Leonard Fraser
Encyclopedia
Leonard John Fraser also known as "The Rockhampton Rapist" (27 June 1951 – 1 January 2007) was an Australia
n convicted serial killer
.
and murder of a 9-year-old girl, Rockhampton, Queensland
, Leonard Fraser had spent almost 20 of the preceding 22 years behind bars for the rape of other women. He was subsequently charged with four murders. Police found many trophies of his victims in his flat and ponytail
s from three different women, which could not be traced to any of his known victims.
Fraser originally confessed to five murders in an apparent deal with police to avoid general population in prison, but one of those victims was a 14 year old, Natasha Ryan, who was found to be alive and living secretly with her boyfriend in a nearby town after having been listed as a missing person for five years. Although there was an obvious problem in his confessions to crimes where no corroborating evidence existed and there was therefore reason for a mistrial, his defense did not file for one. Nor did his defense object to the prosecution using the same confession made in custody, which included the Ryan confession, for three other victims whose remains were found. The Ryan 'murder' was also based on testimony from a fellow prisoner who alleged that Fraser drew detailed maps showing where Ms Ryan's remains could be located. Even so, the judge in the case, Justice Brian Ambrose, heavily criticized the media for commenting on the value of confessions to crimes made to police under duress or to other prisoners while in custody, where no or little corroborating evidence exists.
In 2003 Fraser was sentenced to three indefinite prison terms for the murders of Beverley Leggo and Sylvia Benedetti, and the manslaughter of Julie Turner in the Rockhampton area in 1998 and 1999. At his trial, the judge described him as a sexual predator who was a danger to the community and his fellow inmates.
and, after complaining of chest pains, he was taken to a secure section of the Princess Alexandra Hospital
in Woolloongabba
, on 26 December 2006, where he subsequently died of a heart attack
on 1 January 2007.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n convicted serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
.
Crimes
Before a life sentence on 7 September 2000 for the abduction, rapeRape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and murder of a 9-year-old girl, Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
, Leonard Fraser had spent almost 20 of the preceding 22 years behind bars for the rape of other women. He was subsequently charged with four murders. Police found many trophies of his victims in his flat and ponytail
Ponytail
A ponytail is a hairstyle in which most or all of the hair on the head is pulled away from the face, gathered and secured at the back of the head with a hair tie, clip or similar device, and allowed to hang freely from that point. It gets its name from its resemblance to the undocked tail of a...
s from three different women, which could not be traced to any of his known victims.
Fraser originally confessed to five murders in an apparent deal with police to avoid general population in prison, but one of those victims was a 14 year old, Natasha Ryan, who was found to be alive and living secretly with her boyfriend in a nearby town after having been listed as a missing person for five years. Although there was an obvious problem in his confessions to crimes where no corroborating evidence existed and there was therefore reason for a mistrial, his defense did not file for one. Nor did his defense object to the prosecution using the same confession made in custody, which included the Ryan confession, for three other victims whose remains were found. The Ryan 'murder' was also based on testimony from a fellow prisoner who alleged that Fraser drew detailed maps showing where Ms Ryan's remains could be located. Even so, the judge in the case, Justice Brian Ambrose, heavily criticized the media for commenting on the value of confessions to crimes made to police under duress or to other prisoners while in custody, where no or little corroborating evidence exists.
In 2003 Fraser was sentenced to three indefinite prison terms for the murders of Beverley Leggo and Sylvia Benedetti, and the manslaughter of Julie Turner in the Rockhampton area in 1998 and 1999. At his trial, the judge described him as a sexual predator who was a danger to the community and his fellow inmates.
Death
Fraser was being held at the Wolston Correctional CentreWolston Correctional Centre
Wolston Correctional Centre is an Australian prison facility located in Richlands, Queensland, Australia. Wolston is a 'protection' prison, and as such houses many paedophiles, sex offenders and high profile prisoners.-Notable prisoners:* Mohamed Haneef...
and, after complaining of chest pains, he was taken to a secure section of the Princess Alexandra Hospital
Princess Alexandra Hospital
The Princess Alexandra Hospital , is located on Ipswich Road in Woolloongabba, Australia. It is one of the major hospitals in Brisbane and is a teaching hospital of the University of Queensland. It is a tertiary level teaching hospital with all major medical and surgical specialities onsite except...
in Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba, Queensland
Woolloongabba is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 4 km south of the Brisbane CBD.Experts are divided regarding the Aboriginal meaning of the name, preferring either 'whirling waters' or 'fight talk place'...
, on 26 December 2006, where he subsequently died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 1 January 2007.