By BRUCE BUTLER
PERTH - A convicted killer who cannot work because of injuries sustained in a motorbike accident is to be deported from Australia to New Zealand.
David John Clarke, aged 46, was jailed in May 1996 for the manslaughter of a former friend, Michael Peter Josey.
The deportation tribunal chairman who confirmed the cancellation of his visa said New Zealand had a good medical and social security system, plus charities, which could support Clarke.
In New Zealand, he has convictions for common assault, theft, theft as a servant, assaulting police and receiving stolen goods.
Clarke was originally charged with two counts of murder after the bodies of Josey, aged 41, and his homosexual lover, Gordon Stainton, 36, were discovered in a Queensland river in 1994.
Both men were HIV positive.
He admitted dumping the bodies in the East Mary River, about 100km north of Brisbane, where, weeks later, a group of canoeists made the grisly discovery.
At his trial, Clarke told the jury he strangled Josey with a piece of electrical flex cord after he discovered Josey had murdered Stainton. Josey had then attempted to strangle Clarke too.
He fought off Josey with a karate chop to the neck and then strangled him.
He was jailed for six years with no parole and was released last January 24.
In June, Australian immigration cancelled his visa, effectively banning him from staying in Australia.
He has been in immigration detention since September 21.
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