19 January, 2024, Mr Rogerson’s treating team assessed that his condition had deteriorated further,” Ms Ryan said.

“After discussions with Mr Rogerson’s family, it was decided that he should be placed on an ‘end-of-life’ pathway and be given palliative care. 

“He was provided with medications for pain relief, and his family members were able to spend time with him.”

Jamie Gao was killed inside a storage shed. Picture: Supplied

Just after 11pm on January 21, 2024, the guards who were watching over him saw his chest stop moving and he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Ms Ryan found that Rogerson received appropriate care in his final months.

Even up until the time of his death, Rogerson proclaimed his innocence and claimed that Gao was already dead by the time he arrived at a storage unit.

During his trial, Rogerson said McNamara told him that Gao had pulled a gun and was shot in an ensuing struggle.

At trial, the Crown alleged Gao was lured to the Padstow storage shed by McNamara, and Rogerson attended as the proposed buyer of 2.7kg of methamphetamine.

McNamara and Gao were caught on CCTV walking into the storage shed where the university student was murdered. Rogerson was captured in the footage arriving soon after.

Before his death, Rogerson had exhausted all avenues of appeal.

In 2021, Rogerson failed to have his convictions overturned in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal and less than a year before his death the High Court denied him leave to appeal.

Rogerson was at one time a revered and respected detective and in 1980 received the Peter Mitchell Award for the arrest of escaped armed robber Gary Purdey.

He was dismissed from the police force in 1986 for depositing $110,000 into a bank account under a false name and was convicted of perverting the course of justice.