The 1991 Portland Murders: 83-year-old Robert Penny arrested.

[X_box_X]

A huge break through today with a 24 year old cold case murder mystery.

On Friday 03/05/91 at approximately 1530 hours, two middle aged women were brutally stabbed to death in a Portland Hair Salon.

The husband of one of the victims, 83-year-old Robert Penny, has been arrested and appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court earlier today, for murdering Margaret Penny and Claire Acocks.

Penny was initially ruled out as a suspect, as he had an alibi of being at home and looking after his five-year-old granddaughter. Despite this, he didn't go to the inquest, he didn't follow his wife's body to the cemetery, and he remarried 16 months later.

There were three people nearby, within hearing distance, at the time the murders took place. A Dentist, a Draftsman and Insurance Agent - all of them dismissed the cries of the women. Tragically, none of them investigated the cries any further. Had any one of them come forward, this probably never would have been a cold case.

Great work by Vic Pol to solve this cold case.

 

[van peebles]

This arrest makes our police force look absolutely useless.
Read Horrible Man by Leonie Wallace.

 

[X_box_X]

This arrest makes our police force look absolutely useless.
Read Horrible Man by Leonie Wallace.

I'm sure there are things that weren't done back then that should have been. But the main thing is the case has been solved, and Victoria Police should be praised!

I'll have to get around to reading that.

Cheers!

 

[830SCD]

This arrest makes our police force look absolutely useless.
Read Horrible Man by Leonie Wallace.

Everyone seems to think that every murder or crime can/should be solved. They cant go arresting people because they think or have a hunch it was certain person. If there isnt enough evidence then there isnt enough evidence. Then when it gets laughed out of court they are the same people saying the police force is useless...

Maybe they have finally got him talking about it on tape etc after 20+ years?

 

[830SCD]

Evidence was ignored {only for 3 years}from shop owner who pointed out the murderer wanted to buy blood stain remover.
Also witness {also ignored by police}accounted for murderer admitting what killed the women 2 days before autopsy.
Read the book about another useless vicpol investigation that had people howling for 23 years.
There maybe some facts that didnt make it to ratings television shows,But you can read Leonie Wallace's book{horrible man}and see why people in the South West of victoria were so upset about the police investigation.

Take a step back and have a look at that evidence. Do you honestly think a jury will find someone guilty of murder x 2 because he bought blood stain remover and a convo that cant be proven to have taken place? Beyond reasonably doubt because of that? It would be laughed out of court.

Maybe he cut his hand and wiped it on his shirt. Thats basically all the defence would have to say to cover that point. And the other point is gonna be hard to prove unless that convo was recorded. His word v hers etc.

Obviously the police have got something concrete now if hes been charged. They have obviously had him in their sights for a while if hes all of a sudden been charged...he has obviously slipped up recently

 

[830SCD]

Ok,you've missed the point.
The person arrested today was cleared as a suspect 24 years ago.Police actually stopped investigating anything to do with him,as they went all clear on this suspect.
Locals told police that he bragged about the murder weapon used{unknown until autopsy}
He also requested blood stain remover.
These VITAL pieces of evidence were handed to police and were conveniently lost for over 3 years.
Sorry to harp on about actual facts.

And as stated 2 posts ago, them 2 VITAL pieces of info would have absolutely no hope of a conviction by themselves. Maybe they have been investigating him from the start and havent stopped. Just because they publicly say it wasnt him doesnt mean they are being honest with the media and telling them the details of the investigation. Now that would be terrible police work!

Is the following any possibility?

They received the circumstantial evidence such as the 2 you have provided 20+ years ago, but knowing they needed more they ruled him out publicy in the hope it would get him to be more comfortable and talking on the phone etc? Waiting for concrete evidence like an admission that will get a conviction?

 

[830SCD]

Ok,you've missed the point.
The person arrested today was cleared as a suspect 24 years ago.Police actually stopped investigating anything to do with him,as they went all clear on this suspect.
Locals told police that he bragged about the murder weapon used{unknown until autopsy}
He also requested blood stain remover.
These VITAL pieces of evidence were handed to police and were conveniently lost for over 3 years.
Sorry to harp on about actual facts.

By who? because it was written in a book? Unless you were part of the investigation how do you know he was really cleared? Because a crime author said so?

 

[830SCD]

Maybe for the last time{as you seem to be far more knowing of the facts than i}Witnesses stated quite clearly that after the suspect was cleared by police{see evidence in book and elsewhere}Witnesses claimed that after nearly "3" years police came back to them and asked for them to present evidence again as it was "lost somewhere the last time you gave it."
HHHHHHHmmmmm havent banked all my cheques on the book,it just reiterates the complete mess that VICPOL made of the evidence and the losing of the "EVIDENCE".
Maybe i shouldnt post the truth here but remove it to another board.
Dont be at pains to make police look good,They have made many many mistakes in victorian criminal history.This is one of them.
PS,read the facts before you post about this case.

As stated numerous times i havent seen any FACTS. Because the police tell the media he has been cleared could mean exactly the opposite. The only people who know if he was cleared were those working on the investigation

 

[van peebles]

As stated numerous times i havent seen any FACTS. Because the police tell the media he has been cleared could mean exactly the opposite. The only people who know if he was cleared were those working on the investigation

Page all yours,enjoy.

 

[830SCD]

As expected they got him on tape talking about the murder weapon. Weird that they were recording his phone calls if they cleared him as a suspect....

 

[_Mike_]

Interesting to hear that police sources insisted that the murders were committed by someone who was a truckie, passer through or back packer - not a local. This contradicts the claim that the police were investigating a local but for lack of evidence.

In any case, with science and DNA testing available today we might hope to achieve the right outcome, although the state of evidence after 24 years could be an issue in itself.

 

[van peebles]

Interesting to hear that police sources insisted that the murders were committed by someone who was a truckie, passer through or back packer - not a local. This contradicts the claim that the police were investigating a local but for lack of evidence.

In any case, with science and DNA testing available today we might hope to achieve the right outcome, although the state of evidence after 24 years could be an issue in itself.

After many complaints and media reports,the victorian police decided to revisit evidence given to them at the time of the murders.
The 2 pieces of evidence NOT acted upon were the murderer trying to buy some blood stain remover and the murderer telling witnesses what the actual murder weapon was.
People had given media interviews after the murderer was given a complete exoneration by vicpol.
The police admitted these 2 pieces of evidence were lost after some 3 years of investigation.
After much family anger and letter writing besides media coverage,police restarted the investigation.

This could all be made up as i only know 90% of the facts.