Qld: Murder victim seen with accused killer

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Qld: Murder victim seen with accused killer

By Suzanne Klotz

BRISBANE, April 3 AAP - A victim of accused multiple murderer Leonard Fraser was seenwith him just before she disappeared, the Supreme Court in Brisbane was told today.

Leonard John Fraser, 51, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Natasha Anne Ryan, 14,Sylvia Maria Benedetti, 19, Beverly Leggo, 36, and Julie Dawn Turner, 39, between August30, 1998, and April 24, 1999.

Barry Roy Richardson, a friend of Sylvia Benedetti's, said he last saw her on April18, 1999, in the early evening sitting in the Rockhampton city mall with Fraser.

Mr Richardson said he went up to her and asked her what she was doing, but she never answered.

He said she and Fraser were sitting about half a metre apart from each other on the bench.

The jury has previously been told that this was the last sighting of Benedetti andthat her blood was found in Fraser's car together with that of nine-year-old Keyra Steinhardt,who was attacked and murdered by Fraser on April 22, 1999.

Ms Benedetti's blood was found splattered through a room in the derelict QueenslandHotel in Rockhampton, and her body was dumped at Sandy Point, north of Yeppoon.

Gordon Francis Davey, who owned a model shop opposite the hotel, told the court hehappened to mention to Fraser on April 21, 1999, that the hotel was going to be demolished.

"He clenched his jaw, he went red in the face and said, `they can't do that`," Mr Daveysaid of Fraser's reaction.

Keyra's mother Treasa Steinhardt, gave evidence briefly today as two women sobbed inthe back of the court.

She identified the headband, shoes and school bag which were left abandoned in theallotment where Keyra was attacked.

Lynnette Kiernan, who lives across from the allotment, gave evidence she noticed aman following behind Keyra and saw him strike her in the head, causing her to fall tothe ground.

Mrs Kiernan said he appeared to then rape her and hide her body behind a clump of treesbefore leaving and returning in a red car.

She said he then collected the bundle from behind the trees and put it in the car bootbefore driving off.

Mrs Kiernan told the jury she had seen the same man following or in front of Keyrathe previous day at the same time.

The trial is continuing before Justice Brian Ambrose.

AAP smk/sc/gl/jlw

KEYWORD: FRASER