Breakthrough in judge’s murder
A CLOSE friend of murdered Family Court Judge David Opas has told The AJN he “will never forget” the night he was killed.
A CLOSE friend of murdered Family Court Judge David Opas has told The AJN he “will never forget” the night he was killed.
Opas was fatally shot on June 23, 1980, after answering the doorbell at his Woollahra home.
His murder was one of four killings, which along with a series of bombings, terrorised judges of the Family Court, their families, a lawyer and members of the community between 1980 and 1985.
Last week, 68-year-old Leonard Warwick was arrested and charged with 32 offences, including the murders of Opas, Stephen Blanchard, Pearl Watson and Graham Wykes.
Retired Judge Peter Rose, a friend of Opas, told The AJN that on the night of the murder, he heard sirens go past his own home but thought nothing of it. “Then a friend of mine, another barrister at the time, called me at about 11 o’clock and he asked me ‘have you seen the news on television’, and that’s when he told me that David had been shot,” he said.
He remembered Opas as a “very good people person”.
“He was only a judge for a short time unfortunately, but he gained respect very quickly because he had empathy, he was sensitive to human issues and had what Mark Twain called ‘the rarest sense of common sense’.
“[Away from work] he had a good personality, wasn’t too serious, enjoyed humour and had a large circle of friends at the bar because he was someone who enjoyed camaraderie.”
Rose said the arrest is a positive step provided that the police have built a strong enough case.
“I hope that they’ve got enough evidence to bring a successful prosecution, because otherwise it would be devastating for David’s family and his friends,” he said.
At a police press conference last week, Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas indicated law enforcement now has that evidence.
“The evidence that we’ve gathered includes significant new evidence, historical evidence that has been enhanced using technology that was probably not available 30 years ago, witness evidence that is historic, as well as new witness evidence,” he said.
“When you add it all up, we feel we have a very strong case and we’ll be proceeding with the charges.”
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Mick Willing, said: “This case has been embedded in the psyche of not only this state, but this country, and investigators are determined to bring finality to the families of victims.”
Opas’s funeral was held at Sydney Chevra Kadisha on July 26, 1980 and officiated by the late Cantor Michael Deutsch of Emanuel Synagogue (then called Temple Emanuel).
As a mark of respect the Family Law Courts were adjourned so that judges and staff could attend.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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