An Orlando man was robbed at gunpoint outside an Australian tourist hotspot and shot dead after the attacker allegedly demanded sex in return for his life, an Australian court heard Thursday.
Prosecutors said Emile Cilliers, 33, suspected he had been spied on by electronic devices during a four-year surveillance operation and returned to his Melbourne home armed with a silencer and a replica pistol, the Telegraph reported.
Witnesses said the gunman, who has not been named, appeared to be wearing a rubber mask and had a gun in his hand at the time of the incident, according to The Age.
It is the second time this year that Australia has experienced a death related to spying by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). In January, a man was shot dead in the home of an ASIO employee who shot the man and his baby son in a murder-suicide attempt.
Cilliers, who owned a company selling marine industry equipment, is charged with the murder of his 30-year-old wife, Lisa, and his father-in-law, 72-year-old John Armstrong. Prosecutors told the court Cilliers stormed out of the dark house wearing his wife’s wedding dress, screaming “I can’t live with this anymore” before killing Armstrong in front of his 13-year-old grandson. He then pointed the gun at his wife, the court heard.
His wife ran downstairs to the couple’s son, Jeff, who was playing computer games in the living room. He then saw Cilliers shooting his father-in-law. He raced to his bedroom and locked the door, throwing his laptop into the bathtub. Cilliers allegedly kicked in the door and shot his wife, before continuing his killing spree.
Chief Constable Des Bray told reporters that “where we are at the moment in this case is about understanding what occurred,” according to the Age.
Cilliers allegedly “raped his wife” after the shooting, according to the prosecution.
In May, Australian authorities handed over the task of investigating Cilliers’ home to the U.K. Metropolitan Police, according to the Telegraph. It is believed the devices Cilliers suspected had been planted have been destroyed.
Cilliers, who was based in the United Kingdom at the time of the crime, appeared via videolink and has been remanded in custody to appear in court on July 6.
Read the full story at The Telegraph.
Related
Related
Prosecutors say convicted murderer Hugh Lovelace was inspired by Shakespeare when he wanted the same treatment as Robin Hood
First in a string of Australian prison suicides: Suicide guard who revealed regime of spanking and beatings, shunning and isolation