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Vic killer's denial unsurprising: family

The family of missing Melbourne schoolgirl Linda Stilwell say they are not surprised by killer Derek Percy's denial he was involved in her disappearance.

Vic killer's denial unsurprising: family
Dying killer Derek Percy has denied involvement in the disappearance of schoolgirl Linda Stilwell.

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Source: AAP


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The family of a Melbourne girl who went missing 45 years ago say they are not surprised dying killer Derek Percy has not shed light on her disappearance.

Percy gave evidence from his bedside inside a secure ward at St Vincent's Hospital on Saturday, in which he denied involvement in Linda Stilwell's disappearance and suspected death in 1968.

The 45-minute coronial hearing was attended by Deputy State Coroner Iain West, police and Mr Percy's lawyer.

"I can advise Mr Percy gave evidence that he was not responsible for Linda Stilwell's disappearance and suspected death and was therefore unable to provide any assistance as to what happened to her and where her body may be," a coroner's court spokeswoman said.

Linda's family, police and Mr Percy's lawyer had agreed on a set of questions to be put to Percy and he was granted an immunity certificate so his evidence would not be used against him in other proceedings.

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Percy, Victoria's longest serving prisoner, is dying of cancer.

He has previously said he could not remember if he was responsible for Linda's death.

Gary Stilwell said he was not surprised Percy did not shed any light on what happened to his sister.

"I'm not surprised that he wouldn't speak. He hasn't spoken in 47 years. I can't see him speaking now," Mr Stilwell told AAP.

"I don't think he's got the humanity in him to give closure to not just our family, but other families.

"I can't seem him changing the way he's dealt with these things over the years, which is just to deny and can't remember."

There are no plans to hold more bedside hearings with Percy at this time, the coroner's spokeswoman said.

Mr West made an interim finding in 2009 that Percy, who is linked to some of Australia's most notorious child killings, was in the area on the day Linda disappeared.

Percy was found not guilty on insanity grounds of the 1969 murder of Yvonne Tuohy, 12, who was snatched from Warneet Beach, southeast of Melbourne. He has been detained since.

Percy is a suspect in the unsolved murders of 15-year-olds Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt on Sydney's Wanda Beach in 1965; six-year-old Alan Redston in Canberra in 1966; three-year-old Simon Brook in Sydney in 1968; and the disappearance of the three Beaumont children in Adelaide in 1966.


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