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Thread: The Truro Murders, South Australia, 1976 - 1977

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    Senior Member blighted star's Avatar
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    The Truro Murders, South Australia, 1976 - 1977


    7 girls, aged 15 - 20, all found dead at Truro. There would've been more, but the prosecution claimed James Miller couldn't lure them without his young prison lover. His boyfriend, Christopher Worrell & a young female "companion" were killed in a car accident in 1977. James Miller maintained his innocence til the day he died. In his version, Christopher Worrell was the dominant one in their partnership & the killer. James was just a submissive bystander.


    James Miller

    Christopher Worrell


    Deborah Skuse was killed in the accident with Worrell.

    Christopher Robin Worrell and James William Miller: The Truro Murderers

    by Paul B. Kidd

    The Truro Serial Murders

    James William Miller is Australia?s least likely sexual assailant and serial killer of young women. James Miller is a homosexual. Yet, by his own admission, in December 1976 and January 1977 he helped the man he loved, Christopher Robin Worrell, dispose of the bodies of seven young women who Worrell had sexually assaulted and then murdered while Miller was waiting nearby.

    James Miller led police to the buried remains of some of the victims and for his part in the crimes is serving six life sentences for murder in South Australia?s Yatala Prison. But while Miller admits that he drove the vehicle that Worrell used to pick the young women up in and then left Worrell to commit murder in private before returning to the vehicle and driving Worrell and the deceased women to the outskirts of South Australia?s capital, Adelaide, and helping to bury their bodies, Miller steadfastly denies helping Worrell abduct the victims or that he assisted in the sexual assaults and murders that followed.

    The only person who could prove James Miller?s innocence is the alleged murderer, 23-year-old Christopher Robin Worrell. But Chris Worrell is dead. James Miller has never had sex with a woman. He is a convicted thief, but he has no record of violence. Atthe time ofthe murders he was 38 years old.

    ?I was there at the time and for that I am guilty of an unforgivable felony,? Miller has said from his Adelaide prison cell. ?I fully deserve the life sentences I am currently serving. I am serving out a life sentence for Chris. But I never killed any of those girls. That?s the truth.?

    Miller has been protesting his innocence of murder for years, on occasion backing up his pleas with rooftop gaol protest strikes,including one that lasted for 43 days. But he has been ignored by authorities and his conviction stands.

    South Australian Chief Justice, Len King, agreed that Miller should be granted another hearing on the grounds that the judge at his trial, Mr Justice Matheson, had instructed the jury to find Miller guilty of murder even though he had pleaded not guilty.

    The Attorney-General, Chris Sumner, refused to grant a retrial. Miller maintained: ?They can give me life for knowing about the murders and not reporting them. But they charged me with murder as a pay back for not informing on Worrell. It?s a load of bullshit. At least one of the jurists at my trials knows the truth. In 1987 he (the juror) paid a couple of hundred dollars out of his own pocket to help hire a lawyer to petition the Attorney-General for a retrial. If a jurist does this, he must have a fair idea of what really happened.?

    Protesting his innocence, Miller said: ?Nobody turns into a cold-blooded murderer overnight or helps commit murder. I?m just an ordinary thief, no killer. I have never been a violent man.?

    The Horrifying Discoveries

    The Truro Serial Murders are among the most infamous of Australian serial killings. Seven young women disappeared in Adelaide in the 51 days between December 23, 1976 and February12, 1977.

    The skeletal remains of four of the victims were discovered in bush graves over a 12 month period in 1978-79 in the Truro district, 80 kilometres north-east of Adelaide. What was left of Veronica Knight was found by a mushroomer, William Thomas,on April 25, 1978,in a remote paddock off Swamp Road.

    Mr Thomas said he had seen a leg bone with a shoe attached which he had thought to be the leg of a cow. He had thought about the find for five days and had returned on Anzac Day with his wife to check. He had turned over the bone and seen skin in good condition and toenails painted with nail polish.

    After he had found a skull, other bones, a bloodstain on the ground and items of clothing, he had contacted police. Swamp Road is so named because it divides a huge flood plain into two tree-dotted flat paddocks. The area?s only permanent inhabitants are mosquitos and frogs and the only sign that humans have ever been near the area is the barbed-wire fence running along the roadside. It is a perfect place to hide a body. You would only come across it by accident.

    When the mushroomer reported the find, police searched the area thoroughly and found personal effects that would help them identify the victim. There was no reason for them to suspect that there were more bodies in the soggy paddock.

    Almost a year later on 15 April 1979, four young bushwalkers discovered a skeleton in the same paddock about a kilometre up Swamp Road from the spot where Veronica Knight was found. From jewellery and clothing found at the scene, police identified the skeleton as that of Sylvia Pittman, who had gone missing around Christmas in 1976. This was the same time that Veronica Knight had vanished.

    Police files revealed that five more young women had disappeared from the area during that period. The officer in charge ofthe enquiry, Detective SuperintendentK. Harvey, said that police had always considered the disappearance of each girl as suspicious and their cases had been under constant investigation.

    He said that about 3000 people were reported missing each year in South Australia and that usually all but about fifteen of them were located. When none of the girls who had gone missing in that 1976-77 period turned up, he knew it was more than coincidence.
    Last edited by blighted star; 10-28-2013 at 06:53 PM.

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    Senior Member blighted star's Avatar
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    There's lots more on this case at

    http://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mill...es-william.htm

    These quotes above & below are just a teensy bit of what they have

    Arrest

    Christopher Worrell, described as young, charismatic and psychosociopathic, and James Miller, a 40 year old labourer, described as a drifter and homosexual partner of Worrell, are believed to have committed the murders.

    Miller first met Worrell when both were in prison together, Miller for Breaking and entering, Worrell for Rape and breaching a two year suspended sentence for Armed Robbery. After release they formed a dominant/submissive relationship and both lived and worked together. Though Worrell was not himself homosexual, Miller was infatuated with him and Worrell would allow Miller to perform sexual acts on him while he read pornographic, and predominantly BDSM, magazines. As Worrell preferred women this later ceased and they became more like brothers.

    Worrell and a female friend were killed in a car accident on February 19 1977, thus ending the murders. Miller survived the car accident.

    Miller suffered depression and became homeless after Worrell's death. Miller's state of mind and a chance comment were to eventually give police a breakthrough when at Worrell's funeral, his former girlfriend, Amelia, told Miller that Worrell had had a suspected blood clot on the brain. This prompted Miller to tell her about Worrell's fascination with thrill killing and he suggested the clot was possibly responsible for the moods that led Worrell to kill.

    In May 1979 she collected a AUD$30,000 reward after providing the information to police leading to Miller's arrest and capture. Amelia said that she had not come forward earlier because she had no proof the admission was true and that there wasn't much point in going to the police as Worrell was dead. It was only after reading of the murders in the newspaper that she came forward. It is highly likely that the murders would have gone unsolved if Amelia hadn't come forward.

    Miller was brought in for questioning on May 23 1979. He initially denied knowing anything but eventually stated Amelia had "done what I should have" and told detectives there were three more. Miller was driven under guard to Truro,Port Gawler and the Wingfield dump where he pointed out their locations.

    Victims


    December 23,1976 Veronica Knight18 Veronica had become separated from her friend while shopping and accepted a ride home. Miller claims they talked her into going for a drive in the Adelaide foothills. Worrell parked while Miller went for a walk. Returning to the car he found Veronica dead and allegedly angrily confronted Worrell who pulled a knife and threatened him. Worrell was in a "black" mood and wouldn't talk, Miller helped him dump the body at Truro. The next morning they both returned to work.


    January2, 1977 Tania Kenny 15 Miller and Worrell picked up Tania who had just arrived in the city after hichhiking from Victor Harbour. They drove to Miller's sister's home and Miller sat in the car while Worrell and Tania went inside. Worrell later returned and asked for help. Allegedly an argument occurred and Worrell threatened to kill Miller if he did not help. That night they buried Tania at Wingfield.


    January21,1977 JulietMykyta 16 Julie was waiting at a bus stop after finishing a part time job in the city when Worrell offered her a lift home. Instead he drove her to Port Wakefield. This time Miller sat in the car while Worrell tied her up. This was not unusual behaviour as "it was Worrell's kink" so Miller though nothing of it. Miller alleges he then went to take a walk but turned around after hearing a disturbance. Julie was out of the car and falling to the ground. Worrell turned her over and began strangling her. Miller claims he tried to pull him off but was not strong enough and again Worrell threatened to kill him. Later Julie joined the others at Truro.


    February 6, 1977 Sylvia Pittman 16 Picked up as she waited for a train at the Adelaide Railway Station. They drove to the Wingfield area where Miller went for a walk and later helped dispose ofthe body at Truro.


    February 7, 1977 Vickie Howell 26 Worrell rang Miller to pick him up from the Adelaide Post Office. When he arrived Vickie was already with him. Vikie had recently separated from her husband and was happy to go with them to Nuriootpa. Stopping the car Miller went for a walk but soon returned to find everything ok so he then took a longer walk. When he returned Vickie was dead and Worrell was in a rage. Miller claims he cursed and abused Worrell expecting to be killed himself but Worrell said nothing. Vickie was then taken to Truro.


    February 9, 1977 Connie Iordanides16 (AKA Connie Jordan) Picked up in the city centre and offered a lift home Connie became frightened when then they drove in the wrong direction. Miller stopped at Wingfield and Worrell forced the screaming girl into the back seat while Miller did nothing. He left the car for a while and after returning drove to Truro.


    February 12,1977 Deborah Lamb 20 Deborah was hitchhiking on West Terrace when picked up. They drove to Port Gawler where Miller went for his walk. When he returned to the car Deborah was not there but Worrell was pushing sand into a hole with his foot. Deborah was later found buried at the spot.


    February 19,1977 Deborah Skuse (killed in the motor accident that claimed Worrell's life) Deborah was the girlfriend of a friend. After he broke up with her Miller and Worrell took her to mount Gambier for the weekend but Worrell got in one of his "black" moods so they decided to return to Adelaide on the Saturday afternoon. Worrell was driving when the car blew a tyre and rolled several times throwing all three onto the road. Worrell and Deborah died while Miller broke his shoulderblade.

    All the victims had been strangled although there was a strong suspicion that the last of the victims, Deborah Lamb, had been alive when buried.

    It has been suggested by criminologist, Professor Paul Wilson, that had Worrell not been killed, the Truro murders may have become a much more devastating killing spree as Worrell was following the "established behavior of some serial killers" with the time between murders getting shorter. Miller himself told Worrell's girlfriend before his arrest that "It was getting worse lately. It was happening more often. It was perhaps a good thing that Chris died.
    Last edited by blighted star; 10-28-2013 at 06:50 PM.

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    http://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/mill...es-william.htm
    On March 12,1980 Miller was found guilty of six counts of murder. He was found not guilty of the murder of the first victim, Veronica Knight. The jury agreed that he did not know that Worrell intended to murder the girl.

    Mr Justice Matheson sentenced Miller to the maximum term of six life sentences. As Miller was led from the court, he snarled at Detective SergeantLawrie: “You filthy liar,Lawrie– you mongrel”.

    If anyone in the courtroom had any compassion for Miller it must have been dispelled in July 1984, when Miller was interviewed in prison after his 43-day hunger strike. “Chris Worrell was my best friend in the world,” he said. “If he had lived, maybe 70 would have been killed. And I wouldn’t have ever dobbed him in.”

    In late 1999, James Miller applied to have a non-parole period set in the hope that one day he may be released. On February 8, 2000,Chief Justice John Doyle of the South Australian SupremeCourtgranted Miller a non-parole period of 35 yearsfrom thedateof hisarrest.

    James William Miller is in top-security Yatala prison in South Australia. He will be eligible for parole in the year 2014. Hewill be74 years old.
    http://m.theaustralian.com.au/archiv...-1111117470740
    Hopes dying Truro mass-murderer will tell all

    AS Truro mass-murderer James Miller lay on his deathbed last night, the daughter of one of his victims was clinging to hope that he might finally give up his dark secrets.

    Much is still unknown about the horrific events of the summer of 1976-77, when Miller embarked on a killing rampage with acolyte Christopher Worrell that left seven women dead, most of them buried in shallow bush graves near the town of Truro, 80km north of Adelaide.

    Miller has insisted that he did no more than drive and help with the disposal of bodies, while 23-year-old Worrell took care of the rest of the bloody business.

    Somewhat conveniently for Miller, Worrell died in a car accident a week after the death oftheir last victim, 20-year-old Deborah Lamb. Lamb was last seen in the city on February 12, 1977, near sites where Worrell and Miller had picked up three other victims. It was just 12 weeks after Lamb had given up her then 10-month-old daughter Niki.
    Now 32 and with two children of her own, Niki Lamb said yesterday an admission from Miller that he was directly involved in her mother's death would mean a lot to her.

    "I would love nothing but to hear the words out of his mouth that 'Yes, I was there, I helped', instead of the run of-the-mill-story that he's said for the last 30 years," Ms Lamb said yesterday.

    She believes there was no way that Worrell acted alone in the killings.

    "My mother was a heavy-set girl and I was told that it was quite hard to hold her down when she was angry and she would have been fighting for her life," Ms Lamb said.

    Police involved in the original investigation agree that Miller was much more involved in the murders than he has admitted. But time is running short.

    The 67-year-old life prisoner, in the terminal throes of cancer, was transferred on Thursday from Yatala maximum security prison to a secure ward of the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

    South Australian police will not say whether they have sought or carried out a deathbed interview with Miller. The head of the major crime investigation section, John Venditto, said it was police policy to keep such matters confidential. "We are not going to talk about individuals," Superintendent Venditto said.

    But he added: "In solved murders, there are often unanswered questions and, as a general point, we would be seeking any opportunity to answer those questions."

    Retired police detective Ken Thorsen, who headed the Major Crime Squad during the Truro investigation, has always questioned whether Miller did more than he admitted. "If you look through his history, he was an institutionalised person," Mr Thorsen said. "He committed a lot of crimes."

    Miller's involvement first came to light at Worrell's funeral, where people heard Miller talking about his partner.

    A tip-off led to his arrest and, in the middle of the night, the serial killer offered to take police to the burial sites of the final three victims.

    In 1980, Miller was found guilty of murdering Lamb, Juliet Mykyta, 16, Vicki Howell, 26, Tania Kenny, 15, Connie Iordanides, 16, and Sylvia Pittman, 16.

    He was acquitted of murdering Veronica Knight, 18.

    At the time, South Australian law did not set non-parole periods. The law was amended and in 2000 Miller was handed a 35-year non-parole term, due to expire in 2015. Now suffering what are reported to be psychotic episodes, Miller has told doctors he wants to be left to die.

    That is fine with Ms Lamb, who says she wants Miller to die a painful death and rot in hell. "I hope he sees every girl's face flash by him before he goes and, when he does go, I hope it burns on the way down," Ms Lamb said.

    Mykyta's father, Irush, does not care if there is a deathbed confession, nor does he have a final message for Miller.

    "There's not anything that he's likely to change, particularly when he's built a lot of his life around being innocent," Mr Mykyta said. "He's a rather poor excuse for a human being."

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