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Man acquitted over vampire gigolo murder confessed to Gobbo but evidence was ignored, commission told - The Age

Mark Perry was acquitted over the Chartres-Abbott murder in 2014.

Mark Perry was acquitted over the Chartres-Abbott murder in 2014.

But the statement was never signed because former homicide detective Ron Iddles believed its use could lead to a royal commission.

"He told me he had arranged for Chartres-Abbott to be murdered in retribution for the rape of a girlfriend or ex-girlfriend," Ms Gobbo's statement read.

"He also told me that [name redacted] actually carried out the murder."

Ms Gobbo said the conversation took place in the chambers of lawyer Jim Valos when Mr Valos took a phone call.

Mr Perry was Mr Valos' client and Ms Gobbo said she had gone to his office to advise on victims of crime compensation for Mr Perry’s girlfriend, who had made police statements that she had been raped and mutilated by Chartres-Abbott.

In her statement, Ms Gobbo said Mr Valos later told her she had never met Mr Perry, but she said she remembered meeting him.

Barrister turned police informer Nicola Gobbo, also dubbed Lawyer X.

Barrister turned police informer Nicola Gobbo, also dubbed Lawyer X.Credit:ABC News

Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Trichias – lead investigator in the Chartres-Abbott probe known as the Briars Taskforce, which was also examining alleged police corruption – told the commission it was the first time he had seen Ms Gobbo’s statement.

Former homicide detective Ron Iddles has previously said he refused to allow a statement from Ms Gobbo about the investigation to be signed, believing it could lead to a royal commission.

"I said, 'You don’t get this. I can tell you now, this will cause a royal commission'," he said.

"I couldn't get that they didn't understand the ramifications of deploying and employing and registering a solicitor [as an informant]."

Simon Overland, pictured when he was Victoria Police chief commissioner.

Simon Overland, pictured when he was Victoria Police chief commissioner.

He said former chief commissioner Simon Overland directed him to take the statement from Ms Gobbo.

Mr Overland was on the steering committee with current chief commissioner Graham Ashton and assistant commissioner Luke Cornelius for the ill-fated Briars Taskforce.

Briars was launched after allegations that two police officers, David Waters and Peter Lalor, were involved in the 2003 death of Chartres-Abbott, a sex worker, providing an alibi for the killer and disposing the murder weapon.

Chartres-Abbott, dubbed the vampire gigolo over his role as a sex worker and his claims he drank blood and had lived for 200 years, was killed the morning he was due to stand trial for raping and biting off the tongue of Mr Perry’s former girlfriend amid claims he was threatening to expose corrupt relationships with police.

Former detective David Waters.

Former detective David Waters.Credit:Justin McManus

Despite the five-year investigation, which cost an estimated $30 million, Mr Waters and Mr Lalor were never charged with any criminal offences and maintain their innocence.

A criminal claiming to be the hitman was the key witness in the failed prosecution case.

Ms Gobbo’s unsigned statement shown on Thursday has never before been made public. In it, she goes into significant detail about conversations she claimed she had with Mr Waters.

Mr Waters previously told The Age she primed him for details during regular meetings.

"She was being fed lines by the Briars investigators to elicit information that would incriminate me. I thought I was having a discussion with my lawyer that was covered by privilege, but there’s no doubt she was relaying information back to the taskforce,” he said.

The commission continues.

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