Vic: Families of slain policemen endure harrowing evidence

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Vic: Families of slain policemen endure harrowing evidence

By Louise Robson

MELBOURNE, Aug 14 AAP - The families of two slain policemen had to choose today whetherto look at the graphic picture of a body lying slumped in the grass with a pool of bloodspilling from its head.

Seated with their backs to the wall of the courtroom where two men are on trial forthe murders, they were forced to decide whether to crane their necks to look at the slidesprojected onto the surface above them.

But they could not escape hearing the graphic description of how the dead man pictured,35-year-old Sergeant Gary Silk and his colleague, 34-year-old Senior Constable Rod Millerdied, shot during a surveillance operation in Melbourne's south in August 1998.

They heard how Sergeant Silk died first, shot in the head, chest and hip from abouttwo metres distance and how Sen Const Miller was found nearby on the brink of death.

"He was continually repeating, I don't want to die, I don't want to die," prosecutorJeremy Rapke QC told the court.

"Thus began one of the most exhaustive and intense criminal investigations in thisstate's recent history," he said.

Bandali Debs, 49 and Jason Roberts, 21, have both pleaded not guilty to the murders.

Both sat impassively in the dock as Mr Rapke outlined the prosecution's case against them.

Debs, dressed in a grey suit, tie and shirt, was separated from his co-accused by auniformed guard.

Roberts was dressed in a black double-breasted suit with a faint pin-stripe.

Mr Rapke's opening is expected to take two days, before the defence take their turn on Friday.

More than 200 witnesses are expected to appear before the end of the trial which isexpected to take up to five months.

As the trial opened today, Justice Philip Cummins apologised for the size of the courtroomto the six men and nine women of the jury, who will probably spend the rest of this yearhearing evidence.

"This is an old and historic courtroom, built in 1884 and it has a number of beautiesand strengths but unfortunately one of its strengths is not seating," he warned.

As the evidence unfolds in this cramped courtroom, it is the families of Gary Silkand Rod Miller who will endure the longest five months of their lives.

AAP clr/gfr/mo

KEYWORD: DEBS SCENE