Domenic Perre, convicted of the 1994 NCA bombing, dies in jail aged 66

Convicted assassin and domestic terrorist Domenic Perre has died just months after being found guilty of the NCA bombing – and his victims’ loved ones have now reacted.

Convicted National Crime Authority bomber Domenic Perre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

• Special report: Evidence that sunk Perre

Convicted NCA bomber Domenic Perre has died, months after being found guilty of the infamous domestic terrorism incident and while awaiting a decision on his appeal.

Perre, 66, died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital just after 11 o’clock Monday night – 213 days after he was jailed for murder and attempted murder.

He was transferred to the RAH from the infirmary at Yatala prison on April 17 suffering a range of serious medical issues.

Perre’s death is being investigated as a death in custody by Police Corrections Section officers and as such, it will be the subject of a mandatory Coronial Inquest.

Perre received a 37-year non-parole period following his convictions for murdering Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and attempting to murder lawyer Peter Wallis in the 1994 parcel bomb explosion.

Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen, who was killed by the parcel bomb at the NCA building in 1994.

Det. Sgt Bowen’s widow, Jane Bowen-Sutton. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Det. Sgt Bowen’s widow, Jane Bowen-Sutton, said she had received a phone call from a major crime detective at 5.45am Perth time informing her of Perre’s death. It took several seconds for the news to sink in and to gather her thoughts.

Relief was among her first reactions, followed once again by reflection on what Perre had robbed her family of by his cruel and callous actions 29 years ago.

“I guess my first thought was that it is over, the end of the story,’’ Ms Bowen-Sutton said.

“But I have cried all morning because this does not diminish the loss and the pain that one person created by murdering Geoff and also for Peter’s family.

“I have such mixed emotions today. I don’t wish anyone dead, but it is now something I can tell my grandchildren, it is the end of the story.

“Perre has died a convicted murderer, he murdered Geoff.’’

Ms Bowen-Sutton said the fact Perre’s appeal against his conviction was now closed did not trouble her.

“I had no doubt we would win the appeal. I know major crime did such a great job of that cold case, as did the prosecutors,’’ she said.

“The appeal did not worry me too much, but I am pleased it is now finished with Perre’s death.’’

Ms Bowen-Sutton said Geoff’s son’s Simon and Matt were also pleased the case had been closed when she advised them of Perre’s death.

“We are not a vindictive family, but you cannot verbalise the impact on the family now there are grandchildren,’’ she said.

“That one man has caused generations of hurt.’’

Perre’s death was welcomed by both Det. Bowen’s former colleagues, officers involved in the investigation into his death and prison officers who encountered him during his incarceration.

“Perre’s death in prison following his recent conviction provides further relief and closure for Geoff’s family, friends and colleagues,’’ former National Crime Authority colleague Mario Armiento said.

“Perre never showed any remorse for his calculated, violent and vengeful actions.

“It’s now over and we don’t need to worry about Perre anymore.’’

Another officer who spent more than a decade working on the NCA bombing investigation said he “was glad it is over.’’

“It will take a while to sink in, but I am glad he is dead,’’ the officer said.

“The conviction stands forever now. It stops.’’

A senior officer who worked for several years on the initial investigation said while the public may feel his reaction “was callous, they had little understanding of Perre and his background.’’

“This is great news, it is finally over,’’ the officer said.

“There never should have been an appeal, all it has done is continued to traumatise Geoff’s family and peter’s family.

“They will be relieved this is now at an end. Perre has died a guilty man.’’

While the ill-feeling between police and Perre remained a constant over the past three decades, Correctional Services officers who managed Perre while he was in custody shared their sentiment.

One Corrections officer who had almost daily contact with Perre for several years described him as “the worst prisoner I have ever encountered.’’

“The overwhelming majority of prisoners do not push back or give us grief because they respect that we are only doing our jobs,’’ he said.

“But Perre had no regard for other people, he regarded us his enemy also, his vile abuse and other foul physical acts were common.

“It takes a special kind of individual to throw their own faeces at the person bringing them their meal.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray stands (second left) with Genevieve Wallis, daughter of NCA bombing victim Peter Wallis, and supporters. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

“I was on the receiving end and I can tell you, it took all of your self-control not to retaliate, but that was exactly what he wanted.

“Many of us dreaded coming into contact with him for that reason.’’

Perre maintained his innocence for decades, arguing other people – including gunsmith Allan “Gadget” Chamberlain, who gave evidence against him – could have been the bomber.

Perre had also compared the “miscarriage of justice” in his case to those of Cardinal George Pell – who was acquitted of child sex charges – and convicted murderers Peter Rex Dansie and Gerard Robert Baden-Clay.

At his appeal hearing, counsel for Perre claimed the bombing could have been committed by notorious organised crime identity Bruno “The Fox” Romeo, who died in 2016.

The fate of that appeal now hangs in legal limbo.

While full hearings had taken place and been completed, the Court of Appeal has yet to hand down its judgment.

On Tuesday Perre’s solicitor, James Noblett, declined to comment about the case because “it is still, technically, before the courts”.

Legal sources told The Advertiser that, ordinarily, the Court of Appeal would not return a judgment on a case involving a deceased person.

They said counsel could argue there are “exceptional circumstances” warranting the handing down and publication of a judgment even after a person’s death.

However, they noted such an application would be “very unusual”.

Court of Appeal President Mark Livesey told The Advertiser the rules that governed legal challenges were well-settled.

“A convicted person has a right to seek permission to appeal against conviction under the Criminal Procedure Act, for example where it is said that the verdict is unreasonable or cannot be supported having regard to the evidence,” he said.

“If it is proved, usually by a death certificate, that the convicted person has died before the appeal has been determined, then that right of appeal abates.

“That is sometimes described as the right of appeal dying with the appellant.”

Perre had been in poor health for some time with extensive heart and lung ailments, and suffered a heart attack and underwent surgery in July 2022.

Supreme Court documents subsequently revealed he took 15 medications a day and had “an extensive history” of refusing treatment and staging “hunger strikes”.

Perre’s challenges to his guilt, at both his lengthy trial and on appeal, were funded by Legal Aid money sourced from taxpayer funds.

In a statement, the Legal Services Commission said it could not disclose how much Perre’s cases had cost.

“Strict confidentiality provisions within the Legal Services Commission Act restrict Legal Services from making comment on individual applications for legal aid,” a spokesman said.

“Legal aid funding is governed by legislation and established rules, and ensures an eligible individual receives appropriate legal representation in the court that considers their matter.

“Representation in court is a key part of our justice system and helps to ensure equality before the law.”

Originally published as Domenic Perre, convicted of the 1994 NCA bombing, dies in jail aged 66