Tony Rawlins

Case record: Tony Rawlins

Background

Tony Rawlins was a former stockman. He was an alcoholic and said he believed “one drink would be fatal”. He never missed an AA meeting during all his time in prison.

Rawlins met Fiona Pronger on the beach of the Kissing Point Military Reserve in December 1955. He bought her lunch, then strangled her with a belt after she rejected a sexual advance. A medical expert said at the time Rawlins was “unconcerned with his deeds”.

At the time of the murder, Rawlins was married with a small son, but his wife packed up and left after he was arrested and never made contact again. Rawlins’ niece and sister both lobbied the Queensland Government at different times, pleading for his release.

Rawlins’ sister, Caterina Niezgoda, lived in Valla Beach near Coffs Harbour. She said she was saddened by the “waste” and described it as “a waste of a life. He went in a young man and never returned to the world,” adding: “He used to talk about what he would do when he got out, how he would buy a garage and live there and paint - he was a wonderful artist - but he had absolutely no idea about the cost of things. “He was frozen in time. I had a one-month-old daughter when he went to jail - she's now a grandmother herself and never knew him outside of prison.”

Most of Rawlins’ family cut him off when they found out what he had done. His nephew Jan Niezgoda, of Terrigal on the NSW central coast, refused contact with his uncle after discovering he had murdered a child, saying: “I used to visit him as a kid until I found out what he'd done. Would you keep in contact with someone like that?”

Rawlins had numerous applications for parole over the years, and they were always rejected. Although he was released on leaves of absence a number of times for events such as Anzac Day marches, his parole applications were always rejected.

The offence

Rawlins was sentenced to life in prison for the “Kissing Point” mutilation murder of a 12-year-old Townsville girl, Fiona Pronger.

The body of Fiona Pronger was found in an underground vault at Kissing Point. The girl was a 12-year-old schoolgirl identified as Urica Fiona Denise Verdova, usually known as Fiona Pronger.

A detective described the body and injuries:

• The girl’s body was in a vault lying face downwards.
• The body was partially disrobed.
• The girl’s hands were tied with a length of twine.
• A belt was pulled tightly around the neck and tied in a bow at the back of the head.
• There was a small punctured wound on the upper part of the right leg.

Investigation

Two hundred people booed and jeered Rawlins, calling out, “you ought to burn, you dirty animal”, on the day of his first court appearance. Archives from the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the crowd was the biggest in Townsville court history.

Arrest

On the morning after the girl’s body was found, Sub-Inspector N. W. Bauer saw Rawlins at the Flinders street bus stop. At the police station Rawlins said his name was Ivan Bradfield. Rawlins admitted having been at the gun emplacement.

Later, Bauer said Rawlins stated that he had lunch with the girl and had left her on the beach. When Rawlins was told that a witness had seen a man and a girl climb the hill at Kissing Point, Rawlins answered that he had gone as far as Kissing Point and left her.

When Bauer asked Rawlins his correct name, Rawlins answered: “Edward Anthony Rawlins. I only gave you that bodgie name because there is a maintenance order out against me in Sydney.”

Trial

Rawlins was charged with having unlawfully murdered Urica Fiona Denise Verdova, usually known as Fiona Pronger, on December 28.

Rawlins covered his face with one hand when escorted from the watchhouse to the dock.

Sub-Inspector N. W. Bauer prosecuted Rawlins at the hearing of evidence on a murder charge in the Court of Petty Sessions today, and Rawlins was undefended.

Detective Ernest James Devries testified and described Rawlins’ alleged confession:

• Devries said he went to an underground magazine attached to a gun emplacement at Kissing Point and saw the girl’s body in a vault.
• Devries said that later he saw Rawlins with Sub-Inspector N. W. Bauer at the C.I.B. rooms.
• Bauer had said that Rawlins admitted being on Kissing Point Hill with Fiona Pronger on the Wednesday afternoon.

Devries said that after Bauer left the room, Rawlins stated: “They have gone to get a priest for me, but I might as well tell you now that I killed her.”

Devries said that Rawlins stated that he met the girl at the Tobruk Baths on the Wednesday morning. Rawlins said they had lunch and the girl suggested they explore the caves at Kissing Point.

Devries alleged that Rawlins had begun to molest the girl at the gun emplacements. Devries alleged that Rawlins told him that the girl asked him for money and he had refused. Devries went on that Rawlins had told him the girl then said she would tell her parents and scream.

Devries continued that Rawlins told him that he had taken the belt from the girl’s dress and put it around her neck and she became unconscious.

Devries said that Rawlins did not remember tying the girl’s hands behind her back, and Rawlins said he had a blackout.

Devries testified that Rawlins admitted making a confession to Bauer. Devries testified that Rawlins told Bauer that he met the girl when diving for stones.

At the morgue Rawlins identified the girl’s body, stating: “Yes, that's the girl I strangled in the underground magazine at Kissing Point.” Devries added: “That's right”

Devries testified that on December 30 he charged Rawlins, who replied: “Yes. That's right.”

Sentencing

Rawlins was 28 years old when he was sentenced to life in 1956 for the “Kissing Point” mutilation murder of 12-year-old Townsville girl Fiona Pronger.

The case status states that he was sentenced to life in prison on February 15, 1956.

Appeals

Rawlins’ numerous applications for parole over the years were always rejected. He was released on leaves of absence a number of times for events such as Anzac Day marches.

Rawlins told a justice campaign group in 1993 that he never stopped thinking about what he had done and that he dreamed of the day he would be free.

Outcome

Rawlins was pronounced dead on April 17, 2010. He was found unconscious in his cell at Wolston Correctional Centre, in Brisbane's south. The death occurred at about 7.10am yesterday morning.

A Queensland Corrective spokesman said the death had been referred to the coroner as a matter of course.

Other details

Tony Rawlins was 27 at the time he allegedly told a detective: “I might as well tell you now that I killed her,” which was made 24 hours after the body of a 12-year-old schoolgirl was found in an underground vault at Kissing Point.

The detective quoted above was Edward Arthur Anthony Rawlins, 27, and the detective was Ernest James Devries. Devries was one of eight witnesses who testified at the hearing of evidence on a murder charge in the Court of Petty Sessions.

Sub-Inspector N. W. Bauer prosecuted. Sub-Inspector N. W. Bauer also amended the girl’s name to Urica Fiona Denise Verdova.

Rawlins had been found unconscious in his cell at Wolston Correctional Centre, in Brisbane’s south.

Rawlins aged 82 at death.