01x01 - Part 1

All episode transcripts for the TV mini-series "Catching Milat". Aired: May 24, 2015.*
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"Catching Milat" is loosely based upon the true story of how NSW Police Taskforce Air tracked down and caught serial k*ller Ivan Milat, who was responsible for the infamous backpacker murders.
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01x01 - Part 1

Post by bunniefuu »

(BIRD SCREECHES)

(BIRDSONG)

(CAR DOOR CLOSES)

G'day, mate.

What are you doin'?

Let me guess.

You're lookin' for a lift, right?

Uh, yeah.

Where you off to?

Melbourne.

Right.

I'm not going to Melbourne, mate.

I'm going to Canberra.

Does that help?

Yeah, that'd be great.

Alright.

I just gotta go in the shop here.

Take your stuff and whack it in the truck there and I'll be right out.

Cheers.

G'day, anyway.

Name's Bill.

Um... Paul. Paul Onions.

Oh, Onions! Like the bloody vegetable, mate.

You know, I think you're the first real Aussie bloke I've met.

(STARTS ENGINE)

That's gotta be a bloody good thing, don't it?

Yeah, so, I finished up and decided to get out and see the world a bit.

Right.

Do you, um, get any special forces training in the navy, do you?

No.

No, no, no, nothing like that.

Just, uh... I worked on the air conditioners, actually.

So, I'm an engineer.

Engineer?

How long you been in Australia?

Oh, about five weeks.

Right.

You meeting anyone in Melbourne, are you?

No.

Just, uh... just heading to a job, actually.

Fruit picking.

You look a bit tired, mate.

You should have a sleep.

I'll look after the driving.

(ENGINE STOPS)

What's going on?

(DOOR OPENS)

When you... get this far out of Sydney, the radio doesn't pick up a station, so I'll just check in the back for my tapes, OK?

Hey, mate, what are you doing?

I was just stretching my legs.

No, stay in the car, mate.

I'm just gonna stretch my legs.

No, stay...

Just stay in the car, OK?

I'm just gonna look for those tapes under the seat.

Is everything alright?

Yeah, everything's good, mate.

You know what this is?

Whoa.

It's a robbery, you stupid Pommy prick.

Alright, mate, there's no need to do this.

What you doing?

Get back in the car and put your seatbelt on.

What are you doing?

Shut up, mate.

Get back in the car and put your seatbelt on, alright?

Just relax.

(ROARS)

Get back into my truck! You're mad!

(GRUNTS)

Come back! Stop! Get back in the car, mate! Get back in the bloody car! Stop the car! Stop the car! Get back in the car!

(FIRES g*n)

Stop the car! Stop! Stop please! Stop the car! Stop the car! Please.

Thank you.

He's got a g*n.

He's got a g*n.

Get back in the bloody car! Get out.

Get out.

I've got kids in here! Get out.

I'm in.

Drive.

Drive.

He's got a g*n, he's got a g*n.

You just go.

Just drive, drive, drive.

Drive, drive, drive.

(TYRES SCREECH)

Woman: (ON PHONE) I knew you'd panic, Mum.

We're nowhere near the earthquake.

Man: Ring us when you get there, Joanne.

Woman 2: I really don't like you hitchhiking, OK?

(MAN SPEAKS GERMAN)

Woman 3: Grape picking.

Can you imagine ME doing that?

Man: So, um, anyway, give us a call.

Woman 4: You're keeping safe, aren't you?

Woman 5: I miss you.

Woman 6: And we'll send money.

If you need money, we'll send money, but no hitchhiking, alright, darling?

Man: (ON TV) Is a callous m*rder*r preying on young tourists, in Real Life with Stan Grant.

Stan Grant: Welcome to Real Life.

One of the main reasons foreign tourists give for coming to Australia is they see us as a safe country.

How, then, to explain two young German backpackers vanishing without trace?

As Jane Hansen finds, there have been other mysterious disappearances that raise fears of a criminal pattern.

Hansen: In the past 18 months, six international tourists have gone missing in Australia without a trace.

And the latest case is that of missing German couple Gabor Neugebauer and Anja Habschied, officially missing since Christmas.

We are the parents of Gabor Neugebauer.

We are looking for our son.

21-year-old Gabor and 20-year-old Anja arrived in Australia last November.

The couple had planned to return to Germany on January 24, but since their last phone call home on Christmas Eve, their families have heard nothing.

This is our son, and this is his girlfriend Anja Habschied.

She has red in her hair.

We want to know if anyone has any information of where they might be.

Answering machine: One new message.

Woman: Hello, Paul.

This is Dr Stein, your psychologist, confirming your session on Tuesday evening at 7pm.

Thank you.

(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)

Computerised voice: End of final message.

(DOOR CREAKS OPENS)

Not going to work today, Ivan?

What's that, Mum?

Not going to work?

Nah.

Got the day off.

(LAUGHS)

Oh-ho-ho! Oh, looks really good.

Really, really good.

Oh, come on, Bodgy, you're just saying that.

Nah.

Can I help, brother?

Please.

Oh, yeah, I suppose.

You can hose the rims out, if you want.

Yeah, um, hose...

Here y'are, mate.

Hey, mate, did you... you got that Lotto ticket?

Oh, sh*t, yeah.

I almost forgot.

There you go.

Cheers.

Gotta be in it to win it, eh, bro?

Mm-hm.

You've missed a spot, Bodge.

You missed a spot.

Where?

Where?

Where?

Hey! Hey! What do you think...

Shirley! You love it.

Hey, Shirley.

(LAUGHS)

Oh, you think that's funny?

Oh, you think that's funny?

Yeah, I f*ckin' do.

Come here! Look, here! Come here!

(LAUGHS)

Cut it out.

(SHRIEKS)

No! How do you like that?

Do you like that?

Hey?

What about that?

(ALL LAUGH)

Cut it out.

(LAUGHS)

You smell nice.

I what?

You smell nice.

Give me the hose.

There's something wrong with you, Shirl.

You watch yourself.

Hey, Paulie.

What's going on here?

Hey.

How are you, champ?

Good, mate.

Good to see you, mate.

Yeah.

Eh?

Doing alright?

Yeah.

Good man.

You remember Paulie, don't youse?

G'day.

He's working the Easter Show, I said he could just spend the night.

Is that alright, or...

Oh, yeah, whatever.

Yeah, as long as he behaves.

Doubt he will.

Turn it off.

Turn it bloody off.

Better watch yourself.

I heard if we get off at a place called Casula, no-one mans the station, so we don't have to pay.

Well, I don't mind paying.

Yeah, but why pay if you don't have to?

It's brill, and we just hitch from there.

When did you get that?

Lovely, isn't it?

Mum and Dad sent it.

Oh, yeah.

Right, you ready?

Oh, this is gonna be great, Jo.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Mum and Dad would be stunned if they knew.

Fruit picking, ME?

They'd laugh.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SQUEAKING)

Jesus Christ, Ivan.

You, um... you been sh**t'?

Yeah.

Yeah, what did you catch - a roo, yeah?

(KETTLE WHISTLES)

Want a cup of coffee?

I'll, um...

I'll get you a coffee.

How do you take it?

Black.

Woman: We can't put our minds to anything.

Not cooking, not work.

The pressure's too much for us.

Jo's been missing four months now.

And, um... I just want things to go back to normal.

For Jo to ring up so we can go on with our lives.

There has to be someone out here that knows something.

Man: I'd just like to add, at this point, there's nothing to suggest that either Joanne or Caroline have been harmed in any way, so...

Detective Gordon, do you have any idea where they could be?

The girls, they were last seen leaving Kings Cross on April 18.

South of Sydney, there were unconfirmed sightings of them later that day.

I'm asking if you have any idea where they are now.

No.

At this point, we have no clues as to their present whereabouts.

Which is why we've come from Wales, to appeal to someone who must know.

Where is our daughter?

Where is Joanne?

Please...

You know where you are?

Yeah, let me check.

You run too fast, mate.

You run too slow.

Keith...

(PANTS)

Keith! Oh, sh*t.

This is Detective Godden.

Bob Godden.

The constable will take your details.

We'll get back to you shortly.

Yeah, OK.

Man: Tyre tracks...

I was just going down my normal track...

Man: Christ...

Just this stench...

Woman: Joanne Walters' body was lying on her stomach, with her right arm stretched above her head.

The body was badly decomposed, especially about the upper torso.

Around Miss Walters' head was the remains of a cloth gag tied in a knot near her right ear... with another piece of cloth wedged between her teeth.

The body was stabbed 14 times about the neck and chest.

One of the wounds cut hard into the spine and would have paralysed the victim if she was alive at the time.

Miss Walters' jeans were fastened at the top but the lower four buttons were undone.

There was no underwear on the body.

Woman: Bones! Bones! Caroline Clarke's body, like Miss Walters', was found lying face down.

The victim was stabbed once in the middle of the back and a maroon jumper was found tied around her head.

Miss Clarke had been sh*t 10 times in the skull.

No! NO! No! No! Gill...

Gill...

No! No! No! No! Shh! Shh! Gill...

No!

(SOBS)

Neil.

Hey there, mate.

How are ya?

Good, good.

Yeah, thanks for letting me come down.

You know, I did promise the parents I'd ask around for them.

Yeah, of course.

Of course, mate.

How you doing?

You OK now?

Yeah, yeah, it's all done with.

Good.

Bob?

Detective Senior Constable Paul Gordon.

G'day, mate.

Bob Godden.

Paul.

You know what the forest blokes call this place?

Executioner's drop.

Oh.

Well, don't go telling the press guys that.

Oh, yeah, those pricks - they know already.

(g*nsh*t)

What was that?

p*stol club.

Have you been up there?

Yeah, they know nothing.

Never heard nothing, never seen nothing.

It's like f*cking Hogan's Heroes.

Have you fellas worked out what happened here?

Oh, look, the best we can surmise is that the k*ller, or K*llers, parked back there and walked them up on the fire trail.

There were cigarettes found.

How many butts, Bob?

Six.

Royalties.

You think the k*ller was a smoker.

It's either him or Caroline.

Joanne Walters didn't smoke.

What about all their gear?

Packs, sleeping bags.

He would have got rid of them, if he had any sense.

We think Caroline was sh*t there...

(SOBS)

Help me, please! Help me, please! Please... and then he dragged her body all the way down there... and covered it up.

Like he was ashamed.

Or he didn't want to get caught.

Poor girls.

What a place to die.

Ivan?

Mm?

Ivan, where's that camera that used to be in the lounge?

It's just in the drawer.

Yeah, Stace had her baby.

I want to take some pictures.

OK.

Hi.

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

You're a good-lookin' bloke, Ivan.

Am I?

Mm-hm.

You know the girls like you, don't you?

It's 'cause you're polite, you open doors for them and stuff.

You should get out more.

I get out.

You should come to the movies with me tonight.

I don't go on dates with me sister.

It's not a date.

Come to the movies with me tonight.

I've got a surprise for you.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDE)

Paul: They're trying to find out who did it.

No...

The detectives, they're very good, Mr Walters.

Yeah.

Well, it's... it's not really my case, so...

No, I will, I'll give them a call.

OK.

Goodbye.

(WOMAN MOANS ON SCREEN)

(MOANING CONTINUES)

(SIGHS)

I'll just go get the car.

OK.

I'm sorry, I forgot your name.

Shirley said it so quick.

Oh, it's alright.

Chalinder.

Chalinder, right.

You know I work with Shirley.

Yeah, she said that.

Look... (SIGHS) .. if I'd known what this movie was like, I would never have taken you.

I... feel bad about it.

I'm sorry.

Oh, that's OK.

It was a bit... surprising.

It was, yeah.

Do you go to the movies a lot?

Oh, when I can.

Right.

Do you?

Sure.

You know, if you wanted to, we could maybe go and see a better one some night.

Yeah.

That'd be nice.

Good.

Neil: Over the past weeks, over 100 police have been involved in a detailed search of the Belanglo State Forest.

It is a huge area.

Though we've found a number of leads, there are no definite suspects at this point.

But, thankfully, we're also very confident that there are no more bodies in the forest and, therefore, at this point we will be suspending the search indefinitely.

They haven't found 'em all.

There's more bodies.

What the hell would you know?

Why don't you call the cops and tell them if you know so much, mate?

Come on, Des.

We gotta get back to work.

Did you hear what he was saying?

Oh, it's just Richard.

He said there's more bodies out there, Des.

Yeah, he always talks sh*t when he's stoned.

f*ck.

So, what were you doing all the way out here?

To be honest, I thought you blokes stopped looking too soon after those first girls were found.

So, what were you looking for, Bruce?

Evidence.

I was just trying to help.

So, why did you take the skull with you?

I didn't think anyone would believe me if I didn't.

Here.

Just come this way, mate.

You know who it is?

Yeah, Andy's pretty sure it's the Everist girl.

Went missing after the Newcastle earthquake.

Then that's the boy that was with her - James Gibson?

They think so.

Neil... we've got bodies in here from 1989... and the English girls that went missing last year.

It's the same guy.

Those girls were less than a kilometre away, Bob.

Now, come on, Neil, it's not your fault.

I mean, 1,000 men could search this area and not find anything.

And a f*cking potter found it on his day off.

I called the search off too early, Bob.

I knew there were more bodies here.

I knew it.

It's not your fault.

Newsreader: The remains of James Gibson and Deborah Everist were found just 600 metres from where the bodies of Caroline Clarke and Joanne Walters were discovered 13 months ago.

Both young Victorians d*ed from multiple s*ab wounds and there are signs that Miss Everist had been hogtied with her own tights.

The police have admitted similarities between the two crime scenes and will start re-examining missing persons cases from the last five years.

And today, the police conceded that the disappearance of German backpackers Simone Schmidl, Anja Habschied and Gabor Neugebauer will now be included in the investigation.

None of the young Germans have been seen since 1991.

Gabor's parents flew to Australia and appeared on Stan Grant's Real Life...

I'll bet there's lots of bodies out there.

Dozens of 'em.

Newsreader: In response to the massive public outcry at the discovery of new bodies, Police Minister Terry Griffiths and Commissioner Tony Lauer announced today the creation of a task force to investigate the murders at the Belanglo State Forest.

You look nice.

You ready?

Newsreader: Superintendent Clive Small, one of New South Wales' hardest-working and most experienced officers has been appointed to lead the task force.

Man: Clive.

They want 20 investigators on this full-time.

Bob Godden and Neil Birse, they'll stay.

Can we get some blokes who helped with the Granny k*ller?

Yeah.

Now, I need D's who can handle the long haul, alright?

I want you as my number two.

You'll have the most high-profile police job in Australia.

Right.

Unless we get a breakthrough, we could be on this for years.

Yep, right again.

Whoever did this, Clive, has had years to cover his tracks.

We may never be able to catch him.

Tell me something I don't know.

Everyone will blame you if we don't.

Yep, I know.

If we fail, there goes my career.

So we'd better not muck it up.

(PHONE RINGS)

Man: Paul?

Neil Birse.

Neil.

Hey.

How are you?

You alright?

You sound a bit...

Yeah, sorry, mate, you've just caught me eating a sandwich.

Look, I've got some good news, mate.

We're setting up a task force to look into those kids' murders.

We'd like you on it.

You're sh1tting me.

No.

Can you get down to Bowral today, as soon as?

Yeah.

No.

Yeah, I...

I...

Yeah, no worries.

(TYRES SCREECH)

Whoa.

You alright?

Task Force Air is what we will be known as.

Now...

(RUNNING FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

Sorry I'm late.

I just...

Bob, this task force is no reflection on what you and Neil have done.

You've eliminated dozens of suspects, but I've been directed to put a great deal more resources into the investigation.

Now, our first task will be to consolidate all the information gathered so far on the four murders and to review any possible connections between them and other missing persons.

Rod?

I've compiled a list of 43 people who fit the brief of potential victims, who could still be out there.

I don't know if they are or aren't related to this, but they could be.

And that number is never to be released to the press.

This is a priority.

There will be one voice relaying all information, so nobody speaks to the press but me.

Is that clear?

Yes, boss.

Is that clear?

All: Yes, sir.

Good.

Alright, Neil, Bob, show the boys where to start.

How you going, mate?

Mark Camenzuli.

Paul.

Hi.

Hi.

Hi, Neil.

Hi.

Superintendent Small?

Hi.

Detective Paul Gordon.

I just wanted to say, it's a real pleasure to meet you, sir, and I want to let you know I'm ready for anything you want to throw my way.

Yeah.

Terrific.

Terrific.

Go and get some coffees for the team, will you?

Take him with you.

Just flat whites all around.

Oh, and some Danish.

Very good patisserie just down the road, on the left.

Paul.

Small: Yes.

Alright.

Yep.

You tasting that?

What?

You've got your head so far up Small's arse even I'm tasting his sh*t.

I'm just...

I'm just being friendly, alright?

Yeah, look how well that turned out, mate.

Listen, we're two of the lowest-ranked guys here.

The shitkickers - all they want us to do is get the coffee and shut the f*ck up.

Is this your car?

There's a parking ticket for you.

I just want to remind you this is a loading zone.

You can't park here.

(STARTS ENGINE)

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

All of Joanne's photos are still missing.

I appeal to anybody, even to the person who has done this terrible thing... if they could post the photos to the police.

They're the only thing I'll have left of Joanne.

Bob.

Um, that was Joanne Walters' mother, Gill.

Yes?

Do you think the victims were robbed?

Look, we don't think that's the case.

Almost no property from the victims - backpacks, sleeping bags or tents - have been recovered.

So we do think there's a good likelihood that they're still in the community.

We'll be posting a list tomorrow of exactly what's missing.

Yes?

Sir, everyone in here's pretty bloody terrified.

Doug's sleeping with a g*n under our bed 'cause, well, it makes sense, don't it, that the person responsible for this is local?

Look, at this point, we don't think the sites were chosen at random, so a knowledge of the area does seem a likely assumption.

Do you have any suspects yet?

Look, we believe we've got a better idea of what has happened and where we should be going, so to that extent, we do think that...

But do you have any suspects?

None that we're prepared to share with you, Miss Kilmartin.

Yes?

Superintendent, are there any more bodies in the forest?

He just told us f*ck all.

Small: That's something that we are prepared to...

That's 'cause that's all you have, right?

Go away, Miss Kilmartin.

As far as we know, there's absolutely no evidence that anyone has been abducted from the Bowral area.

Oh, I hope your mum likes her Chrissie presents.

Just make sure you hide 'em real well, so she doesn't find them.

Hi, Alex.

Hi, Cha...

(MUTTERS)

G'day.

Hey, you're full of surprises.

Full, full, full of them.

Am I?

Yeah, Shirl told me you're seeing her regular now.

This Chilly-Chilly-Bang-Bang.

Look, mate, you just call her Cylinder, OK?

That way you'll be able to remember it easier.

Yeah, well, Shirl reckons everything's alright.

You're alright, she's alright, everything's alright.

Yeah.

We're good.

Real good.

Oh, still, I find that surprising.

Why?

Well, you never did like brown people much.

Alex... (SIGHS) .. you know, she's real nice, OK?

Real nice.

You'll find out.

Like I said, surprising.

Full, full, full of surprises.

You know, Chalinder, we come from a huge family.

There's 14 of us.

So...

There's always trouble, always fights, nothing's ever easy, nothing's ever soft, you know.

Yeah, Ivan might not say it, but he needs you, Chalinder.

Doesn't do so good on his own.

They want us to use this?

Bowral's too small.

We need a command centre.

This place doesn't even have power or phones.

I mean, how are we supposed to track down a k*ller without phones.

We'll get them in.

Get some air conditioning too.

We could be here some time.

Uh, the toilets don't work.

Where am I supposed to put this?

I think we're ready to go, Clive.

All we need now is some evidence.

And a couple of suspects with form would be nice.

Alright, the press, the public, everyone is gonna be screaming for answers, demanding that we catch this bloke now, but we will stay calm, we will do everything the right way, so that we don't miss anything.

So when we do catch him, no lawyer will be able to get him off on appeal because we screwed something up.

Now, this is where we now our k*ller has been - Belanglo State Forest.

And it's where I know that he will have left some clue to his identity.

The search area comes after five k's of pine plantation.

Belanglo Forest itself is 3,800 hectares of very, very rough terrain.

Paul: Sir, how big is a hectare?

A hectare's 10,000 square metres.

What, so 38,000 is...

38 million square metres.

That's big.

It's big.

Ger, bring us up to speed on the g*n.

This is our best lead.

Yeah, thanks, Clive.

A year ago, I did forensics on the b*ll*ts recovered from Miss Clarke.

All 10 casings held a distinct signature on the heel of the case.

Combining this with the grooves found on the b*ll*ts, I'm fairly certain a sil*ncer was used.

And the good news is I was able to ascertain that the m*rder w*apon is a Ruger 10/22.

The 10/22 is self-loading, it has a 10-round rotary bolt.

(g*n CLICKS)

Which means the k*ller emptied a full magazine into Miss Clarke.

Whoa, what's the bad news?

Well, there are over 4.

5 million of these weapons manufactured, and of that number, probably 50,000 are in Australia.

It's also possible the k*ller put an old bolt into a new model, so the amount of Ruger's we're looking at, we have to check out maybe 100,000.

Were any found when you checked the Clarke girl?

All the owners we could locate in the area - about 700.

Out of 100,000?

That's if the Ruger was bought legally.

I mean, if the k*ller bought it illegally...

And this is our best lead?

So far, Detective.

Neil, you're gonna lead a team to follow up the Rugers.

Yeah, I'm heading back to the p*stol club tomorrow.

I've been informed that there's a witness down there remembers something around the time of the murders.

Alright, Royce, will you bring us up to speed on what you've put together on the four victims so far?

Yeah.

Joanne Walters arrived in Sydney on 4 June 1991.

She gave her address as Victoria Street Backpackers, Kings Cross.

I know she's somewhere.

I don't know where to find the bloody thing.
Hey, Shirl, hold that for a second, will you?

Hey, when I developed them photos of Stace's baby, there were a couple at the start.

Ah.

Shop must have made a mistake, eh?

I'll look after that.

Oh, here it is.

Joan...

Shirley: You got a coldie?

Cheers.

(LAUGHS)

Here you go, Joanie.

You should take this with you to Tasmania.

Oh.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

That's a good backpack.

You don't want to give it that away.

No, no.

Look, a mate of mine gave it to me.

She was heading back to New Zealand.

She doesn't need it anymore, I don't need it, so you may as well take it.

Oh, thanks, Ivan.

Who wants a snag?

They're ready.

Here, bud.

Throw it at him.

(ALL TALK AT ONCE)

Small: From what we've been able to ascertain so far, the first victims found went missing just after Good Friday, Deborah Everist and James Gibson just after Christmas.

Well, the k*ller's on holiday.

Or maybe on a break from work.

He might be a religious nut.

You know, there could be some kind of satanic element to all this.

Why do you think that?

Builds fires.

It's a f*cking camp fire, Paul.

There's nothing satanic about it.

The positioning of all four bodies is the same.

Each victim was found lying down, covered by brush, beside a log or a rock.

Now, as Detective Gordon quite correctly points out, there was evidence of a fire at both sites.

So maybe our bloke camped out.

Now, the main difference between the two sites is at the later one, Clarke and Walters, looks like he stayed a bit longer, like he's growing more comfortable with what he's doing.

(CHALINDER LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

That was quite funny...

Hey, I was using...

What?

Premier John Fahey announced the reward today as 300 extra police were called in to widen the search of the Belanglo State Forest.

Man: Mr Fahey vowed to bring the k*ller or K*llers to justice, announcing a massive reward for public information.

Thanks for talking to us, Mr Milat.

No worries.

Uh, that reward still on offer, mate?

Yes.

Yes, it is.

Now, we've been informed you saw something at the p*stol club.

I did.

Uh... it was about four o'clock on the Sunday.

Do you remember what date?

April 26 last year.

Anzac weekend.

I made a note of it.

I left the p*stol club with Bill Ayers.

As we was getting close to the highway, I noticed two cars - one was a Ford Falcon, 1980, chocolate brown.

It was being followed by a four-wheel drive, a two-tone.

Beige colour on the bottom, brown on top.

When I looked in the cabin of the Falcon, first thing I seen was the driver was a tall person.

I guess about 100 kilos.

He had a big nose and Adam's apple and his hair was an orangey-red colour, which gave me the impression it may have been dyed.

The male person sitting next to the driver was holding a shotgun... 410 model.

In the rear seat, I seen a female person who I would describe as being in her 20s.

She had what appeared to be a gag wrapped around her head and across her mouth.

As we passed the Falcon, approached the four-wheel drive, I seen two male persons in the front, a male person in the back, seated next to another female person.

She had a gag across her mouth too.

Honey-coloured material.

I would estimate she was in her 20s, Caucasian as well.

She appeared dumpier than the female I'd seen in the Falcon, with a Prince Valiant hairstyle which was cut collar-length.

You saw two terrified women with gags on their mouths and you didn't report it to the police?

I'm reporting it now.

At the time.

I was, uh... of the opinion it weren't serious, just some young blokes taking girls into the forest to have a good time.

A good time?

Yeah, from my experience I'm aware of the countless times young men and women are observed driving around in the forest looking for somewhere they can... have a good time.

I didn't think this were no different.

But I did think it was strange enough to write the rego number down on a piece of cardboard.

You wrote down the rego?

But I lost it.

But from memory, it was... ALD... 537.

Or ALO.

Or A... uh, CL.

Really?

Yeah.

Are these the two girls that you saw, Mr Milat?

Um...

Well, uh, yeah, they are.

But one appeared thinner and one heavier, but... yeah, I think it's them.

Small: Why'd he wait 18 months to remember all this?

He didn't say.

Look, he could be a nutter, Clive.

It wouldn't be the first one we've had.

Right, so, he says he saw the girls on April 26.

What's the last confirmed sighting?

18th.

Does the driver confirm his story?

Oh, look, Bill Ayers confirms that he drove Alex Milat from the p*stol club.

He saw some cars but that's all he remembers.

Hm.

And what do you think?

(SIGHS)

Two cars travelling at 20 k's, a couple of seconds at most, all that detail?

Prince Valiant haircut, the colour of the gags.

I think it's bullshit, Clive.

Why would he make it up?

Alright.

Double-check the information.

G'day, sweetheart.

What's going on?

Hey, Rich.

What's up?

You heard about Alex?

He's talking to them cops.

He's saying some sh*t about guys and girls in the forest.

Yeah.

And?

Well, what's he saying that for?

(LAUGHS)

Well, mate, how the hell would I know?

You know, our brother is a bullshit artist, he thinks there's a bit of money in it and he's probably trying to get in on a reward.

He'll crap on, mate.

He'll crap on till they pay him to shut up.

Don't worry about it.

You were there.

He said it - "There are more bodies out there. The Germans is still out there."

He SAID that.

Yeah, but the papers said that too.

Yeah, but I've been sh**ting with him and his brothers.

I'm telling you, they're crazy.

Hey, you thinking of calling someone?

What?! Four people are dead.

Well, come on, let's go.

Let's do it now.

f*ck, Janine! It's the right thing to do.

I'm doing it.

(DIAL TONE HUMS)

(RINGING TONE)

Woman: Good afternoon.

Crime Stoppers.

Yeah, uh, this guy who used to be at my work, he talked about them dead kids, the backpackers.

Well, he said there's more bodies out there, and his family, they're g*n-crazy.

I have been sh**ting with his family and, I'm telling you, they're f...

sh**ting?

I mean sh**ting at trees and roos, and not...

Oh.

Look, anyway, his name's Richard, his last name's Milat.

Can I have your name, please, sir?

My name?

Uh...

What the...?

What?! Thanks very much for having us, Alex.

We really appreciate it.

Yeah.

Um...

Look, do you remember why I called you?

What we wanted to talk about?

Yeah.

You wanted to ask me a few questions about the statement I gave you.

That's right.

We're just tying up some loose ends, really.

We just wonder whether there might be something else that you might remember.

No, mate.

You blokes have got the statement I gave you.

Nothing's changed since then.

OK.

Nothing else about the car that you saw in the bush?

Perhaps the numberplate, maybe.

No.

Hmm, nothing like that, no.

Uh...

So, are you a sh**t, Alex?

Yeah, I like to hunt.

Ah, well, that's good, actually, because we're actually doing general inquiries about weapons and amm*nit*on at the moment.

General inquiries, eh?

Yeah.

Is that OK?

Shed's out the back.

Thanks very much.

Yeah.

(BIRSE WHISTLES)

I've got all the permits for these.

So, what do you sh**t, Alex?

Pigs.

Rod: Keep your eyes open, guys.

Go slow now.

(MACHINES BEEP)

Nothing.

After three weeks.

How's it possible to find nothing out here?

Well, we went all the way to the Tree Cave fire trail.

Should we re-search the same areas Neil and Bob did last year?

No, no, stick to the grid.

How much longer will that take?

A day, maybe two, depending on the weather.

Right.

What do we do after that?

Well, if nothing comes up, we'll scale back the search.

I'll prepare a statement for the media.

Yep.

Stating?

That the task force is satisfied there are no more bodies in the forest.

What else can we say, Rod?

(STARTS ENGINE)

Here's a press release.

Alright.

(SIGHS)

Alright.

That's good to go, Rod.

Here we go, Sarge.

Thank you.

Rod?

Ladies and gentlemen... we've found another body.

Police have identified the fifth body found in the Belanglo State Forest as that of missing German tourist Simone Schmidl.

Reporter: The search of the Belanglo State Forest was winding down yesterday when more human remains were found in the area.

Climpson: Two more bodies have been found in the Belanglo State Forest near Bowral.

The bodies are those of missing German backpackers Anja Habschied and Gabor Neugebauer, who disappeared from a Kings Cross youth hostel almost two years ago.

They bring the grim tally of bodies in the backpackers graveyard to seven.

Hi.

G'day.

Hey.

I got dropped off.

Is that OK?

Yeah, sure.

Uh, I...

I just been doing a... bit of a workout.

Handsome man.

Are you OK?

Yeah, I-I'm just a bit, um... sweaty.

I think I might go have a shower, alright?

OK.

Oh, it's terrible, isn't it?

What's that?

Just about all these kids.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's... horrible?

Reporter: (ON TV) International tourists have gone missing in Australia without a trace.

Climpson: Simone Schmidl.

How she was k*lled.

Police are now certain another victim...

Reporter: 20-year-old Anja arrived in Australia last November.

Reporter: The remains of James Gibson and Deborah Everist...

Kilmartin: Detective Gordon, do you have any idea...

Newsreader: The bodies of two women found m*rder*d near Bowral could be those of Caroline Clarke and Joanne Walters.

Gill Walters: All of Joanne's photos are still missing.

Ray Walters: Where is Joanne?

Where is our daughter?

Come to bed.

I won't be long, love.

I was always told that drinking alone in the dark is a bad sign.

The thing is, Al, I don't know how many bodies are out there or if we'll ever find them.

There could be dozens.

Three more bodies and I think with each one, "OK, alright, alright. You know, this is new information. One more chance that our bloke's made a mistake, left something behind that'll lead us to him."

But that... damn forest, it's... it's given us nothing.

It's still early days.

Oh, darl, we've been out there over a month.

You knew this was gonna be a hard case.

You knew you'd made enemies in your career.

They might be setting you up to fail with this job.

Are you gonna let them win?

(REPORTERS CLAMOUR)

Given the similarities at the m*rder sites and the fact that we have now recovered seven bodies, I do think it is fair to say that there is a serial k*ller at work.

Do you think there are even more bodies in the forest?

Can't answer that, but I can announce, in response to these new finds, that Task Force Air will increase by 280 on-site investigators.

Seven teams of 40 men and women will commence a new search at first light tomorrow.

We've also heard that an information hotline is being set up.

Can you comment on that?

Yes, that is correct.

A toll-free number will commence at 5pm tomorrow and run for 24 hours a day, and I do urge anyone with any information to please come forward.

I can also announce, on behalf of the New South Wales Government, an increase in the reward to $500,000 for any information leading to the conviction of the k*ller or K*llers of these young people.

$500,000?

Does that make this the largest reward ever offered in New South Wales?

Look, I know I'm not a high-flyer, OK?

But I was a part of this from the very start.

Yeah, I know.

Then give me something.

Let me DO something.

Look, you just have to be patient, Paul.

I AM being patient.

No, look... Look, you heard them, OK?

They're setting up a hotline.

There'll be new leads.

Clive's expanding the investigation, so you won't be last in line.

I'll find you something.

I promise.

Alright?

(INTERVIEW CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY NEARBY)

Godden: Right, I want a running sheet for every call.

As soon as you hang up, I want you to log that information into a computer.

Neil Birse and I will look at everything at the end of the day.

We will organise a follow-up or we'll list it as 'no further action required'.

Hotline starts... (PHONES RING) .. now.

Man: Task Force Air.

Yep.

Task Force Air.

(PHONES RING)

Officers: Task Force Air.

Task Force Air.

Oi, come on, answer phones.

Everyone.

Everyone.

Task Force Air.

Man: (ON PHONE) My son has always been odd.

I tried to ignore it, but...

Man 2: My dad gets drunk every night...

Woman: I picked up this young man from England.

He said he'd been sh*t at.

Oh, great.

I took him to the Bowral Police Station.

Man: There's this guy who lives on a farm here...

Small: Just tell me your story.

He's so bloody creepy.

Woman: M-I-L-A-T.

Woman 2: It's a woman, I know it.

She hit me over the head and enjoyed it.

You could see it in her eyes.

Do you have a contact number?

Woman 3: I was talking to my dead mother and she said...

Man: He could do something like this.

Treated my daughter like sh*t.

Woman 3: .. Joanne's soul is troubled. She'll never rest until the k*ller is caught.

Woman 4: They all love g*ns.

My husband is...

Man 2: You must go out to the forest on a blue moon and follow the emu.

Woman 5: The k*ller lives in a white house in a straight line from the Belanglo Forest.

Man 3: I'm a phrenologist.

I read bumps on people's heads.

It's a science.

I'll read the head of any suspect you'd like me to.

No.

Thanks for your call.

Onions: Yeah.

My name is Paul Onions.

I'm calling from Birmingham, in England.

(VOICES OVERLAP)

Woman: (SHOUTS) And I can't be stopped, you hear me?! Count them slow.

You're never gonna catch me! Alright, thanks.

So, in the first 24 hours, guess how many phone calls we received.

Is this like a jelly bean jar?

We get a prize, Clive?

No, it's a rhetorical question, Bob, no prize.

5,119.

In 24 hours.

Over 2,000 people were put forward as suspects last night.

2,000.

And if we're lucky, one of them will be guilty.

It is gonna be a problem finding him in all that.

Well, as we see it, by the time this calms down, we'll have 10,000 running sheets and hundreds of thousands of new leads.

Many of them actionable.

So, our biggest problem is information overload with what is a very old and overmatched computer system.

Where are you going with this, Clive?

NetMap, OK?

12 new software packages.

We link 'em up, we put everything back in the system - names, addresses, vehicles, times of day.

NetMap can transform all that information into multidimensional graphical representations.

So, we're gonna do everything again?

Yes.

Everything?

Even our first investigation.

Again?

This NetMap, it'll make links we haven't even thought of.

It's best to get it over with now.

Well, how long is this gonna take us?

It will take as long as it takes, alright?

This is not one of your Darlo cases.

We're not gonna solve this one overnight.

We need to set up an infrastructure for the long haul.

It's not much fun, I know, but we need to be consolidating, we need to be organising.

Alright?

The benefits will far outweigh any delay.

Birse: How are we supposed to follow up leads while we're putting all this into the computers?

Neil, we'll just go to the archives for a few weeks, mate.

What, to see the old bloke with the filing cabinet in his head?

f*ck me, Bob, please.

Consolidating, organising.

I mean, come on, a new computer, it's not gonna find anyone, we are.

I'm going back downstairs.

Hey, Neil.

How's Paul Gordon going?

Following directives?

Yes, mate.

Yeah, he's good.

Think he's a good fit for this task force?

Well, he's working hard, Clive.

I'm not sure he's a team player.

Roger Climpson: The backpackers probe.

There are growing fears tonight that the grim m*rder toll in the Belanglo Forest may affect Australia's reputation abroad.

Police heading the investigation are appealing for the international media to act responsibly.

Reporter: A German television crew arrived in the forest today.

Superintendent Clive Small is anxious for the murders to be kept in perspective.

Reporter: The Germans are being told the Sydney cannibal cut up his victims before cooking them on the camp fires near the bodies and then eating them.

Reporter: The tragedy has sparked huge media interest in Britain with several papers warning intending tourists of the potential dangers of a trip to Australia in light of the murders.

Small: Alright, I wanted you all to see this place one last time.

Where it began, where we think it's ended for now.

So, final thoughts, gentlemen?

20 months since the last victim we know of was k*lled.

Do we think he's stopped for good?

Why would he stop?

Could be dead.

He could be in jail.

Or he's dumping them somewhere else.

Let's hope not.

Anything new from Ballistics, Stu?

Yeah, the b*ll*ts we found near Gabor, they match those we found near Miss Clarke.

So, we now know the same w*apon was used in both areas.

Right, Neil, what about the new bodies - the Germans - anything new there?

Similar to the others.

There are indications of sexual interference.

Anja's body was naked except for the halter top.

But, you know, to me, boss, I just find it significant.

I mean, the logs that were on Gabor, I just can't see one man lifting them.

Unless he's f*cking strong.

Yeah.

No, you saw yourself, Bob, it took three coppers to lift them.

You're back on that?

You think it's two K*llers instead of one?

Yeah, I'm swaying that way.

Neil, we'll just... we'll find one k*ller first, alright?

We'll just see where that leads us.

Boss.

One thing that is pretty clear is there's been an escalation in the v*olence towards the victims.

The first two were just stabbed.

By the time he gets to these new ones and the English girls, they've been sh*t multiple times.

Anja Habschied was on her knees.

There.

k*lled by a single blow from a sword or a machete.

Still no sign of her skull.

Are we... are we sure an animal couldn't have dragged it away?

No, forensics say too heavy.

So, this guy took the head?

What are we dealing with?

I mean, how can someone not know who this guy is?

Alright, from now on, you will all work in teams of two following up the leads we received from the hotline.

It's all set up, gentlemen.

We go after this bloke.

Hard.

Don't forget this place.

You burn it into your memory.

We will solve what happened.

Sir... look, I don't know if he's in jail or if he's stopped or...

Mm.

I just think we'd better hurry.

All these kids, they were k*lled around the holidays, yeah?

Yep.

Easter, Christmas, New Year's.

Yep.

Your point?

Well, Christmas is two weeks away.

Man: (ON RADIO) Police continued their search today of the Belanglo State Forest, south-west of Sydney, for more clues to the murders of seven backpackers.

Chalinder: Oh.

Margaret.

Hmm?

This is Ivan here, isn't it?

Mm.

Oh, the girls loved Ivan.

(LAUGHS)

He was the smart one.

He was a good boy.

Reporter: (ON RADIO) Some property was found in the search area.

He's so cute.

Some of that property does relate to the missing backpackers Neugebauer and Habschied.

Newsreader: (ON RADIO) The personal items are now being examined as the post-mortems continue on the bodies of the young Germans.

Reporter: (ON RADIO) So far, police have received more than 1,600 calls from people wanting to help find the backpackers k*ller or K*llers.

Radio DJ: And on a lighter note, it's now only 10 days till Christmas.

If you're like me, you probably haven't even started shopping...

(INDISTINCT CHATTER CONTINUES ON RADIO)

Thank you, mate.

Listen, Rod, just give me another...

Is that alright, boss?

Alright.

Clive and I thought you might want to take a look at this.

What is it?

A family.

Right.

Well, it's top priority, is it?

f*ck me, Paul, you want it or not?

Yeah.

No, I'll take it.

Thanks, Neil.

Listen, mate, I've gotta start scouting round these g*n shops tomorrow.

You wanna come with me?

No, I'm gonna stick with this.

OK.

How do you know it was me who called Crime Stoppers?

Well, we had a, uh... a call from Janine.

I called the next day, left our names.

Someone had to.

So, Des, you, uh... you went sh**ting with Richard Milat in June '91.

Once.

He called it Milat Mountain.

His brother Wally had this SKS Chinese as*ault r*fle.

Come on, Des.

No, piss off.

You guys go ahead.

(LAUGHS)

Aarggh! f*ck! f*ck!

(LAUGHS)

f*ckin' maniacs! You could have k*lled me!

(FIRES g*n)

f*ck! f*ck! Alright! The look on your f*ckin' face, mate.

(LAUGHS)

It was their own private sh**ting range.

They must have fired off 2,000 rounds.

We have a record of, uh...

Of you stating in September '92 that you heard Richard say there were more bodies out there.

"They haven't found them Germans."

That's more than a year before Gabor Neugebauer and Anja Habschied were discovered.

Janine: He said other things too.

Des, tell 'em what he told you.

(SIGHS)

It was the same day that he said that other... stuff.

At work, the guys was all talking about the murders and Richard says, "You could pick up anybody on that road and never find them again."

And he was talking about the Hume Highway?

Well, I think so.

Yeah, but, look, Richard's a stoner.

Sometimes he talks crazy sh*t when he's stoned.

But that property where they took Des sh**ting, that's not far from where they found them girls in Belanglo.

(ECHOES)

G'day.

Woman: Ivan, please.

Just relax, will ya?! What's your problem?!

Problem?!

(SCREAMS)

(SCREAMING CONTINUES)

Get back in the bloody car!

(SCREAMING)

Cheeky bitch!

Shirley: (ECHOES) Ivan? Ivan?

Tea's ready.

I think I might go for a drive, Shirl.

Righto.

Gordon: What if it's got nothing to do with backpacking?

What if it's got nothing to do with coming from overseas?

Come on, what if it's just simpler?

You know, hitchhiking and Liverpool.

They could have all left from there.

Even Gabor and Anja, heading towards Darwin.

Yeah, look, they all have records, they all live in the area.

Yeah, but were they working there?

I mean...

No, no, no.

Hear me out.

No, alright?

I know what big families are like - I come from one, alright?

They're aggressive, they're super-loyal.

These guys, they're Yugoslavs.

Come on, am I crazy?

This is the first file they gave me.

What are you doing?

I'm gonna show him.

Small: Well, check his file.

See if he was in jail on the dates they went missing.

That's not hard.

Get it back to me today.

How long have you had this file?

I've had it for about a week.

So?

Have you been concentrating just on this one file?

Yeah.

I've been giving it a lot of my focus.

I don't need to tell you how often a k*ller's ID'd early, you know?

Sometimes in the first logbook.

No, you don't.

A lot of these Milats, they have records, they live in the area and they all love g*ns.

Paul, we gave you this file because we think it's a good lead too, but do you know how many people who live in this area have records and like g*ns?

Well, I'd say probably quite a few.

Quite a few.

Most of an investigation of this size is not about zeroing in on one suspect, it is about eliminating who is NOT the k*ller.

It's the boring stuff.

We've got a system in place.

You can't just start accusing the first person you investigate.

It's not that I'm accusing anybody, it's just...

I just have a gut feeling about...

Gut feeling?

Do you know what that's called?

Zeroing in on one line of inquiry?

Tunnel vision.

I cannot have this case depending on gut feelings.

Do you know what a defence counsel would do with that?

They would say, "Your Honour, they zeroed in on our client from day one. They didn't even look at anyone else."

I don't want gut feelings, I don't want hunches, I want a case that is provable in the Supreme Court.

The unfortunate result of travelling down a one-way street is often it's very difficult to turn around.

Now, you've misspelt 'significant' three times.

It's a C, not a G.

(PHONE RINGS)

The investigation's been broadened.

We're looking at Newcastle now.

Come on, I've got something.

Is this about the Milats?

I was just doing my f*cking job.

I need you to follow up on something.

I was just in the middle of getting work timesheets for the Milats.

Yeah, well, that can wait.

I've got a barmaid in Liverpool who overheard some soldiers talking about sh**ting people in the forest.

Now, this was before anyone was k*lled.

Royce, we really want to get this stuff on Richard before people...

It's the boss's orders, I'm sorry.

I need you at Holsworthy now.

The army base is back that way.

Where you going, Paul?

Task Force Air.

That's the backpackers, isn't it?

We're here to check the timesheets of the g*n owners in the area.

We need to know if Richard was working on any of those dates.

I can get that for you, but it'll take a couple of hours, mate.

His files have been boxed up.

Alright.

Well, when you do, could you fax it through to that number there and, I don't know, maybe add the names of any of Richard's known associates you might remember.

Yeah.

We weren't supposed to get a list of his friends.

We were supposed to get the timesheets, not make waves - that was the brief.

We'll be OK.

Are we going to the army base now?

Yep.

But since we're all the way out here, we might as well check Ivan's work sheets first.

Donny Boardwick used to say that if he had 10 Ivan Milats, he'd be able to retar the entire Hume Highway in a week.

(LAUGHS)

He as a good bloke too.

Ivan never fudged his hours.

Not like some of those guys.

You know, I reckon those timesheets are in the basement.

I'm gonna have to get back to you on this.

I'd really like them before you break for Christmas.

If I find them, I'll fax them through by 6:00.

OK.

Are we going to the army base now?

Yeah.

('AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN' BY THE ANGELS PLAYS)

Both: (SING)

♪ Went down to Santa Fe ♪
♪ Where Renoir paints the walls ♪
♪ Described you clearly ♪
♪ But the sky began to fall ♪
♪ Am I ever gonna see your face again? ♪

Others: No way, get f*cked, f*ck off! Oh, stop it.

♪ Am I ever gonna see your face again? ♪
♪ No way, get f*cked, f*ck off! ♪
♪ Can't stop the memory ♪
♪ That goes climbin' through my brain ♪
♪ I get no answer, so the question still... ♪
♪ You're home early. ♪

Had to stop off and get these.

Here we are.

Thought I'd find you here.

What's the matter?

According to Richard Milat's timesheets, he was at work when Everist and Gibson went missing.

And Simone Schmidl.

sh*t.

None of these dates match Richard.

Where are you having dinner tonight, Paul?

I'm alright.

Christmas Eve, mate, hey?

Why don't you come over?

Julie would love it, mate.

Neil.

You're welcome to come to our place.

I'm gonna go to my brother's.

It's fine.

Alright, good.

(FAX MACHINE WHIRRS)

Can you check if those are Ivan's timesheets for me?

Then I'm going home, Paul.

Alright.

Um...

December 30, 1989.

Ivan was on holidays.

(GENTLE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC DROWNS OUT DIALOGUE)

Paul: January 20, 1991.

Off again.

December 26, 1991.

Off.

April 18, 1992.

Off.

G'day, girls.

How are ya?

Jump in.

It's Ivan Milat.

How are we gonna prove it?
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