Four days prior to the abduction of Rosamari Gandarias in Canberra, and three weeks prior to the Bega murders, Camilleri appeared in the District Court of New South Wales on trial for charges relating to sexual offences against his de facto daughter. After two days the trial was aborted and Camilleri was released from custody on bail. Camilleri had 146 prior convictions for offences such as dishonesty, theft and wilful damage. At the time of the murders, he lived in . Camilleri had known Beckett for a period of two to three years and would often associate with him to steal cars.