Jump to content

User:Aoziwe/sandbox/LofUSMinAu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an incomplete list of unsolved known murders in Australia.

Year Name of victim(s) Location body found Notes
1931 Arthur Brennan North Fitzroy, Victoria On 12 September 1931, Brennan was shot dead outside his home, at 26 Rowe Street, North Fitzroy,[1][2] by a burglar, who was trying to get into a neighbour's residence.[3]

Brennan confronted a man he saw standing on the neighbour's verandah.[4] When he tried to make his escape, Brennan blocked his path at the garden gate and the pair then grappled.[3] During the struggle, Brennan was shot in the chest by a small automatic pistol that the intruder had managed to draw from his overcoat with a free arm.[3] Brennan died at the scene.[5] The gunman was chased by two other bystanders but was able to get away.[6]

An investigation revealed that the gunman, likely aged 25 to 30, had earlier been seen scoping the area, and the police were able to get a good description of his appearance.[3][7]

The police were unable to locate the suspect and after three months had elapsed the City Coroner gave a finding that Brennan had been murdered by a "person unknown".[8][9]

1972 George Ian Ogilvie Duncan Adelaide, South Australia Duncan was an Australian law lecturer at the University of Adelaide who drowned after being thrown into the River Torrens by a group of men believed to be police officers. Around 11.00 p.m. on 10 May 1972, Duncan and Roger James were both thrown into the river and Duncan drowned.[10] Public debate was so great that Premier Dunstan permitted police commissioner, Harold Salisbury, to call in detectives from New Scotland Yard, London, to investigate the murder. Their report, which has never been made public, led to the crown solicitor announcing on 24 October 1972 that he had decided against proceeding with any prosecution.[11][12]

On 30 July 1985, former Vice Squad officer Mick O'Shea told The Advertiser newspaper that the group involved were Vice Squad officers and that there was a cover-up to protect them. On 5 February 1986 three former Vice Squad officers, Brian Hudson, Francis Cawley and Michael Clayton, were charged with the manslaughter of Duncan. Cawley and Clayton eventually went to trial in 1988 with both being acquitted of the charges on 30 September after refusing to testify.[11][11][13][14][15] A further allegation was later raised that there had been an attempt to influence a juror to find the two officers charged not guilty.[16] A police task force was set up, reporting to Parliament in 1990 that there was insufficient evidence to charge any person with the murder. Repeated calls for a Royal Commission have been ignored.[12]

1975 Shirley Finn South Perth, Western Australia Finn's body was found on Monday 23 June 1975 in her parked Dodge DG Phoenix car near the 9th fairway of the Royal Perth Golf Club, South Perth.[17][18] Finn's body was slumped behind the wheel with four bullet holes in her head. She wore valuable diamond jewellery which had not been touched.[19]

At the time, various rumours regarding the murder attributed it to specific issues relating to prostitution and the way it was being handled by police and government in Perth, but no evidence of this was made public.[20][21][22]

The murder, and the implied connections with issues relating to policing of the sex industry, resulted in a Royal Commission being held.[23] On the thirtieth anniversary of the murder a cold-case review of the case was announced.[24] An opinion was canvassed that no solution of the case was likely.[25] In 2014, another cold-case review was launched by WA Police. The following year, the Corruption and Crime Commission confirmed it had received new information about the murder.[26]

On 6 March 2017, the ABC Television documentary series Australian Story aired a story titled "Getting Away With Murder"[27] which revealed that a coronial inquest would be conducted in 2017.[28] The inquest commenced on Tuesday 29 August[29] The public hearing was adjourned on 20 December 2017 and resumed on 23 July 2018. After a week, it was again adjourned for 6 months, "allowing new leads to be followed up and two scientific investigations to be completed". Coroner Barry King acknowledged limitations but had not given up hope. He urged persons with information to come forward.[30]

1977 Suzanne Armstrong

Susan Bartlett

Collingwood, Victoria (Australia) Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett were stabbed to death on 10 January 1977 in their home at 147 Easey Street.[31] The crime remains unsolved.[32]

On 15 January 2017 Victoria Police offered a reward of up to $1 million for information to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible.[33]

1977 Florence Maud Broadhurst Paddington, New South Wales Broadhurst was bludgeoned to death with a large piece of timber in her Paddington studio on 15 October 1977.

There has been some speculation that Broadhurst was a victim of English Australian serial killer John Wayne Glover, who was convicted of murdering six elderly women on the Sydney North Shore district between 1989 and 1990, and is thought by police to have been responsible for other deaths.[34]

In the documentary Unfolding Florence: The Many Lives of Florence Broadhurst, friends and employees of Broadhurst stated that they believed the killer may have been known to her, due to the presence of two cups of tea near her body, suggesting a meeting or appointment, and the killer's apparent knowledge of her factory's layout.

1985 Christopher Dale Flannery Not found Flannery, nicknamed "Mr. Rent-a-Kill",[35] is alleged to have been an Australian contract killer. By the time of his disappearance and presumed death, police stated that they believed Flannery to have been responsible for up to a dozen murders.[36]

New South Wales State Coroner Greg Glass found that Flannery was murdered most probably on or about 9 May 1985. He also found that the key to solving the murder lay with Roger Rogerson.[37]


1990 Colleen Walker Not found (Bowraville, New South Wales) Walker was in Bowraville visiting relatives[38] and was last seen alive at a party in the Aboriginal community of The Mission, on 13 September 1990. The following day her family reported to the police that she was missing. Despite the family believing something terrible had happened, the missing person's report was not taken seriously by police. No search parties were formed and no formal police action was taken.[39]

Walker's body has not been found, although articles of her clothing were later found weighed down by rocks in the Nambucca River.[40]

1990 Evelyn Greenup Congarinni, New South Wales On 4 October 1990, four-year-old Evelyn Greenup disappeared after a party at her grandmother's house. She was last seen by her mother when Greenup was put to bed. The next morning she was gone from her bed.[40]

On 27 April 1991, Greenup's skeletal remains were found in bushland near Congarinni Road.[40] An autopsy could not conclusively determine the cause of death, but noted that a skull injury was "consistent with a forceful penetration by a sharp instrument".[41]

1991 Clinton Speedy-Duroux Congarinni, New South Wales On 31 January 1991, 16-year-old Speedy-Duroux went missing after a party at The Mission. On 18 February his remains were discovered in bushland near Congarinni Road.[40]
1991 Karmein Chan Thomastown, Victoria Chan was a 13-year-old girl who was abducted from her home in Templestowe, Victoria, during the night of 13 April 1991. Chan and her sisters were confronted by a man in a balaclava with a knife. He forced Chan's sisters into a wardrobe before fleeing with Chan.[42] A reward of $100,000 was offered for information on her abduction.[43]

On 9 April 1992, Chan's remains were found in a landfill area at Edgars Creek in the suburb of Thomastown.[44] The skull had three bullet holes in the back of the head. The body had probably been there for 12 months.[45]

The case has remained open with cold case detectives regularly reviewing the investigation.[46]

On the 25th anniversary of her abduction the reward was increased from $100,000 to $1,000,000.[47][48]

1994 Revelle Sabine Balmain Not found (Kingsford, New South Wales) Balmain was working as an escort who disappeared from the Sydney suburb of Kingsford in November 1994.[49]

On the afternoon of 5 November, Balmain, visited a client in the south-eastern Sydney suburb of Kingsford. After the two-hour appointment was over she had planned to meet friend Kate Brentnell for a drink. At 7.15 pm Revelle rang Kate Brentnell to say that she was about to leave her client and suggested that they meet at the Royal Hotel, Paddington. She did not keep that appointment.[50]

The next day, Balmain's bag, shoes, make-up, diary, credit cards and keys to her Bellevue Hill flat were found scattered around several Kingsford streets.[50] Police interviewed Balmain's client, who said that he had driven her to the nearby Red Tomato Inn at about 7.00 pm on the evening of 5 November. Police officers also questioned the escort agency's owners, but the enquiries resulted in no charges being laid.[50]

The New South Wales government offered a reward of $100,000 for anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of Balmain's killer.[50] The reward for information is now up to $250,000.[51]

1998 Alphonse Gangitano Templestowe, Victoria Gangitano was shot and killed in the laundry of his home. A coroner's report into his death directly implicated Jason Moran and Graham Kinniburgh. They were both found to be in Gangitano's home in Templestowe when the murder took place. It could not be established who pulled the trigger. Both were excused from giving evidence to the coroner on the grounds they might incriminate themselves.[52]

Gangitano is considered to be the second of the thirty-six Melbourne gangland killings between 1998–2010.

1999 Michelle Bright Outside Gulgong, New South Wales Bright was a 17-year-old who was found raped and murdered. She was last seen at 12:45 am on 27 February 1999 by a friend who dropped her off in Herbert Street, Gulgong following a friend's 15th birthday party on 27 February 1999.[53] The Minister for Police, Michael Daley announced that the NSW Government offered a reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Bright.[54] The police regard Bright's death as a horrific crime.[55]
2002 Margaret Gall Raymond Terrace, Hunter Region, New South Wales Strike Force Varberg was formed to investigate the murder. It included detectives from the homicide squad and the Port Stephens Local Area Command.[56]

In 2011, Anne Maree Wotherspoon, a 27-year-old woman from Hamilton South, was arrested in Newcastle CBD. She was subsequently charged with murder and then refused bail. Eventually three other people were arrested and charged for their alleged involvement. However, in April 2012, prosecutors dropped charges against all three of the accused.[57]

In late 2013, the Supreme Court of New South Wales ruled that the confession of Wotherspoon was unreliable. Wotherspoon had told police that she and three others had stormed Gall's home seeking drugs and money. However, she made a number of errors in her confession including what weapon was used and the time of the murder. Justice Megan Latham found that Wotherspoon had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and drug-induced psychosis, causing delusions and hallucinations. Wotherspoon, an intravenous drug user, was recorded telling one of her boyfriends that she was going to confess with the intention of being imprisoned and being placed on a methadone program.[58]

New South Wales Government is offering a reward of $100,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.[59]

2006 Mario Condello Brighton, Victoria Condello was shot dead in his driveway on 6 February 2006, a day before he was due to stand trial for conspiracy to murder Carl Williams.[60][61] Victoria Police believed hitman Rodney Collins killed Mario Condello as a paid hit. [62]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Deaths: Brennan, The Argus, (Monday, 14 September 1931), p.1.
  2. ^ Scene of North Fitzroy Fatal Shooting, The Herald, (Monday, 14 September 1931), p.5.
  3. ^ a b c d "A Desperate Burglar Fired to Kill". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 19 August 1950. p. 26 Supplement: The Argus Week-End Magazine. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Householder Shot Dead". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 14 September 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Shot By Burglar". The Canberra Times. National Library of Australia. 14 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Man Shot Dead at his Front Gate". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 12 September 1931. p. 1. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  7. ^ "State-Wide Search". The Northern Miner. Charters Towers, Qld.: National Library of Australia. 16 September 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Murder of Arthur Brennan". Kalgoorlie Miner. WA: National Library of Australia. 9 December 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Shooting Mystery". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 9 December 1931. p. 14. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  10. ^ How the killing of a gay academic changed Australia, BBCnews, 14 November 2017.
  11. ^ a b c Reeves, Tim. "Duncan, George Ian Ogilvie (1930 - 1972)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 14 March 2007.
  12. ^ a b Wilfrid Prest Wakefield Companion to South Australian History Wakefield Press 2001 Pg 153 ISBN 1-86254-558-8
  13. ^ Gay Rights: South Australian law reform 1859 to 1975 State Library of South Australia
  14. ^ A look back at the Duncan murder The 7.30 Report ABC 9 May 2002
  15. ^ Duncan drowning witness talks Stateline ABC 6 May 2005
  16. ^ Duncan Report "Closed" State Library of South Australia Scan of newspaper article May 1990 Pg 6.
  17. ^ Wills, Juliet. Website: Finn murder The state sanctioned murder of Shirley Finn
  18. ^ "Shirley Finn—found shot dead" The West Australian, 24 June 1975, p.1,5
  19. ^ Wills, Juliet "Dirty Girl: The State Sanctioned Murder of Brothel Madam Shirley Finn", Fontaine Press, Fremantle 2017, ISBN 9780992465834
  20. ^ Gregory, Jenny (2003) City of light : a history of Perth since the 1950s Perth, W.A. : City of Perth. ISBN 0-9594632-4-0 p.243-249, re containment and issues surrounding prostitution at the time
  21. ^ Whish-Wilson, David. Shirley Finn at davidwhish-wilson.com
  22. ^ Adshead, Gary. Cover Story: Shirley Finn – Death of a madam, West Weekend Magazine 17 January 2009, pp.10–15, at davidwhish-wilson.com
  23. ^ Norris, John Gerald (Commissioner) (1976). Report of the Royal Commission into matters surrounding the administration of the law relating to prostitution. Perth: Government of Western Australia
  24. ^ Ambrose, Melanie.(2006) "Cold case." Author Juliet Wills discusses the murder of Finn. Sunday Times (Perth, W.A.), 23 April 2006, STM section, p.10-12
  25. ^ Kelly, Jim. (2005) "Lawyer Ron Cannon doubtful Shirley Finn's murderer will be found". Sunday Times (Perth, W.A.), 26 June 2005, p.29
  26. ^ Powell, Graeme (21 May 2015). "Shirley Finn death: CCC weighs probe into killing of Perth brothel madam". ABC News. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Getting Away With Murder". ABC Television, 6 March 2017. Transcript.
  28. ^ Feller, Jennifer. Shirley Finn murder: Brothel owner threatened to expose alleged lover former WA premier Ray O'Connor. ABC News, 6 March 2017
  29. ^ Taylor, Grant; Hampton, Shannon. "Sydney hit man Arthur ‘Neddy’ Smith ‘was paid $5000 to kill Shirley Finn’". The West Australian, 30 August 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  30. ^ Farcic, Elle. Shirley Finn inquest adjourned to explore new leads. The West Australian, 27 July 2018, (print version: p.21). Retrieved 6 August 2018
  31. ^ "Killer unknown: Coroner". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 827. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 July 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 5 May 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ Foster, Rowan (28 July 2015). "It remains one of our most baffling unsolved cases". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  33. ^ Florance, Loretta (16 January 2017). "Easey Street murders: $1m reward to catch cold case killer who left toddler alone in cot". ABC News. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  34. ^ Gibson, Jano (9 September 2005). "Granny killer found dead in cell". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  35. ^ "Underbelly comes to town". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 December 2008.
  36. ^ "Sunday: Ganglands Part 2 transcript". Archived from the original on 27 August 2006. Retrieved 26 February 2006.
  37. ^ Glass, G.; State Coroner of New South Wales (1997). Inquest findings into the disappearance and suspected death of Christopher Dale Flannery. Government of New South Wales.
  38. ^ Palin, Megan (13 September 2018). "No retrial for the man acquitted over Bowraville child murders". News Pty Ltd.
  39. ^ Australian Story – Truth be Told – Transcript Archived 1 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine, 2006-09-04, abc.net.au
  40. ^ a b c d Scheikowski, Margaret (13 September 2018). "No retrial over Bowraville murders: court". Newcastle Herald.
  41. ^ Accused spoke of killing girl, court told, By Natasha Wallace, 2006-02-07, The Sydney Morning Herald.
  42. ^ Catalano, Antony (4 May 1991). "Brutal abductor breeds fear with cruelty". The Age. p. 20. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  43. ^ "Karmein Chan $100,000 award announced 1991". Victoria Police News. Victoria Police Media Unit. Archived from the original on 1 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  44. ^ Tobin, Bruce (13 April 1992). "Karmein possibly shot in panic". The Age. p. 4. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  45. ^ Holgate, Ben; Daley, Paul (12 April 1992). "Mr Cruel executed Karmein: police". The Sunday Age. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 22 July 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  46. ^ "New clues in police hunt for 'Mr Cruel'". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  47. ^ Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana media briefing Karmein Chan reward. Victoria Police Media Unit (Television production). Victoria Police. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  48. ^ "$1 MILLION REWARD ANNOUNCED ON 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABDUCTION AND MURDER OF KARMEIN CHAN". Victoria Police. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016.
  49. ^ "Final hours of missing Sydney model". NewsComAu. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  50. ^ a b c d John Pinkney, Great Australian Mysteries, Five Mile Press, Rowville, Victoria, 2004 ISBN 1-74124-024-7.
  51. ^ "Cold cases: Millions of dollars in rewards on offer for help solving NSW's most notorious murders". 9News. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  52. ^ Gangitano suspects won't testify, Toby Hemming, The Age, 16 January 2002
  53. ^ "Who killed Michelle? A family needs closure". Tim Barlass, The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 March 2014.
  54. ^ O’Neill, Marnie (25 February 2017). "Aussie mother begs daughter's killer to break 18-year silence and turn himself in". News.com.au. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  55. ^ "Reward of $500,000 to solve the murder of Michelle Bright". NSW Government of Australia.
  56. ^ "Woman, 27, charged with 2002 murder of Margaret Gall after $100,00 reward; The Daily Telegraph". dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  57. ^ "Charges dropped and free from jail | The Maitland Mercury". maitlandmercury.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  58. ^ "Errors in confession in Gall murder case | Newcastle Herald". theherald.com.au. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  59. ^ "Murder of Margaret Gall - NSW Police Online". police.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  60. ^ Moynihan, Stephen (5 March 2005). "Condello wins fourth application for bail". The Age. AAP. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  61. ^ "Murder stops underworld trial". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  62. ^ "Condello gunned down in Brighton". The Age. Retrieved 22 August 2017.