Denyer victim loved ones slam Andrews government for voting down bill

Loved ones of Paul Denyer’s ­victims say the Andrews government’s decision to vote down a bill intended to keep him behind bars for life has rocked them.

L to R Karen, who was Paul Denyer victim Natalie Russell’s friend, MP David Limbrick who was Ms Russell’s boyfriend at the time, and author Vikki Petraitis. Picture: David Crosling

Loved ones of Paul Denyer’s ­victims say the Andrews government’s decision to vote down an opposition bill intended to keep the Frankston serial killer behind bars for life has resulted in one of the worst days of their lives since he was granted a parole ­application.

Denyer received a life sentence in 1993 after being found guilty of killing Elizabeth Stevens, 18, Debbie Fream, 22, and Natalie Russell, 17, in a spate of murders that occurred in and near the outer southeastern Melbourne suburb over a seven-week period in June and July that year.

On appeal, he was granted a 30-year non-parole period, enabling him to make an application for freedom that was refused in May.

On Wednesday, the state opposition put forward legislation intended to ensure Denyer remained behind bars for life.

Labor, the Greens and the Legalise Cannabis Party voted the bill down, saying the government’s legislation, yet to be introduced to parliament, will be less likely to be challenged in the High Court.

Attending parliament to witness the vote on the opposition’s bill on Wednesday, Russell’s sister Lisa Knight, Fream’s son Jake Blair, and a friend of Russell known as Karen issued a joint statement.

“Today has been one of the worst days of our lives since Den­yer was granted a parole application,” they said.

Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer being taken away by police in 1993.

“The government has made comments that today’s bill was rushed but that is not true. We have been fighting since 2021 to keep the public safe from Denyer and they only started speaking to us properly last week.”

They thanked opposition criminal justice reform spokesman Brad Battin for his “respect and support”, saying he had asked permission before tabling the bill months ago

“We have not been granted peace today,” they said.