Leonard Fraser Case

Leonard Fraser: The Rockhampton Rapists

Leonard John Fraser is considered one of Australia’s worst serial killers. He died at the age of 55 due to a heart attack and some victims and their families were relieved, while others wanted him to stay suffering in jail. His family and upbringing were all considered ‘normal’ and there was no abuse when he was a child, however he was said to have below average intelligence. He did drop out from school at the age of 14 and sentenced to 12 months in jail when he was 15. He continued like this until he received a life sentence for the murder of a 9 year old girl.

In 2003 however he was facing more chargers of murder for Ms Ryan, Sylvia Maria Benedetti, 19, Beverly Leggo, 36, and Julie Dawn Turner, 39, between August 1998 and April 1999. Ms Ryan was found alive and all charges for her murder were dropped. One piece of evidence was that Fraser issued a press release that

Murder is heard in the Supreme Court and has the worst (longest) punishments available for the judge to use which is a life sentence. In this case there was enough evidence to leave the jury without a doubt that he was guilty. The reason he was given three life sentences in 2003 is because murder carries a mandatory maximum sentence of life. Due to his extensive criminal background starting from an age as early as 15 and his life sentence he was serving out at the time it meant his sentence had to be maximum. This is because in the courts he was said to be a sexual predator who was a danger to the community as well as having no conscience. Fraser’s mental capability would have been one of the reasons he was never deterred from breaking the law, which is another reason as to why he had to be put away for life. In 2003 however not much was known in relation to mental health. This would result in a more lenient sentence today as judges tend to order out a smaller