Police chief meets Dutch DNA experts as caller reveals secret NCA bombing details

POLICE are “confident” that testing by Dutch DNA experts will lead to a breakthrough in the 1994 NCA bombing and finally bring detective Geoffrey Bowen’s killer to justice.

• Caller holds key to 1994 National Crime Authority bombing
• SA Police Taskforce Cornus to investigate NCA bombing
• VIDEO: Hear the first police response to the fatal blast

POLICE are “confident” that testing by Dutch DNA experts will lead to a breakthrough in the 1994 NCA bombing and finally bring detective Geoffrey Bowen’s killer to justice.

Commissioner Grant Stevens yesterday met the experts in the Netherlands.

The Dutch experts recently provided crucial new evidence in the cold-case murder of schoolgirl Louise Bell.

The meeting comes after a Crime Stoppers caller provided police with details about the bombing of the National Crime Authority’s Adelaide office which had never been publicly released.

The developments follow separate claims of a jailhouse confession by an inmate who allegedly “bragged” about making the deadly bomb.

The Crime Stoppers phone call provided “crucial” information to the investigation – prompting police to publicly plead for the person to contact them again over the shocking crime that killed Det Sgt Bowen and seriously injured lawyer Peter Wallis.

The Advertiser can now reveal that the caller on April 2 divulged accurate information that has never been publicly released by investigators from the taskforce formed to solve the Waymouth St bombing.

National Crime Authority building in Waymouth Street after the parcel bomb explosion that killed NCA officer Geoffrey Bowen.

Mr Stevens yesterday visited the Netherland’s Forensic Institute. Police hope the institute will agree to analyse more than 100 exhibits, including DNA and fingerprints, which are suitable for further forensic testing as a result of technological advances.

Sources close to the investigation have told The Advertiser the taskforce is very confident the institute’s testing will provide a breakthrough in the case.

The institute was used by prosecutors in the high-profile case against Dieter Pfennig who allegedly abducted and murdered schoolgirl Louise Bell in 1983.

Its expertise has also been used to identify victims of the infamous MH17 plane crash disaster in Ukraine in 2014.

Its reporting officer, Bart Jan Blankers, told the Pfennig trial that his section specialises in low template DNA analysis – a technique that allegedly matched Pfennig to Louise Bell’s murder. Mr Stevens’ visit to the DNA experts is part of an extended overseas trip that has garnered controversy after his wife posted Facebook photos of them enjoying sites in the UK.

Victim Geoffrey Bowen with his wife Jane.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Tom Osborn yesterday confirmed Mr Stevens had met the institute’s director.

“The institute is regarded as being at the forefront of DNA technology and this is reflected in the recent work undertaken by them on behalf of SAPOL in furtherance of the cold-case murder investigation into the 1983 disappearance of Louise Bell,” he said.

Mr Osborn said the commissioner had detailed discussions with senior staff at the institute about the opportunity to conduct further work on behalf of South Australia.

The potential new testing of evidence comes amid claims by a former prisoner that a fellow inmate made a jailhouse confession to a role in the bombing. The inmate has told The Advertiser thata fellow prisoner admitted making the parcel bomb and had handed him a drawing of how it was constructed.

The alleged confessor is serving time over another bomb-related crime.

His fellow inmate, who has since been released, said he asked the prisoner about the March 1994 bomb and was taken aback by his reply.

“He was sort of bragging about it,” he said.

The inmate, who has completed a lengthy sentence over a serious crime, said the alleged confessor was known to have had links to the Adelaide underworld at the time of the bombing and had indicated there may have been several people involved.

Police have been made aware of the inmates’ claims, but Major Crime detectives ­declined to comment on their credibility while the bombing investigation was ongoing.

Numerous theories have arisen in the two decades since the bombing, including that it was a mafia hit and that several people were involved.

Dominic Perre was charged with the murder but the charge was later dropped by the Department of Public Prosecutions due to a lack of evidence.

Dominic Perre was charged with the murder but the charge was later dropped by the Department of Public Prosecutions due to a lack of evidence.

The cause of the explosion was later determined by then coroner Wayne Chivell to be a letter bomb sent to the NCA office by Mr Perre, whom Det-Sgt Bowen had played a role in investigating on a drugs matter.

A $1 million reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the bombing.

The inmate said he had come forward with the information because it was time the case was solved. “It has been a long time. I, like other South Australians, just want it solved.”

Task Force Cornus was formed last September to again investigate the bombing. Up to 30 officers are working on the case on any given day.

Crime Stoppers received 16 callers since the start of April when SA Police announced the existence of Task Force Cornus.

The April 2 caller provided the most promising lead.

This month Major Crime officer in charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said: “Out of all the calls over the years, I can tell you that this is a very, very, significant call and could advance the investigation a tremendous amount.”

Mr Stevens’ visit to the DNA experts is part of an extended overseas trip which has provoked controversy after his wife posted Facebook photos of them enjoying sites across the UK including Big Ben and the Guinness Brewery.

THE LONG ROAD TOWARDS JUSTICE

March 2, 1994. A parcel bomb explodes at the National Crime Authority’s Waymouth St office, killing Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and injuring lawyer Peter Wallis.

March 11, 1994. Dominic Perre is charged with the murder of Det-Sgt Bowen and attempted murder of Mr Wallis.

September 9, 1994. A week before the trial is due to start, director of public prosecutions Paul Rofe, QC, shocks by dropping all charges against Mr Perre.

October 17, 1999. After a lengthy inquest, coroner Wayne Chivell finds Dominic Perre sent the parcel bomb.

September 2015. Police launch Taskforce Cornus – an intensive review into the bombing, led by the Major Crime Investigation Branch.

Yesterday. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens meets forensic experts in the Netherlands to discuss testing of NCA bombing evidence following technological advances.