Mark Errin Rust

Identification

Mark Errin Rust

Background

Mark Errin Rust was described as having started following pretty girls at age 13 while fantasising about having sex with them. He later found gratification in exposing himself and said he was thrilled by the horrified reactions of victims. His sexual urges increased in intensity and frequency, and his hatred for women was linked to failed relationships and his poor health.

Rust’s behaviour was discussed in psychiatric reports. Dr Narain Nambiar said Rust “exhibited very abnormal behaviour from a very early age”. Dr Nambiar said: “During his early teens, he first exposed himself to a woman and found this so much more gratifying than masturbation in private,” and that Rust told him: “He told me that it was more thrilling to masturbate in front of a pretty woman, mainly due to the reaction it would provoke for his victim.”

Dr Ken O’Brien said that in 1992 Rust was diagnosed with Kleinfelter’s Syndrome, with an additional X chromosome, shrunken testicles and fertility problems.

Rust’s sexual behaviour and relationships were described as dysfunctional. One of his two marriages involved “fighting fits” before having sex. Dr Nambiar said: “This often made him angry and frustrated ... although he had the urge to have sex, he often found it difficult to (perform).” It was stated that Rust was charged multiple times with indecency offences but was only fined and never convicted.

Other details

Rust was described as a repeat offender. He was classified as unable to control his sexual urges.

The case discussion included a statement about a criminal history that included “11 incidents of indecent behaviour and gross indecency”. It was also stated that he had a criminal history with prior sex offences dating back to 1983.

The offence

Murders

Rust pleaded guilty to the murders of Megumi Suzuki (2001) and Maya Jakic (1999). The murders were described as brutal, and Rust was jailed for life without parole for the murders.

Rust murdered Maya Jakic at Payneham on April 12, 1999. It was stated that Rust later told Dr O’Brien that Ms Jakic had refused his offers of a lift and “some fun”. Dr O’Brien said: “He grabbed her mouth with his hand and choked her... I asked him why he did this, to which he replied 'at the time it was a thrill'.” Dr O’Brien said Rust told him he wanted to have sex but decided to kill her at the last moment, and Dr O’Brien was quoted: “He told me (he wantedl to have sex with her, but he decided to kill her at the last moment.”

Ms Jakic’s body was found six days later after Rust made an anonymous call to 000.

Rust murdered Megumi Suzuki at Westbourne Park on August 3, 2001. It was stated that he wrapped her body in plastic and dumped it in a rubbish bin. Ms Suzuki was eventually found in December 2001 under 10,000 tonnes of rubbish at Wingfield.

Dr O’Brien quoted Rust about the killing: “Rust told me that (murder) was 'different'.” Dr O’Brien said that when asked why he killed her, Rust replied: “because I did”.

Abduction and sexual offences around the murders

Rust pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman and committing an act of gross indecency on the same night that Megumi was abducted and killed. The case discussion also stated that on August 2, 2001, one day before Megumi Suzuki’s murder, Rust pleaded guilty to one count of assault and to committing an act of gross indecency.

Rust pleaded guilty to raping a woman at Rose Park in August 2001.

On August 16, 2001, Rust cut the power to a Kensington Rd office building, broke in and raped the lone female occupant. It was stated that although armed with a knife, Rust did not harm her further, ran away, and the woman saw part of his car’s registration number, leading to his arrest.

Rust was found to have Ms Suzuki’s CD player in his cell after he was arrested.

It was stated that Rust later confessed his crimes to a fellow prison inmate, and that an anonymous call to 000 occurred in relation to the finding of Ms Jakic’s body.

Other related behaviour and offences

It was stated that in late 1999 Rust was jailed for trespassing, and he was released on parole on July 23, 2001.

On ten days after release on parole, it was stated that Rust returned to his old ways by grabbing a woman at a Cumberland Park ATM and masturbating in front of her until she fled.

Rust’s offending was described as escalating. Dr Nambiar said: “It would appear that the more confidence Rust had developed with regard to his ability to fulfil his sexual urges, the more serious his offending has become,” and Dr Nambiar said: “What is also very significant is that there appears to have been an escalation in the nature of offending... culminating in murder and rape.”

In June 1993, it was stated that Rust went to jail for lighting a $642,000 fire at Kensington.

Investigation

A portion of the case record described a search for Ms Suzuki while Rust struck again on August 16, 2001. The woman who was raped in the office building saw part of Rust’s car’s registration number, which led to his arrest.

Rust made an anonymous call to 000, after which Ms Jakic’s body was found six days later.

Rust was later found to have Ms Suzuki’s CD player in his cell.

Arrest

Rust was arrested after the rape of the lone female occupant on August 16, 2001, where she saw part of his car’s registration number.

Trial

Rust pleaded guilty in May 2003 in the Adelaide Supreme Court to the murders of Megumi Suzuki and Maya Jakic.

Sentencing

In April 2004, Supreme Court Justice Margaret Nyland sentenced Rust to life in jail without parole for the brutal murders of Maya Jakic and Megumi Suzuki. The sentence ended three decades of deviance, violence and uncontrollable sexual urges, as revealed by two psychiatric reports tendered to the court.

It was stated that Justice Nyland imposed a concurrent 12-year term for crimes committed in and around those murders and again denied him parole. The case discussion stated that Rust sat quietly during the hearing, listening intently to and staring at Eda Gregov, who read Ms Jelic’s statement, and Fusae Simpson, who read Mrs Suzuki’s statement.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions wanted Rust declared incapable of controlling his sexual urges. It was stated that if declared, Rust would be held after his sentence until psychiatrists deemed him “fit” to re-enter society.

During the sentencing hearing, Fusae Simpson was quoted: “The Suzukis are good people and they have no unkind words to say about you, but I am sure they are badly hurt inside and will never forgive you,” and “You have given so much pain to such an innocent and wonderful family.”

Eda Gregov was quoted: “I can only say to you that you have not only killed and taken the life of Maya, you have also completely destroyed the life of her family,” and stated that Ms Jelic’s life-long friend was a shell of her former self.

Dr O’Brien expressed an assessment of dangerousness, including a quoted view: “In view of the murders that he has committed, and taking into account the acknowledged aggressive rape fantasies, it is my opinion that Rust is an extremely dangerous individual with... a high probability that he would re-offend in a similar manner should he be released from custody at this time.”

Dr O’Brien also quoted Rust’s concession, saying: “Rust conceded that if he had not been apprehended, his problems would have continued and even maybe more killings (would have occurred).”

The case discussion stated Rust was 39-year-old at the time of sentencing.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Rust was sentenced to life in prison without parole in April 2004.

Rust pleaded guilty to the murders of Megumi Suzuki and Maya Jakic and pleaded guilty to additional offences including rape, assault, and gross indecency.

Aftermath

In a statement read to the Supreme Court, Megumi Suzuki’s mother, Masako Suzuki, was quoted: “I still don't know now to accept my daughter's death. It makes me insane when I think of her being treated like rubbish and dumped with rubbish for months,” and “She was my dream and my hopes, now my heart fills with anger and bitterness. Megumi wanted to be a counsellor to international students .. - why should someone who only wanted to help, be killed?”

Jagoda Jelic was quoted about her daughter Maya Jakic: “Why would anyone want to kill Maya and cover her with branches, thinking no one would find her and he could cover his dirty crime?” and “My whole world and future was in Maya ... my life now is going to the cemetery every day, no matter if it is rain, sun or snow.”

It was stated that Mrs Suzuki was buried in Japan and that a memorial plaque for Megumi Suzuki was in Centennial Park Cemetery.

It was also stated that Ms Jelic buried Maya near her home in Croatia.

A friend of Ms Jelic’s was quoted in relation to the sentencing: “We all know what he has done, what he is capable of doing again, so why give him a chance.”