What his friend’s killer did in court set Peter on a new life mission

The 24-year-old baby-faced killer, Richard Leonard, had the undivided attention of the packed courtroom as he stood awaiting sentencing for the crossbow slaying of landscape gardener Stephen Dempsey at Deep Creek Reserve, a gay beat in northern Sydney’s Narrabeen, and for the frenzied stabbing murder of taxi driver Ezzedine Bahmad at the nearby Collaroy Plateau. Leonard stood and stared blankly at the judge as the sentence –– was read out. No wild outburst. Not even a flash of frozen shock.

Stephen Dempsey had meant the world to Rolfe. The pair had been in a relationship for about three years, after which they remained close friends; they went on to run a landscaping business together for more than 12 years. Rolfe remembers the last time he saw the then-34-year-old Dempsey, sitting behind the wheel of his car at lunchtime during a work job. Dempsey mentioned his plans to go to the closing-down party of the legendary Rex Hotel in Kings Cross that night.

Months later, Leonard took LSD with his 19-year-old girlfriend, Denise Shipley, who sat beside him in the back seat of a taxi at Collaroy Plateau, as he stabbed the driver, Ezzedine Bahmad, 37 times in a rage after Bahmad had fought back over a fare dispute. Shipley already knew that Leonard had killed someone else and had she alerted police at that point, she could have saved Bahmad, a father of seven.

One of those Rolfe has assisted is Steve Johnson, older brother of American mathematician Scott Johnson, whose crumpled body was found on the rocks at Blue Fish Point at Sydney’s North Head in December 1988. For decades dismissed as a suicide by police, the case became one of the“I first met Steve Johnson in 2007, when he was out here with his son Reuben,” Rolfe recalls.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

In the witness box: former police officer Zachary Rolfe testifiesCourts and justice reporter Nino Bucci tells Nour Haydar how Zachary Rolfe’s evidence at the inquest into Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker’s death raised questions about the culture of widespread racism in the NT police force
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

What his friend’s killer did in court set Peter on a new life missionAfter losing a close friend in horrific circumstances – and witnessing his killer’s brazen insolence – Peter Rolfe knew what he had to do.
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »

What his friend’s killer did in court set Peter on a new life missionAfter losing a close friend in horrific circumstances – and witnessing his killer’s brazen insolence – Peter Rolfe knew what he had to do.
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »

Peter Wright’s four-game ban shows AFL is changing one unconscious player at a timeThe rants of Wayne Carey aside, most accept Essendon man’s hit on Sydney’s Harry Cunningham deserved punishment
Source: GuardianAus - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »

AFL tribunal suspends Essendon’s Peter Wright after huge hit on Sydney Swan Harry Cunningham7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Source: 7NewsSydney - 🏆 16. / 63 Read more »

Smiggle, Peter Alexander slated to become standalone companies in 2025The popular stationery and sleepwear brands are set to be spun out of Premier Investment’s stable of brands next year.
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »