Hugo Benscher: Cold case murder reviewed with police to interview original and new witnesses

Homicide detectives will travel to Tasmania to meet with new and original witnesses after launching a review into a disturbing murder from 27 years ago.

Homicide detectives will travel across the country to meet with new and original witnesses after launching a review into a disturbing Gold Coast murder from 27 years ago.

Hugo Benscher’s body was found bound, blindfolded and gagged with electrical tape at his canal-front Paradise Point home on June 21, 1992.

The 89-year-old also had a head injury and the home had been ransacked.

There had been several robberies in nearby Gold Coast canal estates at the time.

A full review of his murder began at the start of the year with investigators from the Cold Case Investigation Team and Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch.

SON OF HUGO BENSCHER JUST ‘WANTS JUSTICE’

Hugo Benscher was murdered in 1992.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell of the Cold Case Investigation Team said the renewed focus would hopefully draw out new information.

Born in Hamburg in 1903, the entrepreneur had immigrated to Australia in 1948. He had invented an inflatable ball bladder and valve for sporting equipment.

He retired to the Gold Coast in 1986 after his wife died and was a regular at the Runaway Bay Yacht Club.

The Gold Coast canal front home of Hugo Benscher.

“Police firmly believe that with public assistance, irrespective of the passage of time, the offenders will be brought to justice, giving Hugo’s friends and family some closure,” Det Snr Sgt Kentwell said.

“In the coming weeks, detectives will travel to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania to reinterview original witnesses and to approach new witnesses identified during the review. It is our intention through today’s appeal to urge anyone with information to come forward.

“We are especially interested in speaking with anyone who interacted with Hugo at the Runaway Bay Yacht Club, or knew of those who did around 1992, to contact police.

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Hugo Benscher’s home before his murder in 1992.

“We are seeking information from anyone who has knowledge of a boat in the canal around the time of Hugo’s murder, as neighbours at the time recalled waking late in the evening on Saturday, June 20 1992 to the sound of a high revving outboard motor.

“We are also wanting further information received during the initial investigation about a beige Datsun and male driver reported as being seen around Hugo’s home around the time of his murder.”

Police image of a man who is believed to be have been driving the Datsun.

The Datsun of interest. Picture: supplied

Hugo was last seen alive on June 20, 1992 in the morning, and last known alive at 8pm that night when he received a phone call.

In 2016, Hugo’s son Ron Benscher told the Bulletin the image of his father’s lifeless body still haunted him.

“It would just mean the world to me for justice to be done,” he said at the time.

“It won’t change what happened, but someone needs to be accountable.”

A $250,000 reward is still on offer for information which leads to an apprehension and conviction of a killer or killers.

Indemnity from persecution will be recommended for any accomplice who first gives this information.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Hugo Benscher: Cold case murder reviewed with police to interview original and new witnesses