KEY POINTS:
Disgraced Wanganui obstetrician Dr Roman Hasil has been linked to the unsolved murder of an Italian tourist in Tasmania.
Tasmanian police have named Dr Hasil as "a person of interest" in their investigation into the death of 20-year-old Victoria Cafasso, who was stabbed more than 20 times while
sunbathing in 1995.
Police say they are now reviewing the case - Tasmania's most infamous unsolved murder - as a result of recent activity with Dr Hasil.
At Wanganui Hospital, Dr Hasil was found to have incorrectly performed sterilisation operations in 2005 and 2006.
Health authorities found eight of 32 sterilisations he performed there were not done properly - which led to six pregnancies.
He was eventually put on leave from the hospital for drinking while on call, and last year fled New Zealand after the sterilisation mistakes were revealed.
He returned to Australia, and was this year suspended from working as a doctor in New South Wales.
Health authorities are now investigating at least 10 complaints against him of medical negligence and sexual assault at Lismore Base Hospital in New South Wales between 2001 and 2005.
Dr Hasil is also the subject of a renewed police inquiry into Ms Cafasso's death.
Dr Hasil had moved to Tasmania in the 1990s after being jailed in Singapore for threatening his second wife with a carving knife.
His third wife also alleged he had assaulted her and broken her ribs.
At the time of Ms Cafasso's murder, Dr Hasil was living a few kilometres away from the scene of the crime and was interviewed by police about the killing.
Tasmanian Detective Inspector Michael Otley has now confirmed Dr Hasil is still a person of interest.
"We are still investigating it, and we are still reviewing any new information that comes to hand," he said.
"As a result of recent activity with Dr Hasil, it is being reviewed all the time."
Police were alerted to Dr Hasil's allegedly erratic behaviour at the time of the murder when they were called to a domestic incident two years later.
He claimed to have been at home when the killing occurred, but had no alibi.
"It was a horrific murder - even today it has a rippling effect on residents through the town," Mr Otley said.
Tasmanian police have not ruled out re-interviewing Dr Hasil about the case, but it is not known if they have been in recent contact with him.
Dr Hasil has been living in a Sydney homeless shelter, the Edward Eagar Lodge, for three months. He did not return calls last night.
Wanganui woman Fredericka Himmel, whose ovaries were removed without her consent on Dr Hasil's instructions, said she had heard about his link to the murder.
"Nothing would surprise me because it's all been so hideous what came out since he was here in Wanganui."
Ms Himmel said she had wondered about Dr Hasil's character.
"I think there's more in Australia, the life he led - they have only just touched it."
- NZPA