36th Murderer, Richard William Leonard – Victims: Stephen Dempsey and taxi driver, Ezzedine Bahmad
Richard William Leonard, born 1973, "The bow and arrow butcher". In 1994 Leonard fired an arrow into the heart of Stephen Dempsey, killed him then dismembered his body and kept it in a freezer. Months later he and girlfriend, Denise Shipley, fatally stabbed taxi driver, Ezzedine Bahmad, at Collaroy Plateau. In Oct 1997 aged 24 he was sentenced to life imprisonment on both charges of murder with no chance of parole.
Richard William Leonard and accomplice girlfriend, Denise Shipley Richard William Leonard
First victim, Stephen Dempsey, was shot thru the heart with a bow and arrow Second victim, Taxi driver, Ezzedine Bahmad
Leonard, now 47, is highly unlikely to ever be released from jail. He has already be in custody for nearly 23 years. Based on the average annual cost of Maximum Security Incarceration in 2020, should Leonard live another 28 years to 75, his jail incarceration of 51 years will have cost the NSW taxpayer $7.7 million circa ($175,000 p.a. X 51 years).