Australian serial killer handed third life sentence for murder

CANBERRA. November 26. KAZINFORM Australian serial killer Peter Norris Dupas on Friday has been handed a third life sentence for the murder of Mersina Halvagis at the Fawkner cemetery in Melbourne of state Victoria. Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

The 25-year-old woman was stabbed more than 30 times while she tended her grandmother's grave on Nov. 1, 1997.

According to Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth, Dupas had a long history of wanton and despicable violence on defenseless women and his 1997 attack on Mersina Halvagis must have been terrifying.

"You seem to be motivated by a deeply entrenched, perverted and sadistic hatred of women, and a complete contempt for them and their right to live," Justice Hollingworth said, quoted by Australia Associated Press on Friday. "You will now live out the rest of your days in prison."

Justice Hollingworth said his behavior cannot be explained by mental illness, drugs, alcohol, childhood or other traumas.

Dupas is already serving two life sentences, with no parole, for the murders of Nicole Patterson and Margaret Maher.

Dupas remains a suspect in the murders of three other women. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version