GoFundMe page removed after seeking money for murderer Bevan Spencer von Einem’s cremation
GoFundMe has removed a controversial fundraiser seeking $5000 for convicted child killer Bevan Spencer von Einem as he faces death from lung cancer.
An online fundraiser to raise money for murderer Bevan Spencer von Einem’s cremation has been removed.
It is not clear who organised the GoFundMe page, which sought to raise about $5000 to farewell the killer before being taken offline.
A description on the page said the murderer had paid a debt to society.
“In our society it would seem there is a debt to be paid, Bevan has paid that debt with his death in custody,” the page said.
“It’s about 5000 for a cremation and return the ashes to the water.”
A spokeswoman for GoFundMe confirmed the fundraiser had been removed and donors were refunded.
Robyn Barnes, the sister of Alan Barnes, one of the victims of the Family murders, told Nine News the fundraiser was “just a slap in the face”.
Asked about the page on Thursday, Peter Malinauskas said he was not aware of the fundraiser or plans for von Einem’s cremation.
“I haven’t spent much time thinking about his remains. The only thing that’s been on my mind, and I think on most South Australians, is the family members of the victims here,” he told reporters.
Mr Malinauskas said he could not confirm the truth of reports that a new bed, believed to be for von Einem, was brought into Yatala Labour Prison’s infirmary on Wednesday morning.
“I understand he’ll be getting treatment in accordance with SA Health requirements, but … there won’t be any special treatment for this bloke, let me tell you,” he said.
“This is an individual that deserves no sympathy.”
Mr Malinauskus said SA Police was actively investigating the Family murders.
“There are a range of suspicions around von Einem having accomplices in some of the crimes,” he said.
“They’re under active investigation by South Australian police, and should be for as long as it takes for justice to be realised.
“As a government, there is nothing we wouldn’t do to aid that effort.”
Von Einem was convicted of the 1983 murder of Adelaide teenager Richard Kelvin, 15, and sentenced in 1984 to life imprisonment.
The killer now has lung cancer and he is close to death at the Yatala prison infirmary, where he was transported on Monday from Port Augusta Prison.
Police believed von Einem did not act alone and he could have been involved in the unsolved murders of four other boys and young men, which are often described as “the Family murders”.
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Originally published as GoFundMe page removed after seeking money for murderer Bevan Spencer von Einem’s cremation
