$1m hunt for vampire killer

Liam Houlihan From: Sunday Herald Sun October 25, 2009 12:00AM

POLICE are launching a national manhunt - with a $1 million reward - for a man they believe ordered the murder of self-proclaimed "Vampire Gigolo" Shane Chartres-Abbott.
Authorities are expected to issue the bounty today for help in finding Mark Adrian Perry, who they believe is behind the shooting in June 2003.

An arrest warrant is also understood to have been issued for Mr Perry - the former boyfriend of a woman Chartres-Abbott allegedly raped and assaulted.

Detectives believe Mr Perry ordered the execution of the self-proclaimed vampire male prostitute who was gunned down in Reservoir in daylight.

The Sunday Herald Sun can also reveal the cunning fugitive knows he is a wanted man, is a master of disguise and has escaped police attempts to question him.

The former butcher and bouncer has been on the run across Australia for two years. The Victorian has been seen in Queensland, where he has lived. He has also resided in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Thailand.

"Perry is elusive and skilled at avoiding police," a police source said. "He is likely to be living under an assumed name and may have changed his appearance.

"Perry is extremely adept at staying below the radar. He's well connected and has the ability to travel in and out of Australia illegally.

"He is well aware that we want to talk to him about this murder."

Mr Perry had broken up with the Thai victim of Chartres-Abbott and had started a relationship with another Thai woman - who he had a child with - when his ex-girlfriend was allegedly attacked.

"No doubt Perry was very emotionally affected by the rape. He felt personally responsible, having ended his relationship with her shortly before it happened," a police source said.

"His thinking was, 'If she had still been with me, then this never would have happened'."

Mr Perry's ex-girlfriend was, like Chartres-Abbott, a sex industry worker and the gigolo's occasional lover. The woman had met Chartres-Abbott for sex at the South Yarra's Saville Hotel in August 2002, but instead became the victim of a vicious assault and rape.

She had bite marks on her thigh, black eyes, a bruised neck and jaw and up to 5cm of her tongue removed, believed bitten off.

She was found by staff naked, bloodied and unconscious in the hotel room's shower.

The woman told police Chartres-Abbott had claimed to be a 200-year-old vampire who had been in Melbourne before the city was built and drank blood to live.

DURING his trial, his defence lawyer claimed she was attacked by someone else after Chartres-Abbott fled because she warned him he was going to be killed in a snuff movie. But her phone was found in Chartres-Abbott's bag and her blood on his clothes.

Furious about her treatment, Mr Perry, is believed to have delved into the underworld to recruit for his revenge. Police believe Mr Perry reached out to a crim he knew who contacted a veteran Victorian killer who allegedly carried out the hit with a fellow assassin.

The 28-year-old $105-an-hour gigolo was gunned down by the gangland pair and left dead in the street on June 4, 2003, the day he was due to appear in court on his rape and assault case. One of the pair attacked Chartres-Abbott's pregnant girlfriend and her father as a distraction while the other shot their target in the neck.

The veteran killer ultimately informed on his partner, told of police involvement in the killing and led authorities to the murder weapon hidden at a Geelong beach.

Sources said the missing Mr Perry might have changed his looks, be using a fake name and could have false travel documents.

He is believed to have dropped contact with his daughter and five siblings since going on the run.

The bizarre vampire murder allegedly involved former and serving Victoria Police officers.

The gangland killers were also responsible for the executions of Lewis Moran and Lewis Caine.

Corruption probe Operation Briars has investigated claims the veteran killer spoke to an ex-cop associate David "Docket" Waters for a better address for his target. Authorities are also investigating whether Mr Docket, in turn, contacted a friend in the force, Det-Sgt Peter "Stash" Lalor.

The veteran killer claimed Det-Sgt Lalor also helped him fake an alibi for the vampire killing.

The veteran killer gave himself up over outstanding driving offence arrest warrants to Det-Sgt Lalor at Prahran police station later on the day of the killing - in a alleged ruse meant to deflect suspicion. Further investigations into police corruption surrounding Chartres-Abbott's death have led to big upheavals in the force.

Paul Mullett, then the police union secretary, was accused of tipping off Det-Sgt Lalor that his phone was bugged. It was claimed the then Sgt Mullett phoned union secretary Insp Brian Rix, telling him to warn Lalor to be careful about what he said to people.

Insp Rix and Det-Sgt Lalor met outside the Police Association and Lalor later allegedly warned his ex-cop mate Waters to keep his head down.

But a charge against Sgt Mullett of attempting to pervert the course of justice was not pursued. And two charges of perjury, arising from evidence he gave to the Office of Police Integrity hearings, were dropped.

Former Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby still faces a perjury trial for allegedly lying to the OPI.

The OPI claims Mr Ashby leaked to Sgt Mullett that Det-Sgt Lalor was a target in the murder investigation.

Police are expected to announce the $1 million reward - the fourth of its size in the state - today.

Mr Perry, from Reservoir, could be anywhere in Australia or overseas. He was seen in Queensland at a Broadbeach cafe with another person of interest to the investigation in August 2007, days before he fled.

"We'd been tracking him for some time. Since September 2007 he has gone to ground," a police source said. "But someone out there will know where he is and how we can track him down."