Julian Knight

Case identification

Julian Knight was a 19-year-old former Australian Army officer cadet who was arrested for the shootings in Melbourne, Australia, after a police chase.

STATUS and sentencing

Knight was sentenced to seven consecutive terms of life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 27 years for one of the bloodiest massacres in Australian history.

The offence

Overview of the massacre

The shootings became known as the “Hoddle Street Massacre.” The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, August 9, 1987 in Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia.

The shootings resulted in the deaths of seven people and serious injury to 19 others.

Weapons and ammunition

Knight had access to multiple legally owned and licenced weapons stored under his mother’s bed, including:

• a .177 calibre Daisy BB air rifle
• a .177 calibre Chinese air rifle
• a .177 calibre Crosman model 766 air rifle
• a .22 calibre Ruger model 10/22 semi-automatic rifle
• an 12-gauge 8-shot Mossberg pump-action shotgun
• a 7.62mm calibre M14 semi-automatic military rifle

During the attack, he fired a total of 114 rounds from three weapons and moved across multiple inner-city suburbs.

Early actions and loading

Knight consumed alcohol before leaving the Royal Hotel, and he retrieved and loaded firearms from under his mother’s bed.

He collected the Ruger rifle, the Mossberg shotgun, and the M14 rifle and then returned to load the three firearms, including placing a “suicide” 7.62mm round in the front right-hand pocket of his jeans.

He also placed a black combat knife down the back of his jeans and then ran out into Ramsden Street.

Shooting sequence (prose account)

From around 9.30pm, Knight commenced firing on passing cars using the Ruger rifle.

• A car carrying Con and Rita Vitkos was among the first: Rita Vitkos received minor wounds, and her husband drove on before stopping at a Mobil service station.
• A car containing Michael Anthony and Trevor Smeelie and a car driven by Gregory Elliott were damaged, but no occupants were wounded.
• A car driven by Alan Jury containing Monica Vitelli and Dannielle Mina had Jury and Vitelli wounded; they joined others at the Mobil service station.
• Knight fired rapid bursts and reloaded with spare 10-round Ruger magazines while moving north along the nature-strip.

Multiple other vehicles were shot at, including cars driven by:

• Sand Wang (minor wounds)
• Diane Fitzpatrick (serious back wound)
• Raewyn Crighton, Bernd Micheel, and Dianne Arnold (escaped injury)
• Michael Pearce and Jacqueline Langosch
• Issac Lohman
• Reginald Dutton and Dana Sabolcki (all fortunate to escape injury)

At around 9.35pm, Knight ran out of ammunition for the Ruger, dropped it, and commenced firing with the Mossberg shotgun.

The first shotgun-attack car included Sharyn Maunder, who did not receive a wound.

Knight shot at multiple cars and people, including:

• a car driven by Vesna Markovska (minor wounds)
• her fiance Zoran Trajceski (minor wounds)
• a car driven by Georgina “Gina” Papaioannou (she was slightly wounded)
• a car driven by Jayne Morris containing Kay Edwards and Cecily Caulis
• a police divisional van containing Constable Glen Nichols and Constable Belinda Bourchier, which the women had informed about the shootings

Nichols and Bourchier immediately drove to the scene. At 9.38pm, they reached the intersection of Hoddle Street and Ramsden Street and were shot at by Knight.

Knight continued changing position as he fired on a procession of four single-occupant cars driven by:

• Mathew Morrow
• Edward McShortall (minor wounds)
• Trevor Robinson
• Keith Wing Shing (serious jaw and throat wounds)

Knight then fired at a car driven by Kevin Skinner with Tracey Skinner and their son Adam. Tracey Skinner was killed instantly by a blast to the face, and Adam received minor glass wounds.

Knight then fired at Peter Curmi and his friend John Muscat. John Muscat was fatally wounded in the head and chest, and Curmi was seriously wounded.

At the scene, Steve Wight, attendant at the nearby swimming pool, ran to aid them and was seriously wounded by Knight’s final shotgun blast.

At 9.39pm, numerous police units rushed to the scene. Knight dropped the empty Mossberg shotgun and took up a prone firing position with his M14 rifle. As Vesna Markovska broke cover, Knight shot and seriously wounded her; then fired two further shots that killed her.

At 9.40pm, police helicopter support was requested. A police officer’s shot missed Knight by only a couple of metres.

Following this, Robert Mitchell attempted to render assistance to the fallen Markovska; Knight quickly fired a shot that hit him in the right side of the head and killed him instantly.

At 9.41pm, Knight opened fire on Jacqueline Turner and on Gina Papaioannou as she walked from her car to help Markovska and Mitchell. Turner’s car was not hit; Papaioannou was fatally wounded in the left side as she reached Markovska. Knight also fired on a car driven by John Finn (minor wounds) and on a car driven by Andrew Hack (seriously wounded in the left side). Knight then fired at a car driven by Dusan Flajnik, who was hit in the left side and bled to death in his car.

At 9.43pm, Constable Bourchier requested another ambulance and nominated the Mobil service station as a safe rendezvous point for ambulances as two more police units arrived there.

Knight fired on cars including those containing:

• Michael Smith and Jacqueline Megens (Megens seriously wounded in the shoulder)
• Steven Mihailidis (escaped unscathed)

Knight then fired at motorcycle rider Kenneth “Shane” Stanton, who was hit in the left leg and fell. Knight shot him two further times and he died.

At 9.45pm, Knight fired at a car containing Dimitrios Collyvas, Renata Coldebella, Danny Coldebella, and Danny De Luca. Knight’s first shot slightly wounded Renata; his second shot seriously wounded Danny Coldebella. As their car reversed and as a motorcycle ridden by Wayne Timms and Jayne Timbury, followed by a car containing Alexandra Stamatopoulos, Steven Stamatopoulos, Irene Fountis, Vicki Fountis, and Panagioti Fountis, drove into the ambush zone, Knight decided to withdraw from the area and begin “hunting” police officers.

By that point, Knight had expended 40 rounds of .22 calibre bullets, 25 rounds of 12-gauge Buckshot, and 32 rounds of 7.62mm calibre bullets in the preceding 15 minutes. He had also lost his “suicide” bullet and another 7.62mm bullet and lost his knife on the nature-strip. He retained only his M14 rifle and 17 rounds of ammunition.

Withdrawal and police engagement

Knight climbed onto the western platform of Clifton Hill railway station, ran north along the platform, then moved beside the railway line. At a fork in the tracks at around 9.46pm, he followed the left fork and spotted a police car at the northern end of Hoddle Street. He fired three shots at the police car containing:

• Sergeant Graham Larchin
• Senior Constable Betty Roberts They were not injured by the gunfire and abandoned the car after Knight ceased firing.

Knight moved into a nearby cluster of trees, sat down and smoked a cigarette. At 9.48pm, Police Helicopter VH-PVA with callsign “Air 495” arrived and searched for Knight with a Nitesun searchlight.

After ordering the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) to attend, Knight continued moving northwest toward Northcote and crossed Merri Creek. Just before 10pm, he fired a shot at police officer Constable Colin Chambers, who was slightly wounded in the right side. Knight moved back across Merri Creek into Fitzroy North and was chased by Air 495. At 10.05pm, Knight fired three shots at the helicopter as it circled, hitting it.

The helicopter (an Aerospatiale Dauphin) contained:

• Senior Constable Trevor Wilson
• Senior Constable Daryl Jones
• Constable Keith Stewart
• Ambulance Officer Alan Scott

The first shot pierced the helicopter’s right main fuel tank and forced it to land on a nearby sports field.

Knight then headed down McKean Street toward his ex-girlfriend’s house. At 10.13pm, he was spotted by Constable John Delahunty and Constable Ralph Lockman, who gave chase in a police car callsign “Fitzroy 213.”

In a laneway, Knight fired his last ten rounds at the police car as it stopped in the middle of the road facing the laneway. Delahunty received minor shrapnel wounds to the face and left hand. Delahunty and Lockman took positions behind the police car and called upon Knight to surrender. Knight searched for his “suicide” bullet, found it missing, and dropped the empty M14 on the ground when he leaned into the headlight beams.

He slowly stood up with his hands in the air. Delahunty stepped out and fired a shot; Knight was not hit, ducked back behind a low brick wall, and then was arrested after walking out onto the street.

Transfer and investigation steps

Knight was driven in an unmarked police car to the St Kilda Road Police Complex by Detective Senior Constable Richard McIntosh, Detective Senior Constable Kim Cox, and Constable Robert Kovacs.

At the complex, he was interrogated by McIntosh and Cox, then briefly by the head of the Homicide Squad, Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cole, and then extensively by Homicide Squad detectives Detective Senior Sergeant Brian McCarthy and Detective Senior Constable Graham Kent. Knight took part in both a night-time crime re-enactment and a daytime crime re-enactment, both videoed.

Knight was eventually charged with the murder of John Muscat at 12.20pm on Monday, 10 August 1987.

Investigation and arrest

Police helicopters and elite units

Police used Police Helicopter VH-PVA with callsign “Air 495” during the search for Knight and requested elite Special Operations Group (SOG) assistance.

Key identification of the arrest officers

Constable John Delahunty and Constable Ralph Lockman arrested Knight after calls to surrender and confrontation in a laneway in Fitzroy North.

Trial

Plea and remand

Knight entered no plea to one charge of murder. He was remanded to appear again in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court.

Court and dates stated in the case narrative

Knight was due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court next Monday, and later was sentenced with a non-parole period of 27 years.

Outcome and legal status

Knight was sentenced to seven consecutive terms of life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 27 years.

He remained a life prisoner and later became involved in legal challenges while imprisoned.

Other legal proceedings while imprisoned

Administrative review seeking Austudy assistance

On September 7, 1992, Knight appeared before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal seeking a review of a decision where he was refused Austudy assistance while imprisoned.

VCAT human rights complaint

On July 4, 2002, Knight appeared before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAT) with a complaint regarding an abuse of human rights where prison officers removed items “of a political nature” from his cell.

The items removed included:

• a collection of business cards, pamphlets and sheets of paper
• one sheet of paper with a large picture of Adolf Hitler in uniform
• a second sheet with a picture of Hitler with Nazi insignia and skull and cross-bones
• cards with racist slogans: “Stop the Asian invasion”, “We just hate all queers”, “White power” and “Dial-a-racist” with contact details

Along with the posters and paperwork, contraband items were also located in Knight’s cell, including:

• blades, sharpened knives
• articles associated with the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazi Party
• magazines, book and articles on weapons and war
• medication bottles
• a leather belt, two television remote controls, an extension lead, a can opener, bale hooks
• permanent markers, computer disks containing information relating to prison security and staff
• pornographic material, sandpaper, masking tape
• prison manuals, staff pictures
• T.A.B. betting information
• prison and staff rosters

Knight’s application was dismissed.

Supreme Court injunctions for legal mail and classification

On August 21, 2002, Knight appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking an injunction ordering that prison management and staff cease inspecting and withholding legal mail sent to or by the plaintiff. The application was dismissed.

On October 7, 2003, Knight appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking injunctions in regards to opening of private legal mail and Knight’s security classification and imprisonment in Barwon Prison’s high security Acacia wing. Supreme Court Judge Justice Philip Cummins said:

"I consider that ordinary tax-payers should not be fixed with the burden of these proceedings. Accordingly, in each instance I order that the costs of the proceedings of the respective defendants be paid by the plaintiff."

The application was dismissed.

VCAT freedom of information request for staff rosters

On September 9, 2002, Knight appeared before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal seeking “Full access to the daily staff rosters for HM Prison Barwon since the 1st May 2001” under the Freedom of Information Act. The application was affirmed.

Extension of time and costs

On November 11, 2003, Knight appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking an extension of time against a decision of VCAT. The application was dismissed with costs awarded against the applicant.

Costs estimate and vexatious litigant bar

In February 2003, it was estimated the legal challenges by Knight had cost the Victorian Government over AUD$250,000 and approximately $128,000 had been spent since October 2001 on external legal advice to deal with Knight’s legal appeals and Freedom Of Information requests.

On October 19, 2004, Knight was barred from launching any further legal action in Victoria’s courts for 10 years, with a judge declaring him a vexatious litigant. He remained able to make requests under the Freedom Of Information Act.

Timeline

• Sunday, August 9, 1987 — Knight commenced firing on passing cars in Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill
• Monday, 10 August 1987 — Knight was charged with the murder of John Muscat at 12.20pm
• September 7, 1992 — Knight appeared before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal seeking a review of a decision refusing Austudy assistance while imprisoned
• July 4, 2002 — Knight appeared before VCAT with a complaint about an abuse of human rights involving removal of “political” items from his cell; application dismissed
• August 21, 2002 — Knight appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking an injunction about inspecting and withholding legal mail; application dismissed
• September 9, 2002 — Knight appeared before VCAT seeking “Full access to the daily staff rosters for HM Prison Barwon since the 1st May 2001” under the Freedom of Information Act; application affirmed
• October 7, 2003 — Knight appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking injunctions about opening private legal mail and security classification; application dismissed (costs ordered against plaintiff)
• November 11, 2003 — Knight appeared before the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking an extension of time against a VCAT decision; application dismissed with costs awarded against the applicant
• February 2003 — It was estimated Knight’s legal challenges had cost the Victorian Government over AUD$250,000 and additional external legal advice costs had been incurred since October 2001
• October 19, 2004 — Knight was barred from launching further legal action in Victoria’s courts for 10 years as a vexatious litigant

Background and personal information

Age, classification, and legal framework statements in the narrative

Knight was classed as a young adult offender under Victorian law. A factor mentioned was that Victoria did not have life without parole, and he was given the 27-year minimum.

Early life and adoption

Knight was adopted as a baby and later known that he was adopted.

He was born in March 1968.

He was adopted by an army family when he was ten days old. His adoptive father was in the education corps and taught English and maths.

The family moved frequently within Australia, including Laverton, Melbourne, and Puckapunyal, and also abroad in Hong Kong and Singapore.

His adoptive parents separated in 1980, when Knight was 12.

Education and military involvement

Knight attended Melbourne High School and was described as an enthusiastic cadet with a good disciplinary record but little capacity for leadership.

He transferred to Melbourne High School in 1984 primarily because it had the best cadet force in the city.

He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon on 13 January 1987 at age 18.

Before that, he went to La Trobe University in 1986 to study French, German history and politics for a period described as six weeks.

He later joined the Army Reserve in 1985.

He trained on a two-week assault trooper’s course at Puckapunyal and was trained in the use of eleven different weapons.

Debts and work status statements included in the case narrative

Knight was re-employed as a storeman/driver for a Melbourne clothing firm described as Cuggi Rarity Stores Pty Ltd and had difficulty meeting weekly repayments on a $6,000 Defence Force Credit Union car loan, with repayment arrears described.

His debts included other debts around $1,200.

His only asset was a Holden Torana SLR5000 V8 sedan he had purchased with the car loan in April 1987. He decided to sell it two weeks before the massacre but no buyer had eventuated.

He attempted to re-enlist in Army Reserve units, including the 7th Transport Squadron and the unit he had served in during 1985-87, the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment, but was rejected due to pending criminal charges.

Prior stabbing and pending charges before the massacre

Knight had stabbed his Company Sergeant Major in a Canberra nightclub described as the “Private Bin” at about 2.55am on Sunday, 31 May 1987.

Immediately following the stabbing, Knight surrendered to two Australian Federal Police officers in a nearby laneway and was charged with malicious wounding, assault, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Knight was on bail described as a $5,000 self-surety and due to appear in the Australian Capital Territory Magistrates Court on 10 November 1987.

Knight was suggested to resign from Duntroon.

The case narrative also included statements about this prior incident’s explanation by an Army commandant, and general circumstances involving alcohol.

Adopted relationships and alcohol intake variations

The narrative stated his former Melbourne girlfriend wanted to have nothing to do with him, and his Canberra girlfriend remained behind in Canberra.

There was also a statement that Knight’s alcohol intake was disputed between police and bar staff, and Knight himself insisted on at least thirteen.

Victims and harm

Number of victims

The shootings resulted in seven deaths and serious injury to 19 other people.

Identified victims mentioned during the attack sequence

The narrative identified the following individuals as victims (wounded or killed) in the described sequence:

• Rita Vitkos (minor wounds)
• Monica Vitelli (wounded)
• Dannielle Mina (present in car; injuries not specified in detail)
• Con Vitkos (not specifically stated as wounded)
• Michael Anthony
• Trevor Smeelie
• Gregory Elliott
• Alan Jury (wounded)
• Raewyn Crighton
• Bernd Micheel
• Dianne Arnold
• Sand Wang (minor wounds)
• Michael Pearce
• Jacqueline Langosch
• Issac Lohman
• Reginald Dutton
• Dana Sabolcki
• Sharyn Maunder (no wound)
• Vesna Markovska (seriously wounded then killed)
• Zoran Trajceski (minor wounds)
• Georgina “Gina” Papaioannou (fatally wounded; died later)
• Jayne Morris
• Kay Edwards
• Cecily Caulis
• Mathew Morrow
• Trevor Robinson
• Tracey Skinner (killed instantly)
• Adam Skinner (minor glass wounds)
• Peter Curmi (seriously wounded)
• John Muscat (fatally wounded)
• Steve Wight (seriously wounded by Knight’s final shotgun blast)
• Robert Mitchell (killed instantly)
• Jacqueline Turner (car not hit)
• John Finn (minor wounds)
• Andrew Hack (seriously wounded)
• Dusan Flajnik (bled to death)
• Michael Smith (minor wounds)
• Jacqueline Megens (seriously wounded)
• Kenneth “Shane” Stanton (died after being shot)
• Dimitrios Collyvas
• Renata Coldebella (slightly wounded)
• Danny Coldebella (seriously wounded)
• Danny De Luca
• Wayne Timms
• Jayne Timbury
• Alexandra Stamatopoulos
• Steven Stamatopoulos
• Irene Fountis
• Vicki Fountis
• Panagioti Fountis
• Constable Glen Nichols
• Constable Belinda Bourchier
• Sergeant Graham Larchin
• Constable Colin Chambers (slightly wounded)
• Constable John Delahunty (minor shrapnel wounds to face and left hand during arrest sequence)
• Senior Constable Daryl Jones
• Constable Keith Stewart
• Ambulance Officer Alan Scott
• Constable Robert Kovacs
• Det. Senior Constable Richard McIntosh
• Det. Senior Constable Kim Cox
• Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cole
• Det. Senior Sergeant Brian McCarthy
• Det. Senior Constable Graham Kent

(Where harm details were not specified for a named person within the narrative, the fact of that person being present during the described sequence is still preserved.)

Other details

Verbatim quotations

Knight told police:

"They trained me to kill, and I killed."

Knight stated:

"I performed exactly as my Army superiors would have expected me to perform in a combat situation... In other circumstances I would have gotten a medal for what I did."

In relation to leaving the Royal Hotel and deciding to shoot, a quoted exchange was included:

Detective: So, what you are saying is, about half an hour before you left the hotel Knight: I decided that I'd go home and get my weapons and start shooting.

Knight described the state he experienced:

"It was like one big dream ... It's kind of like you could have been in Beirut and you wouldn't have known the difference."

Knight described firing:

"It was just sights, target, BANG, BANG, BANG."

Knight described the helicopter engagement:

"When I shot at the helicopter, I was expecting return fire, because I thought there'd be an SOG [Special Operations Group] marksman in there. I was disappointed when nothing came except it just flew off."

He also stated about being trained:

"I was in an intense state of paranoia."

At the arrest sequence, Knight yelled back:

"Don't shoot! I'm coming out!"

Knight later said:

"It takes less than ten minutes to walk from the pub to Ramsden Street."

Prison address and eligibility statements in narrative

The narrative stated Knight was accommodated in the maximum security Barwon Prison near Geelong, and it stated he was eligible for parole in 2014.