Steven Leslie Hainsworth on trial for brutal alleged murder of Phyllis Harrison, Beverley Hanley and Stephen Newton

Steven Leslie Hainsworth is on trial in the South Australian Supreme Court, accused of committing three murders, in 1998, 2010 and 2011.

On the final page of their closing submission in the case, prosecutors noted an observation made by Justice Kevin Nicholson when he ruled on an earlier application by the defence for the charges to be heard separately.

“In the ordinary course of human experience, it is very unusual for a person to know of, let alone have an association with, an elderly person who has been violently attacked and killed whilst living alone in their home,” Justice Nicholson said.

“To have had an innocent association with three such elderly persons, and in two different cities, might be seen as extremely improbable, bordering on the implausible.”

The murders

Phyllis Harrison

The 71-year-old widow, grandmother and active churchgoer was peeling apples in the kitchen of her home in Harvey Rd, Elizabeth South on the evening of March 2, 1998, when Mr Hainsworth entered her home through an unlocked games room door, prosecutors allege.

Mr Hainsworth - who had lived next door for several weeks - allegedly confronted Mrs Harrison and stabbed her 16 times, then inflicted injuries on her genital area after she died.

The contents of her handbag were found scattered on the floor and jewellery container lids were removed.

Mr Hainsworth was motivated by the need to fund his drug habit, and his “peculiar sexual interest in elderly women”, prosecutors allege.

A knife found in a bush at a nearby home nine years later was found to be “consistent” with being the murder weapon.

Beverley Hanley

The 64-year-old grandmother and avid darts player was engaged in her morning routine at her home in Homington Road, Elizabeth North, on October 6, 2010, when she was confronted by her nephew, prosecutors allege.

Mr Hainsworth is accused of using a cricket bat that Ms Hanley kept by THE front door for protection to inflict severe head injuries on his aunt, and she suffered other injuries caused by a sharp-edged weapon.

The confrontation was overheard by a neighbour.

Mr Hainsworth allegedly stole items from the home, including a camera and a distinctive three-set-cluster ring, which was pawned on the day of the murder by an associate of the accused.

His DNA was also found on a phone cord that had been pulled out of a wall.

Stephen Newton

Steven Hainsworth used his girlfriend as a decoy to convince the 55-year-old invalid pensioner to open the door of his home on Davison Street, Mt Gambier, prosecutors allege.

He is accused of unleashing a “forceful and premeditated” attack on Mr Newton, repeatedly punching him and causing injuries that led to his death, before ransacking the home and stealing property, including a TV and souvenir bank notes, which were later recovered from pawn shops.

Weeks after he was last seen alive, Mr Newton was reported missing on November 3, 2011.

The next day, police found his badly decomposed body in his home.

Police seized DVDs from the home and child exploitation material was found on them.

The word “Phedfile (sic)” was spray painted on a wall, which prosecutors described as a “red herring”.