Police are hunting convicted murderer Apolonio Serrano after he failed to turn up to the last week of his Supreme Court trial.By Callan Date
A SUPREME Court judge has slammed Dandenong Police for the botched bail of a convicted Hallam murderer now on the loose.
Apolonio Ramirez Serrano was convicted of murdering Endeavour Hills resident Milicia Trailovic by a Supreme Court jury last week.
Serrano, also known by the alias of Tony Serrano, was found guilty in his absence after failing to show during the last week of his trial.
The 66-year-old, who was on bail and was required to report daily to Dandenong Police Station, failed to sign the bail book after 26 May.
However, it took Dandenong Police nine days to notify Senior Detective Jamie Cookson that Serrano has not shown up.
Justice Stephen Kaye was scathing of the role Dandenong Police played in handling Serrano’s bail.
“It is a matter of grave concern to me that the Dandenong Police Station failed to comply with its clear and important obligation to inform him (Sen Det Cookson), as the informant and the Crown, of the continued breach by the accused man of his bail condition,” he told the court.
“The failure of the Dandenong Police Station as a matter of priority to draw to the attention of Mr Cookson the accused man’s failure to abide by the reporting conditions imposed on him is, to say the least, most regrettable,” he said.
Serrano has not been seen since he last attended court on 1 June.
The court heard police officers attended Serrano’s Hallam house on Monday, 4 June and found no one at the address.
There were a number of clothes missing from Serrano’s wardrobe, his fridge was empty and there was no sign that the unit had been recently occupied.
Justice Kaye said Dandenong Criminal Investigation Unit members returned the next day and were told by neighbours they last saw Serrano on Saturday, 2 June.
“His mobile telephone has been switched off. He had not left the country and had not been in touch with the Spanish Consulate,” Justice Kaye said.
Serrano was charged with Ms Trailovic’s murder on 7 October, 2005.
The court heard the murder took place in Endeavour Hills on or about 26 December, 2003. Ms Trailovic’s body has never been recovered. Serrano will be sentenced at a later date.
Dandenong Police said they are reviewing their bail procedures in light of the Serrano case.
“There appears to have been a misunderstanding regarding notification of Mr Serrano being required to continue reporting for bail at Dandenong Police Station once the trial began,” a police spokeswoman said.
“Local police management have been asked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the bail reporting incident,” she said.
She said Serrano had an impeccable record for reporting on bail and had been doing so daily since 9 August 2006 until his trial began.
Police are still hunting for Serrano and have asked for public assistance to track down the killer.
Detectives believe Serrano hired a van from a Melbourne car hire business on 30 May and has possibly fled interstate.
The vehicle is a white Toyota Hiace with registration number UPZ 472.
Police are appealing for anybody who knows of his whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers on or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
