Networked Knowledge - Media Report

[This edited version of the report has been prepared by Dr Robert N Moles]

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16 January 2008 - Yahoo7News reported “Detectives make breakthrough in old case”.

It said that Victorian sex crimes detectives believe they have made a breakthrough in a rape case from 24 years ago. After re-examining forensic evidence, police have identified two people of interest who could hold the link to solving the 1984 crime. A 19-year-old female and her 21-year-old flatmate were sleeping in their Huntingdale home in Melbourne's south when two men broke in through the kitchen window on the morning of October 23, 1984. One of the men entered the younger woman's bedroom, placed a hand over the sleeping woman's mouth and allegedly demanded money. She was warned not to scream because there were people in the house with guns, investigators were told.

A second male stood in the doorway holding what appeared to be a rifle while the 19-year-old was raped, police believe. Both men escaped through the front door. The woman's 21-year-old housemate was woken by the commotion but hid when she saw the man holding a firearm. Detective Inspector Anthony Cecchin, head of the sex crimes squad, said the new evidence came about during a review of historical unsolved sex crimes. Existing evidence was re-examined forensically, using technology that was unavailable 20 years ago. As a result, police intended to speak to two people of interest, Det Insp Cecchin told AAP.

"The persons of interest are known to police," he said. "With the passage of time we're confident the persons of interest told people about what happened that night." Det Insp Cecchin said the victim was still traumatised by the attack. "Knowing that her attacker is no longer walking the streets will finally bring some closure for the victim, who is still suffering the effects from that night and receiving counselling after so many years," he said. "We will be speaking to the persons of interest in the near future, however we still need the assistance of the public. "We are appealing to anyone with information about what happened on this night to come forward."

Det Insp Cecchin said with advances in forensic technology it was possible more cold cases would be solved in future.

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