Witness who had crucial evidence against ex-detective Roger Rogerson paid with her life: brother
The brother of a woman whose testimony could have convicted New South Wales detective Roger Rogerson, alleges she was killed for giving evidence against him in another murder case.
Lyn Woodward, 24, allegedly planned to give a crucial testimony in the 1981 inquest into the death of her drug dealer friend Warren Lanfranchi, who Rogerson was accused of killing, when she vanished.
Transcripts of recordings have emerged, which Ms Woodward reportedly made with her lawyers ahead of the inquest, according to The Daily Telegraph.
They allege Rogerson was a heroin dealer, who gave Ms Woodward drugs so she would give evidence supporting his version of the Lanfranchi murder.
According to the transcripts, Ms Woodward was to testify that Lanfranchi did not have a gun at the time he was killed, contradicting Rogerson’s testimony.
The ex-cop had a reputation of bragging about his numerous kills, Lanfranchi had been his third, which he claims was in self defence.
The transcripts also allege some members of the Armed Holdup Squad worked with bank robbers and took a cut of the profits.
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Ms Woodward vanished the afternoon after giving evidence into the Lanfranchi inquest. She had reportedly been told she may need to testify again the following day.
Thirty-five years on, her brother Scott has now spoken about his sister’s plight to reveal Rogerson’s corruption, which allegedly ended her life.
“She was not afraid,” Mr Woodward told the Daily Telegraph.
“Lyn had it all. She was attractive, articulate, intelligent but very determined.
“Lyn went to give evidence because she wanted to see justice done. She had nothing to gain by talking.’’
Mr Woodward said his father Doug, a former TV and radio personality, warned his sister to “stay away” from the inquiry.
During the inquest into the woman's death, informer and vicious killer, Arthur "Neddy" Smith said he saw Rogerson murder Ms Woodward.
However Rogerson was never charged due to conflicting accounts and Smith's lack of credibility.
He was however was found guilty of murdering 20-year-old drug dealer Jamie Gao in 2014 and is awaiting sentencing.
