Serial Killer Peter Dupas will not seek a third appeal over his 2007 conviction over the murder of Mersina Halvagis, while disgraced lawyer Andrew Fraser hopes to get a sum of the $1 million reward money.
Dupas failed in his second attempt late last year, and his lawers say he won’t try again.
Andrew Fraser is the major contender for a large slice of the $1m police bounty offered for information leading to the conviction Halvagis’ murderer.
Fraser gave evidence that Dupas confessed to killing Mersina Halvagis while they were cellmates in Port Phillip Prison. He testified that Dupas re-enacted the stabbing murder in the cell block they shared.
His battle against spine cancer has added urgency to his bid to claim a proportion of the reward, and believes police resentment towards him has stalled the process.
If Dupas had been successful in seeking another appeal, his case would ahve gone to the High Court.
Ms Halvagis’s father, George, said it was a relief he and his family wouldn’t have to suffer through any further appeals.
“It is a relief that he’s not going anywhere, and that he’s not going to be bothering my family anymore,” Mr Halvagis said.
“We’re just glad he’s not going to spend anymore taxpayers’ money and we can put that to one side and go on with our daughter’s memories, that’s all.”
Mersina, who was 25 at the time, was brutally stabbed to death as she tended to her grandmother’s grave.
Dupas is serving three life sentences without parole for the stabbing murders of Nicole Patterson, Margaret Maher and Ms Halvagis.
He unsuccessfully appealed against the Patterson and Maher convictions.
Source: Herald Sun, Seven News