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Murder of Megan Kalajzich

SOLVED1983Fairlight, New South Wales, Australia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Megan Kalajzich was killed in the early morning of 27 January 1986 at her home in Fairlight, New South Wales, Australia. She was shot twice in the head while sleeping beside her husband, Andrew Kalajzich. Two additional shots were fired into Andrew Kalajzich's pillow; he later stated he had rolled out of the way of the bullets. Sixteen days before her death, Megan had reportedly been attacked at gunpoint in the same home, though the weapon failed to fire on that occasion.

Andrew Kalajzich was a well-known and wealthy figure on Sydney's Northern Beaches at the time of the murder. Born in Australia in 1941 to parents who had migrated from Yugoslavia in 1939, he grew up working in his family's fish shop in Manly and later co-founded a business there with his brother. He married Megan Carmichael in 1962, and the couple had two children, Michelle and Andrew. He was elected president of the Manly Chamber of Commerce in 1972 and opened the Manly Pacific International Hotel in 1983.

Following an 11-week trial at the New South Wales Supreme Court in early 1988, Andrew Kalajzich was found guilty of his wife's murder, despite pleading not guilty. Prosecutors presented evidence that he had hired a man named Bill Vandenberg as a hitman, paying $20,000 to have his wife killed. Kalajzich was charged with murder, conspiracy to murder, and discharge of a firearm with intent to murder. Vandenberg was also charged in connection with the killing but died by suicide while in custody awaiting trial. Kalajzich was sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole.

Kalajzich mounted a vigorous series of appeals against his conviction. This culminated in a 1995 judicial inquiry conducted by John Slattery QC, a retired Supreme Court judge, who rejected Kalajzich's appeals and stated he had "no doubts or questions about the guilt of the petitioner." Kalajzich and his children have continued to maintain his innocence in the years since.

After serving 25 years in prison, it was announced on 25 January 2012 that Kalajzich would be released on parole. He was released on 8 February 2012.

The case attracted significant media attention in Australia. It was the subject of an episode of the television series Crime Investigation Australia, titled "Contract to Kill." A book about the case, My Husband, My Killer: The Murder of Megan Kalajzich, was written by Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey and published in 1992. The book was later adapted into a television movie in 2001, starring Colin Friels.

Key facts

Victims
Megan Kalajzich
Date
1983
Location
Fairlight, New South Wales, Australia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1941

    Andrew Kalajzich born in Australia to parents who had migrated from Yugoslavia in 1939.

  2. 1962

    Andrew Kalajzich marries Megan Carmichael.

  3. 1972

    Andrew Kalajzich elected president of the Manly Chamber of Commerce.

  4. 1983

    Andrew Kalajzich opens the Manly Pacific International Hotel.

  5. 1986-01

    Megan Kalajzich is reportedly attacked at gunpoint at her Fairlight home, but the gun fails to fire, roughly 16 days before her death.

  6. 1986-01-27

    Megan Kalajzich is shot twice in the head while sleeping at her Fairlight home; two shots are also fired into her husband's pillow.

  7. 1988-05

    Andrew Kalajzich is found guilty of his wife's murder following an 11-week trial at the NSW Supreme Court, and sentenced to 25 years without parole.

  8. 1992

    Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey publish the book 'My Husband, My Killer: The Murder of Megan Kalajzich'.

  9. 1995

    A judicial inquiry led by retired Supreme Court judge John Slattery QC rejects Kalajzich's appeals, finding no doubt about his guilt.

  10. 2001

    The book is adapted into a television movie starring Colin Friels.

  11. 2012-01-25

    It is announced that Kalajzich will be released on parole.

  12. 2012-02-08

    Andrew Kalajzich is released from prison.

Best coverage

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People

  • Bill Vandenberg

    CHARGED

    Alleged hitman charged in connection with the murder; died by suicide in prison while awaiting trial.

  • Megan Kalajzich

    VICTIM

    Shot twice in the head while asleep at her Fairlight home on 27 January 1986.

  • Andrew Kalajzich

    CONVICTED

    Found guilty in May 1988 of murdering his wife, conspiracy to murder, and discharge of a firearm with intent to murder; sentenced to 25 years without parole; released on parole in February 2012.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Fairlight, New South Wales, Australia

-33.7996, 151.2725

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Megan Kalajzich was shot twice in the head while asleep in her Fairlight, NSW home in January 1986. Her husband, Andrew Kalajzich, was convicted in 1988 of orchestrating her murder via a hired hitman and served 25 years in prison.
Where did the murder happen?
Fairlight, New South Wales, Australia.
Who was convicted?
Andrew Kalajzich (Found guilty in May 1988 of murdering his wife, conspiracy to murder, and discharge of a firearm with intent to murder; sentenced to 25 years without parole; released on parole in February 2012.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
More cases in New South Wales

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Megan KalajzichWikipedia · 2026-07-05
  2. PRESSKalajzich to walk free from jail in a fortnightThe Sydney Morning Herald · 2026-07-05
  3. PRESSResearch guide reference on the Kalajzich caseguides.sl.nsw.gov.au · 2026-07-05

Record history

First published
JUL 05, 2026
Last verified against sources
JUL 05, 2026