Vic: Police need more time on Halvagis murder

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2006
Vic: Police need more time on Halvagis murder

By Kate Lahey

MELBOURNE, Aug 1 AAP - A coroner has given police more time to continue their nine-year
investigation into the murder of Mersina Halvagis, who was stabbed to death in a Melbourne
cemetery while tending her grandmother's grave.

An inquest into the death resumed yesterday after being adjourned in December.

Coroner Graeme Johnstone adjourned the matter again today after hearing there was not
enough evidence to charge the prime suspect, convicted double-murderer Peter Dupas.

Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Coghlan QC requested the adjournment, telling
the coroner inquiries were continuing in the case.

Counsel for Dupas, David Drake, said police had told him they were investigating further
and he did not object.

Mr Coghlan said he had explained the situation to the Halvagis family but did not elaborate
on the investigation.

Earlier today, the family was determined to sit through the grim evidence of pathologist
David Ranson, who examined Mersina's body.

Mr Johnstone called for counsellors to be present and warned the family it may be upset
by the detail.

But Ms Halvagis' father George Halvagis told the coroner he and his wife could cope.

"We've been through so much for nine years, so we don't mind, we want to hear everything
and see everything," Mr Halvagis said.

Mr Johnstone said: "I'm sorry Mr Halvagis, I just want to make sure you're well supported
in this process, it's the least I can do."

Professor Ranson told the inquest he and another pathologist had compared Ms Halvagis'
stab wounds to those of Dupas' two known victims, but they were unable to determine whether
the injuries were caused by the same weapon.

Ms Halvagis' mother Christina cried as Professor Ranson answered Mr Drake's questions
on how the depth of Mersina's stab wounds differed to the "slicing" of the breasts of
psychotherapist Nicole Patterson and prostitute Margaret Maher.

Ms Patterson and Ms Maher were found with their lower bodies exposed but Ms Halvagis
was not, Mr Drake said.

Prof Ranson said environmental factors, such as a visible murder scene, could influence
how a body was left.

"It doesn't necessarily go to modus operandi," he said.

Police cannot find any DNA linking Dupas to the crime scene and have no physical evidence
such as tyre marks or shoe impressions.

Witnesses have said they saw a man resembling Dupas at Fawkner Cemetery on November
1, 1997, the day Ms Halvagis was murdered there.

Dupas is serving a double life sentence.

He is also a suspect in the murder of nursing home resident Kathleen Downes, police
told the inquest.

AAP kl/mh/grc/sp

KEYWORD: HALVAGIS NIGHTLEAD

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