World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Raymond Denning’s police confession exposed a false trail in Melbourne’s underworld
Raymond Denning became a police informer, though it is unclear why he did so or whether it cost him his life.
In 1988, the escaped armed robber went to Melbourne and joined forces with Russell Cox, a notorious fugitive.
Cox’s criminal network blamed Graeme Jensen for the shooting death of security guard Dominik Hefti during an attempted Armaguard robbery.
Police tried to arrest Jensen in Narre Warren, and he was shot dead as he attempted to flee.
Jensen’s gang then ambushed two police officers in Walsh Street, South Yarra, 13 hours later.
Denning and Cox were arrested while casing another Armaguard job, and their prison conversations helped expose the false trail.
Denning’s account changed what was known about the chain of events behind the killings.
Raymond John Denning’s police confession helped expose a false trail that blamed Graeme Jensen for the killing of security guard Dominik Hefti.
The article says two underworld figures deliberately blamed Jensen, who was killed by police when they tried to arrest him on October 11, 1988.
About 13 hours later, Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were ambushed and killed in Walsh Street, South Yarra.
Denning had escaped from Goulburn Prison in July 1988 and met armed robber Russell Cox in Doncaster a week later.
Cox and Denning were arrested while casing another Armaguard job, and police found weapons, maps and Denning’s prison library card in their cars.
- Who
- Raymond John Denning, Russell Cox and other underworld figures were involved. Graeme Jensen was falsely blamed for Hefti’s killing.
- What
- Denning’s confession exposed a deliberate false trail blaming Jensen for the killing of security guard Dominik Hefti.
- When
- The events described took place in 1988; the article was published on October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Melbourne, including Doncaster, Narre Warren and Walsh Street in South Yarra.
- Why
- The article says two underworld figures who hated Jensen and liked Cox deliberately blamed Jensen for Hefti’s killing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Armed robber Ray Chuck planned Melbourne’s Victoria Club Great Bookie Robbery and wanted Cox on the team.
Cox escaped from Sydney’s Katingal jail.
Denning escaped from Goulburn Prison.
Denning met Cox at Doncaster.
Jensen was shot dead when police tried to arrest him in Narre Warren.
Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre were killed in an ambush in Walsh Street, South Yarra.
- Denning’s prison escape
- Goulburn Prison, July 15, 1988
- Cox’s meeting with Denning
- Doncaster, a week after the escape
- Jensen’s death
- Narre Warren, October 11, 1988
- Walsh Street killings
- Steven Tynan and Damian Eyre; about 13 hours after Jensen’s death
- Police search finds
- Three sawn-off semi-automatic rifles, maps, ammunition and Denning’s prison library card