Portland double murder of Margaret Penny and Claire Acocks to be re-examined by coroner
A 25-YEAR-OLD double murder mystery will be re-examined by the coroner after the man charged with the brutal killings died awaiting trial.
The 1991 murders of Margaret Penny, 58, and her hairdresser Claire Acocks, 49, inside a Portland hair salon are considered among Victoria’s most chilling killings.
Now the families of both women hope evidence collected in the case against Mrs Penny’s husband Robert can finally solve the case at a second coronial inquest.
Robert Penny, 84, was last year charged over the murders but died while his lawyers fought to have the case discontinued.
MORE: Robert Penny dies waiting to face court
Shocking Portland murders remain unsolved
New evidence included statements from Mr Penny’s children and granddaughter police said were critical to finally solving the baffling murder mystery.
It also included a covertly recorded conversation shortly before Mr Penny’s arrest in which he talked about the murders and murder weapon.
An original inquest into the murder, held in 1995, concluded in an open finding.
Police interviewed 6000 people in relation to the killings.
Both the Penny and Acocks families requested a second inquest.
Police said evidence by Mr Penny’s estranged son was to be critical in the case against him.
He had also allegedly disclosed chilling detail to Mrs Acocks’ husband the morning after the murders.
Police said Mr Penny visited the Acocks’ family home and said: “Claire died very quickly. She was killed with a tail comb.”
At that time no one, including police, was aware of puncture marks or injuries.
Mr Penny’s son also told police his dad phoned him the night his mum was killed and told him what weapon was used.
A similar call was allegedly made to his daughter.
Investigators believed Mr Penny was cheating on his wife with a woman he married shortly after his wife’s murder.
On the morning of the murders police believed the couple had an explosive fight over their granddaughter.
Mrs Penny had wanted to take the five-year-old to the hairdressers with her but police allege Mr Penny refused because “he knew what was to occur there later that day”.
Ahead of his death Mr Penny persistently denied any involvement in the killings.
“This case has a long and complex history,” said coroner Jacqui Hawkins.
“It’s most unfortunate that the criminal process was unable to be completed due to Mr Penny’s death.”
The inquest will begin on November 23.
with AAP