Marathon inquiry into 1994 NCA building bombing in Adelaide in final stages of investigations

THE fresh investigation into the 1994 National Crime Authority bombing in Adelaide is in its final stages, but no decision has been made on any new charges against prime suspect Domenic Perre, senior police have revealed. The incident claimed the life of Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen.

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THE specialist taskforce investigating one of Australia’s most notorious cases of domestic terrorism is close to finalising its 2 ½-year intensive probe.

Major Crime Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray on Wednesday night said that fresh inquiries into the 1994 National Crime Authority bombing – dubbed Operation Cornus – was close to concluding its work.

However, Det-Supt Bray said no decision had yet been made on any new charges.

“The investigation has been under way since September 2015 and is still ongoing and we are now in the final stages of what has been a protracted, challenging and comprehensive investigation,’’ Det-Supt Bray said.

Smoke billows from 12th floor of the National Crime Authority building after the attack in 1994.

“At this point we will not comment further. There has been no decision made as to any action to be taken against any individual.’’

Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen, 36, a West Australian detective on secondment to the NCA, was killed in the March 2, 1994 bombing at the CPS building on Waymouth St, while lawyer Peter Wallis, 47, was severely injured.

Police covertly launched Operation Cornus in September, 2015. It has been the largest review of any cold case murder ever conducted in SA, involving dozens of detectives, analysts and forensic officers working from a secret location in the city.

As a direct result of its investigations, key bombing suspect Domenic Perre is facing cannabis trafficking charges.

He is still before the courts and is being held in custody.

The taskforce has established the make-up of the parcel bomb, obtained partial DNA profiles on some exhibits and additional fingerprints from others suspected of being involved in the conspiracy.

The late Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen.

Detective Superintendent Des Bray

Advanced DNA testing on 65 exhibits has been conducted in the Netherlands – at the same laboratory that provided the DNA breakthrough in the Louise Bell case.

In October, 2016, The Advertiser revealed Cornus detectives had identified three new suspects, including a female, who could face serious charges – including murder – as a result of the fresh investigations.

At the time, Det-Supt Bray said police were probing the roles of several men and a woman before and after the bombing.

“We have a number of suspects and now believe people had different roles,’’ he said.

Detectives planned to take fresh DNA swabs and fingerprints from Perre and the three new suspects.

Besides the new suspects, several others could also face lesser charges for either withholding or fabricating evidence provided in the initial stages of the investigation.

The Advertiser also revealed the bomber’s original plan was to send the parcel bomb to the home of Det-Sgt Bowen.

Detectives have uncovered evidence the bomber was ringing families with the surname “Bowen’’ across Australia a month before the bombing.

Witnesses have told detectives the caller was specifically asking questions to determine if Det-Sgt Bowen lived there.

Key bombing suspect Domenic Perre is facing cannabis trafficking charges. Picture: Nine News

The bomb arrived at the NCA office in the CPS building in an Express Post pack in a cardboard post box that was inside a black plastic zippy bag.

The bomb consisted of a nine-volt battery, an incendiary substance, a micro switch, wiring and a small quantity of high explosive.

A week after the blast, Perre, of Salisbury North, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder.

Perre was committed for trial but, in late 1994, then-Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Rofe, QC, withdrew the charges because he did not believe there was enough evidence to secure a conviction.

In 1999, then-Coroner Wayne Chivell delivered damning findings against Perre after a marathon 42-day inquest that heard evidence from 50 witnesses.

In his findings, Mr Chivell stated he believed Perre constructed the bomb, and either posted it or arranged for someone else to post it on his behalf to Det-Sgt Bowen.

While Det-Supt Bray would not comment on the identity of the other suspects, it is known they are closely associated with Perre and investigations have been conducted interstate.

THE DAY TERROR HIT ADELAIDE

■ MARCH 2, 1994: Det-Sgt Geoffrey Bowen dies after a parcel bomb he was opening exploded in the National Crime Authority’s Waymouth St offices in Adelaide’s CBD.

NCA lawyer Peter Wallis was seriously injured.

■ MARCH 11, 1994: Police arrest Salisbury East man Domenic Perre and charge him with murder and attempted murder.

■ AUGUST 1994: A magistrate rules Perre’s defence had “put forward some compelling hypotheses consistent with the defendant’s innocence “ but there was evidence “on which the jury might be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt” that he was guilty and he should stand trial.

■ SEPTEMBER 1994: Then- Director of Public Prosecutions Paul Rofe announces he has decided to drop the charges because “on all the evidence ... there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction”.

DEVASTATION: A telephone handset hangs out of the burning NCA office minutes after the blast on March 2, 1994.

■ 1997: Widow Jane Bowen is awarded a $372,000 ex-gratia payment from the Federal Government.

■ 1999: Then-coroner Wayne Chivell completes an inquest into the killing and finds Domenic Perre posted the parcel bomb.

■ 2001: Perre is released after serving a five-year non-parole period of a 9 ½ year sentence for drug offences.

■ 2006: Former workmates of Det-Sgt Bowen hope new DPP Stephen Pallaras, QC, will relaunch the prosecution, but he does not after reviewing the brief.

■ 2007: Cold case review of NCA bombing is launched, headed by Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Schramm.

■ 2008: A $1 million reward is posted for information leading to the conviction of the bomber after the cold case review fails to result in new charges.

■ 2015: Another review of the case, dubbed Task Force Cornus, is launched by Major Crime with 30 investigators involved.

■ MAY, 2016: Detectives reveal vital new information on the case provided by a caller to Crime Stoppers. Exhibits are also sent to a specialist centre in the Netherlands for DNA analysis.

■ OCTOBER, 2016: Cornus detectives identify three new suspects, including a female, who could face serious charges — including murder — as a result of the fresh investigations into the bombing.