Brian William Robinson

Brian William Robinson
Born	1939 Western Australia, Australia
Died	20 January 1964 (aged 24) Fremantle Prison, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia
Cause of death	Execution by hanging
Criminal status	Executed
Motive	To avoid arrest
Conviction(s)	Wilful murder
Criminal penalty	Death
Details
Victims	Noel Isles Andrew Gurvin McDougall
Date	9 February 1963
Country	Australia
State(s)	Western Australia

Brian William Robinson was the second last person executed in Western Australia at Fremantle Prison, on 24 January 1964. On 9 February 1963 Robinson shot and killed police constable Noel Isles, who had attended a domestic incident. Robinson fled to the Gnangara Pine Plantation, causing one of the biggest manhunts in Western Australia's history.

Incident

Isles, though going off duty at the time, had responded to a phone call to the Belmont police station about a domestic argument. The incident between Robinson and his father occurred because Robinson had heard a rumour that his mother was also his sister. As Isles arrived and entered the front gate he was shot by Robinson from a front window. Robinson then went outside and shot Isles a second time before fleeing. Robinson tried to get into another car and wrestled with a passenger, Andrew McDougall, who tried to prevent the attempt. Robinson stepped back from the car and fatally shot him. Robinson then flagged down a passing taxi and forced the driver to take him to the Gnangara Pine Plantation, where the car was abandoned after becoming bogged.

Search

The taxi was found along with its driver shortly afterwards. Police continued to search, and every police officer, whether on duty or not, was called into the area. The search continued into the evening with help from the Royal Australian Air Force, who brought in mobile search light units. At 9pm the search was called off, with a cordon around the area maintained overnight, and all police officers were instructed to report in at 3am.