THE father of a young backpacker who was one of seven victims of an Australian serial killer, has shared tributes to his daughter following her killer’s death in prison.

Caroline Clarke, from Slaley, was among Ivan Milat’s victims. The 21-year-old disappeared along with her travel companion Joanne Walters (22) in Australia in 1992.

Milat also murdered three German and two Australian backpackers after picking them up while they were hitchhiking. He died in prison on Sunday, aged 74.

Speaking to the Courant this week, Caroline’s father, Ian Clarke, said: “Caroline was a lovely girl and she lit up every room she walked in to. She had a huge circle of friends, many of whom have stayed in contact with us, which has really been lovely for us.

“It was nearly 30 years ago but we still get messages on her birthday and Christmas and the anniversary of her death, so that I think is a great tribute to her.”

Milat had been in prison since 1994, and was diagnosed earlier this year with oesophageal and stomach cancer. New South Wales state corrective services said in a statement that Milat died in the medical wing of Sydney’s Long Bay Prison on Sunday.

The bodies of Caroline and Joanne were discovered in the Belanglo State Forest in September 1992, after they had last been seen in Sydney five months earlier. Two more bodies were found in October 1993, and were identified as Australian couple Deborah Everist and James Gibson, both 19, who had gone missing in late 1989.

Police searches of the forest revealed the body of German, Simone Schmidl (21), and later in November the bodies of German couple Anja Habschied (20) and Gabor Neugebauer (21), who had been missing since 1991.

When his trial ended in 1996, Milat was found guilty of seven murders and sentenced to serve seven consecutive life sentences.

Mr Clarke added: “Judge Hunt, who was conducting the case, made it very clear that he would die in prison and it was very nice to see he got a whole life sentence. There was no way that man should ever be let loose in to the general public ever again – he was evil.”

Mr Clarke also said he would like to thank the media for supporting the family through the ordeal.

“Throughout the whole sorry affair, the help and support we have had from the media both locally, nationally and in Australia has been absolutely marvellous,” he added.