Bassett Road machine gun murders

The Bassett Road machine gun murders were the murders of two men with a .45 calibre Reising submachine gun on 7 December 1963, at 115 Bassett Road, in the Auckland suburb of Remuera in New Zealand. The crime received considerable media attention and captured the public imagination for many years. Although the weapon was set to single and not rapid fire for the killings, word spread quickly of a "Chicago-style" gang murder previously unheard of in New Zealand.

Frederick George Walker, a 38-year-old commercial traveler, and Kevin James Speight, a 26-year-old seaman, were found shot several times with large caliber bullets at the Bassett Road house. Both men were believed to be illegally trading in liquor. Scientific investigation identified the weapon used as possibly a .45 calibre machine gun. John Gillies and Ronald Jorgensen were arrested on 31 December 1963 and stood trial starting 24 February 1964. Both men denied charges of murder, although Gillies admitted acquiring a machine gun for his own protection. Both men were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

While in prison, Jorgensen took up painting and sold a number of his works. He was later paroled under strict conditions, including that he must remain in Kaikoura living with his father for an indefinite period. Jorgensen vanished in mysterious circumstances in 1984, after his car was found wrecked at the bottom of a cliff. Police initially suspected that he faked his death, but later declared him legally dead.

In 2010 an episode of TVNZ's The Missing directed by Tom Reilly traced the life and disappearance of Jorgensen and uncovered several eye-witnesses who claimed to have seen him in Perth in the late 80s/early 90s. The makers of the show concluded that there is strong evidence Jorgensen faked his own death and fled New Zealand in 1984.

See also

• Crime in New Zealand