A secret recording of one of the men accused of the cold case murder of Canberra woman Irma Palasics has revealed he told an undercover officer he heard her asking not to be hurt during a violent home invasion in 1999.
Details of the 2023 undercover police operation have been revealed to the jury in the trial of Melbourne men Steve Fabriczy and Joseph Vekony.
The operation took months, culminating in the conversation between Steve Fabriczy and the undercover officer known dubbed “Danny”, at Melbourne’s Crown Casino.
The Palasics home was ransacked during the burglary, and $30,000 cash and jewellery taken after the couple was beaten, bound and gagged — leaving Mrs Palasics dead and her husband Gregor injured.
Irma Palasics died, aged 72, after being bound and bashed by two men in her McKellar home in November 1999. (ACT Policing)
The undercover officer told the ACT Supreme Court he posed as the head of a fictitious crime syndicate, which employed Mr Fabriczy for jobs, although prosecutors said no actual crimes were committed.
In the covert recording, Mr Fabriczy was shocked when he was told a police contact had informed “Danny” that his DNA was found at a cold case murder scene in Canberra.
“A murder scene, you sh***ting me,” Mr Fabriczy said.
“Danny” tells Mr Fabriczy he wants to know the truth.
“I need you to be honest with me,” “Danny” said.
“If this is bad with the cops I can’t have you around.”
At first Mr Fabriczy denies ever going to Canberra, saying he thinks someone is trying to stitch him up.
He is heard saying some clothes, fishing gear and water bottle were stolen from his house, and that could be how someone got his DNA.
“Danny” says he doesn’t care what Mr Fabriczy has done, but needs to know the truth.
Steve Fabriczy is on trial for the 1999 murder after being identified from DNA samples allegedly found at the scene. (Supplied)
“I can’t f***ing stop what’s going to happen to you unless I know,” “Danny” said.
Mr Fabriczy denies ever killing anyone, but the undercover agent continues to press him, saying, “I need to know why this DNA is at this location”.
Eventually, Mr Fabriczy admits going to Canberra to commit the burglary with Mr Vekony.
He has already pleaded guilty to a burglary charge, although he is fighting other charges including murder.
Mr Fabriczy told the undercover officer Mr Vekony told him he thought there would be $50,000 or $100,000 in the house.
He said when he was there his job was to be outside to see if anyone was coming.
During the recording, he said he had heard the struggle inside.
“I heard some words, the lady said something like, ‘Don’t hurt me’,” Mr Fabriczy said.
Mr Fabriczy admitted in the end he did go into the house, but only to help Mr Vekony escape through a bathroom window after he hurt his knee.
Joseph Vekony is accused of murdering Irma Palasics, assaulting her husband Gregor and stealing jewellery and cash from the couple’s Canberra home. (Supplied: ACT Policing)
At one point, the undercover officer mentions the reward of $500,000 being offered for information about the murder.
“What, you going to dob me in? Half a million bucks is half a million bucks,” Mr Fabriczy said.
The officer batted away the question, saying, “Don’t insult me”.
On Mr Fabriczy’s account, the pair had travelled to Canberra in Mr Vekony’s car.
He said they did not stay anywhere, but drove straight back to Melbourne.
Mr Fabriczy said he never knew Mrs Palasics had died during the home invasion.
“We went there for money, not murder,” he said.
He also said he was paid $12,000 out of the cash.
The jury heard Steve Fabriczy told police he should not have gone to Irma Palasics’s house with Joseph Vekony. (Supplied)
Weeks after the covert recording, Mr Fabriczy was charged and remanded in Canberra’s jail.
During an interview with police at the jail, he was informed that his former crime boss “Danny” was an undercover officer, and that his DNA had been found in the kitchen of the house where he said he had never been.
“This is a shame what I did, I should not have gone with him. I didn’t know the lady died,” Mr Fabriczy said.
“I am just stressed out and worn out. I have nothing to do with this murder.”
But the police suggested to him that the evidence says he was involved.
“I have nothing to do with her assault or murder,” Mr Fabriczy said.
“I didn’t touch her at all, this is the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”