Qld: Fraser told police Natasha was still alive
By Suzanne Klotz
BRISBANE, April 14 AAP - Accused multiple murderer Leonard Fraser told police duringinterviews before he was charged that Natasha Ryan was alive, a court was told today.
Fraser, 51, has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Beverly Doreen Leggo, 36, JulieDawn Turner, 39, and Sylvia Maria Benedetti, 19, in the Rockhampton area between December1998 and April 1999.
Fraser gave extensive taped interviews in jail before he was charged in August 2001,during which he blamed someone else for the murders, but maintained Natasha was alive.
"I still think she's alive somewhere and I'm being honest," he said of Natasha Ryanin an interview taped in March 2001.
Later Fraser talks about how people can just make themselves disappear, and how "upin Rocky, and you can go and stash yourself".
Fraser was on trial for 18-year-old Ms Ryan's murder until it was revealed on day nineof the trial last Thursday she had been found alive at her boyfriend's Rockhampton home.
The Brisbane Supreme Court jury was also shown a map Fraser drew which related to agirl missing from the cinema (which is a description of Natasha Ryan) and a girl who wentmissing riding a bicycle.
Detective Sergeant David Hickey from the Homicide Squad, who interviewed Fraser, toldthe court there had been a girl riding a push bike, who disappeared in early 1989, andher name was Michelle Coral Lewis.
Fraser also drew three other maps which correctly identified where the remains of Leggo,Turner and Benedetti were discovered.
During the interview, Fraser blamed the murders on someone called Squeaky.
Det Sgt Hickey said later taped conversations of Fraser with another inmate showedthis was a deliberate ploy on his part to try and frame someone else for the murders.
He said in February 2001, in a taped conversation with an inmate, Fraser gave a descriptionof where he killed and buried Natasha Ryan.
Det Hickey said the description of the property and things such as trees and trenchdiggers were correct, although no remains were found.
The trial is continuing before Justice Brian Ambrose.
AAP smk/sc/ph/de
KEYWORD: RYAN FRASER NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)
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