Leonard Warwick and his daughter on a hunting trip, c1982
Guns in Australia were not illegal back then, but they were not a good look.
In a progressive programme of the Whitlam Federal Government, the Australian Family Court started in Jan 1976. But despite the high idealism of the court's creators, they failed to realise one truth: that in a marital battle, one side would be more embittered than the other. Between 1980-85 in Sydney, four people were killed, dozens critically injured and maimed in a cruel reign of terror that targeted the Family Court judges and their families. And there were strong links between a particular suspect and the deaths.
Despite the horror of these shootings and bombings in Sydney from 1980-5, and a prime suspect publicly named by the Coroner, the police investigations failed to make an arrest.
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Despite the horror of these shootings and bombings in Sydney from 1980-5, and a prime suspect publicly named by the Coroner, the police investigations failed to make an arrest.
Family Law Court, Parramatta
bomb exploded in the outside foyer in 1984
What had happened? Married in 1974, Leonard Warwick and his wife Andrea Blanchard had a daughter. But by 1980 they were often before the Family Court, fighting for custody of this young girl. Leonard wanted full time custody for himself whereas Andrea agreed to share it.
The wife fled to her family home and her brother Stephen Blanchard helped her recover her daughter from the husband. Thus Stephen became a target of her husband's anger. In Feb 1980 Stephen Blanchard was murdered in his family home. Six days later his body was found on the Hawkesbury, across Sydney.
Later that month, Family Court Judge David Opas (1936–80) reduced Warwick's access to his daughter. The Coroner's Court heard evidence he had told his wife that “Judge Opas wouldn't be there much longer”. 5 weeks later the judge was shot dead at his Woollahra front door! It was a tragedy.
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Judge David Opas with his two beloved children
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Judge Richard Gee's home in Belrose, Sydney
Later that month, Family Court Judge David Opas (1936–80) reduced Warwick's access to his daughter. The Coroner's Court heard evidence he had told his wife that “Judge Opas wouldn't be there much longer”. 5 weeks later the judge was shot dead at his Woollahra front door! It was a tragedy.
Front page of Daily Mirror Monday July 4, 1984
Judge David Opas killed by a mystery man
Judge David Opas killed by a mystery man
In July 1983 the judge who replaced Judge Opas in the custody case, Judge Richard Gee, made another order limiting the father's time with his daughter. Then in Mar 1984 a bomb exploded at the Gee home. The judge and his two children narrowly escaped death, but it destroyed the family’s sense of security.
In Apr another bomb exploded outside the front of the Parramatta Family Court where the family's cases had all been heard; fortunately no-one died. But three months later there was another explosion at the Greenwich home of the judge who had taken over from Judge Gee, Judge Ray Watson. His wife, Pearl Watson, was instantly killed by triggering a bomb at their front door. The then-prime minister Bob Hawke offered a $500,000 reward, still unclaimed.
NSW Kevin Waller's coronial inquiry heard Leonard Warwick was the prime suspect for all the attacks, but that the police had insufficient evidence to lay charges. Being a judge was in any case often isolating and unpopular, but THIS bloody terror campaign struck at the heart of the integrity of the justice system and intimidated judicial officers. And the fact that the murderer was still at large was even worse. The Family Court was a newish agency in no-fault divorce, but litigious fathers hated judges for “unfairly awarding custody to mothers in too many cases”.
In Apr another bomb exploded outside the front of the Parramatta Family Court where the family's cases had all been heard; fortunately no-one died. But three months later there was another explosion at the Greenwich home of the judge who had taken over from Judge Gee, Judge Ray Watson. His wife, Pearl Watson, was instantly killed by triggering a bomb at their front door. The then-prime minister Bob Hawke offered a $500,000 reward, still unclaimed.
NSW Kevin Waller's coronial inquiry heard Leonard Warwick was the prime suspect for all the attacks, but that the police had insufficient evidence to lay charges. Being a judge was in any case often isolating and unpopular, but THIS bloody terror campaign struck at the heart of the integrity of the justice system and intimidated judicial officers. And the fact that the murderer was still at large was even worse. The Family Court was a newish agency in no-fault divorce, but litigious fathers hated judges for “unfairly awarding custody to mothers in too many cases”.
the bomb exploded in March 1984
A coronial inquiry in 1986 heard evidence that the only common link in every one of the seven attacks was the former NSW fireman and skilled bushman Leonard Warwick who still lived in Sydney. His former wife Andrea Blanchard bravely spoke on tv about the coronial evidence re the prime suspect, her ex-husband.
A 2013 investigation by Seven Network's Sunday Night programme revealed new evidence and witnesses the police had failed to find. NSW coroner Kevin Waller called for the suspected Sydney killer to finally be tried.
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What she found shocked police. The core of Warwick’s abuse was Andrea, whom he violently assaulted and harassed. So the ex-wife was running a major risk; revealing the murders was a dangerous sacrifice that no domestic abuse victim should ever have to pay. After Marshall’s story aired, NSW Police formed a taskforce to re-examine the cases.
In July 2020 73-year-old Leonard Warwick was found guilty in the NSW supreme court of 20 crimes i.e 6 Sydney attacks between Feb 1980-July 1985. In Sep 2020 he was given a full life sentence.
Photo credits: Daily Mail
There were break-ins at the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in Casula SW Sydney in July 1985. Nothing was stolen but the following Sunday a massive explosion splintered the hall as the 150+ churchgoers were in prayer. One man was killed by the bomb at the congregation where Andrea Warwick's sister, Judy, was a devoted member.
The original police investigation was thorough. Yet the judges and magistrates should have had the right to feel confident that their decisions would be respected; that anyone who challenged the law with violence would be pursued and prosecuted. Families and victims of this notorious unsolved crime spree also asked why a 3-decade police investigation failed to bring a serial killer to justice.
The original police investigation was thorough. Yet the judges and magistrates should have had the right to feel confident that their decisions would be respected; that anyone who challenged the law with violence would be pursued and prosecuted. Families and victims of this notorious unsolved crime spree also asked why a 3-decade police investigation failed to bring a serial killer to justice.
A coronial inquiry in 1986 heard evidence that the only common link in every one of the seven attacks was the former NSW fireman and skilled bushman Leonard Warwick who still lived in Sydney. His former wife Andrea Blanchard bravely spoke on tv about the coronial evidence re the prime suspect, her ex-husband.
A 2013 investigation by Seven Network's Sunday Night programme revealed new evidence and witnesses the police had failed to find. NSW coroner Kevin Waller called for the suspected Sydney killer to finally be tried.
Debi Marshall's book
The Family Court Murders, 2014
I didn’t read The Family Court Murders (2014) by true-crime writer and investigative journalist Debi Marshall. Her deep analysis of the case became an important ABC-TV series May 2022, the definitive story of the Family Court Murders where the team investigated this cold case. Decades after 1985, witnesses were still frightened to speak; family members still lived in dark grief and fear; and widows and orphans had no closure. It was still a dangerous investigation into the prime suspect.
What she found shocked police. The core of Warwick’s abuse was Andrea, whom he violently assaulted and harassed. So the ex-wife was running a major risk; revealing the murders was a dangerous sacrifice that no domestic abuse victim should ever have to pay. After Marshall’s story aired, NSW Police formed a taskforce to re-examine the cases.
In July 2020 73-year-old Leonard Warwick was found guilty in the NSW supreme court of 20 crimes i.e 6 Sydney attacks between Feb 1980-July 1985. In Sep 2020 he was given a full life sentence.
Photo credits: Daily Mail