Ivan Milat ... the convicted backpacker killer is a relative of the teenager who pleaded guilty to murder. Photo: Adam Pretty
A teenager related to serial killer Ivan Milat has pleaded guilty to murder.
The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Campbelltown Children's Court today.
He pleaded guilty to charges related to the killing of David Auchterlonie with an axe on November 20 last year.
David was killed in the NSW southern highlands forest where Milat murdered seven backpackers in the 1990s.
David's body was found in a shallow grave off a dirt road in the forest.
The teenager, who appeared via audio-visual link, showed no emotion as his lawyer entered his plea.
"So the young person enters a plea of guilty to the murder of David Auchterlonie?" magistrate Jayann Carney said.
"You understand what's happened?" she asked the teenager.
"Yes, I do," he replied.
Ms Carney said she had read the facts and "on that basis I accept the plea of guilty".
The victim's family attended the court proceedings.
The teenager is due to be sentenced in the Supreme Court in Sydney on December 2.
Outside court, David's father, David Auchterlonie, said his son was an average teenager with a lot of personality.
"A character," he told reporters. "Always in trouble, with us anyway.
"Just a general teenager doing what silly kids do."
Mr Auchterlonie said he had been looking forward to David, who would have turned 18 next month, maturing into adulthood.
"It's been nearly a year since his death," he said. "I'm sure he would've grown out of his ways and maybe these kids as well."
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