This Ten News bulletin covers the first details that were revealed in court regarding evidence directly linking the suspect, Ivan Milat, to some of the murdered backpackers who had gone missing while hitchhiking between 1989 and 1993.

Police found weapons used in some of the murders, plus clothing, camping equipment and other items belonging to the victims, while searching the homes of Milat and some of his relatives.

Milat's trial began in March 1996 and lasted 15 weeks. In July 1996, a jury found him guilty on seven counts of murder and he was given a life sentence for each count, with no possibility of parole. He received another 18 years for the robbery, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder of a UK man.