Murder Story

Broadcast: 21/05/2004

Reporter: Rachael Mealey

QUENTIN DEMPSTER: Welcome to Stateline, I'm Quentin Dempster.

First, the terrible story of the university student driven to murder by greed and bitterness.

Yesterday, Sef Gonzales was found guilty of the July 2001 murders of his parents and younger sister.

It took police 11 months to be satisfied they had a case.

For some insights into how they did it, court reporter Rachael Mealey.

000 OPERATOR: They've both been shot have they?


There's a lot of blood everywhere 000 OPERATOR: OK.

Have you rung the police yet?

SEF GONZALES'S VOICE: No (incomprehensible), 000 OPERATOR: Do you think they've been shot?

SEF GONZALES'S VOICE: I don't know there's a lot of blood.

There's blood everywhere.

000 OPERATOR: Hmm hmm -- SEF GONZALES'S VOICE: I can't find my sister.

POLICE OFFICER: Any murder is a tragedy, but in this particular case, this is an outrage.

SEF GONZALES (FILE FOOTAGE): My family, my friends and myself would like to ask anyone out there to please help us and provide any information that could possibly help find who took them away on Tuesday night.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: At this stage, by way of a preliminary finding, I can just indicate that the cause of death to both the adults is a result of multiple stab wounds to the body.

SEF GONZALES (AT FUNERAL): When I close my eyes and imagine looking into his I remember the richness in his eyes, there was so much strength, knowledge, compassion, love and faith.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: Young Sef and his family have cooperated with the investigators at this stage.

We're satisfied with the explanation so far.

We're continuing our inquiries.

RACHEL MEALEY: It was an intriguing crime.

The quiet streets of North Ryde, the hard working immigrant family, three gruesome murders.

Father, Teddy, mother, Mary Loiva and sister, Clodine, stabbed and bashed in their own home.

The only apparent clue -- racist graffiti on the living room wall.

It didn't wash with most of the police, though one at first trusted the 20-year-old's story.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR MICK SHEEHY: I did cop some criticism over that but my views initially were that he didn't do it.

There was obviously some suspicions in relation to his behaviour and his mannerisms but when I took that first statement it was taken as a victim.

He was so concise on his version of events and he committed himself to such a specific version that I didn't -- I couldn't see that he would have done that being the person who committed the offence.

RACHEL MEALEY: But that soon changed and the investigation focused on Sef Gonzales.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: I guess it comes down to one of those investigative instincts, that something tells you that there's something not right here.

RACHEL MEALEY: One of the main techniques was to use the classic good cop, bad cop approach.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR MICK SHEEHY: From the call out, because I was on call at homicide the night it happened, I was the first detective there and made first contact with Sef Gonzales and built up some sort of rapport with him where he was comfortable to talk to me.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: The multi-skilled approach that we're able to consult with the various psychologists and profilers and that certainly is an investigative aid and assists us with our strategies.

SEF GONZALES (Sings): Never had I imagined --

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: This was a triple homicide, like a mass murder.

You've got triple everything in a way.

We have three deceased in the house, you've got enormous forensic considerations.

SEF GONZALES: (Sings): Eternal, you're shining down on me from heaven.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR MICK SHEEHY: It's a pretty rare sort of case to work on something like this.

It was extremely complex and, you know, it took roughly three years from the time of the incident until he got found guilty yesterday and it somewhat absorbs every part of your life.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: In short, I suppose it was very early in the investigation, it was within days that he certainly became a person of interest and certainly remained in that status until his charge.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR MICK SHEEHY: Throughout the investigation it was extremely difficult because we could not be totally honest to the family.

We obviously were doing certain things strategically and we didn't want information getting back to the accused, back to Sef Gonzales.

We unfortunately had to keep the family up to date but we weren't able to be totally honest with them all the time.

SEF GONZALES: (Sings) # As I pray --


A lot of people, particularly younger people, believe a lot of his lies, he's very convincing in his manners.

He's very polite.

He goes out of his way to meet people, be introduced and he's very respectful to people.

It's all part of a staged appearance.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR GEOFF LEONARD: I guess as police officers we're confronted with people from all walks of life during our service and, yes, he was a softly spoken, eloquent young man but we certainly weren't fooled by that.

SEF GONZALES: (Sings) Living without your smile.

DETECTIVE-INSPECTOR MICK SHEEHY: Not just in relation to his version of events but just some other lies that he had led.

He was pretty open with me.

I think he honestly believed that I believe his version of events and as a result he just put himself more and more into a corner and he committed himself to more lies, which ultimately was his undoing.

SEF GONZALES (Sings): Feeling, knowing you hear me.

It keeps me alive.