Police arrest Steve Fabriczy in Melbourne for alleged murder of Irma Palasics

A sample from the scene of the brutal killing of Irma Palasics in 1999 is what police allege ties a Melbourne man to the case as he faces court in Canberra charged with her murder.

A sample from the scene of a brutal alleged murder of a Canberra grandmother in 1999 has led to a breakthrough arrest in the cold case, with a Melbourne man hauled back to the nation’s capital to be charged.

Steve Fabriczy, 68, was arrested on Wednesday at his Rowville home in Victoria by investigators probing the alleged murder of Irma Palasics, 72, inside her Canberra home nearly 24 years ago.

The Rowville man was unsuccessful in his bid for extradition bail in Dandenong Magistrates Court on Thursday and was taken to the ACT where he was officially charged with murder.

The 68-year-old, dressed in a black tracksuit, was greeted by a packed ACT Magistrates Court room on Friday which included family members of Mrs Palasics, including her grandson John Mikita, for the brief mention by defence lawyer Nathan Deakes.

Mr Deakes said there would be no application for bail and no plea entered.

Steve Fabriczy arrested at his Rowville home on Wednesday. Picture: ACT Policing

Dandenong Magistrates Court heard on Thursday Mrs Palasics and her husband Gregor were “violently assaulted” on November 6, 1999, after two masked men forced their way into their home and demanded valuables.

When the pair refused, they were bound with cable ties, duct tape and a telephone cord before the offenders ransacked the home.

Steve Fabriczy in 2009.

After an hour, Mr Palasics was able to free himself from his bindings only to discover his wife was dead.

An autopsy revealed she died from the injuries sustained in the assault, which included a broken nose.

“With the binding over her mouth, she had been unable to expel the blood and she had effectively drowned in her own blood,” said Detective Sergeant Craig Marriott on Thursday.

Police were able to make a breakthrough in the case in 2019 when a sample from the crime scene allegedly matched a sample from Fabriczy contained in the national database.

The Victorian court heard another man was still “at large” in relation to the alleged murder.

Fabriczy’s matter was adjourned to October 8 pending a forensic procedure application.

‘Utter disbelief’: Family’s moment of elation after cold case arrest

Police have made a breakthrough in the cold case murder of Irma Palasics who was beaten to death during a savage robbery at her McKellar home more than 20 years ago.

A 68-year-old Rowville man was arrested in Melbourne on Wednesday morning and will face a murder charge following the death of Mrs Palasics in a violent home invasion of her and her husband Gregor’s property at McKellar on November 6, 1999.

Police allege two men forced their way into property about 9.30pm before they bound and savagely beat the couple.

It’s further alleged the men ransacked the home and stole cash and jewellery, leaving the 72-year-old woman to die from her injuries at the scene.

ACT Policing said the key to the investigations were two previous incidents where the Palasics were victims of burglaries in 1997 and 1998 in Red Hill.

Irma Palasics died in 1999 following an alleged home invasion at her McKellar property. Picture: ACT Policing

A reward of $500,000 was later offered in 2012 and police released information about footwear worn by the alleged offenders.

Investigators pursued a new strategy following a review in 2021 which led to the 68-year-old’s arrest on Wednesday. He is expected to face the Dandenong Magistrates Court to be extradited to Canberra this week.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said investigators were still looking for the second man allegedly involved and urged them to come forward before police “come knocking on his door”.

A 68-year-old Melbourne man arrested in Rowville, Victoria following a murder investigation into Irma Palasics in 1999. Picture: ACT Policing

Superintendent Moller couldn’t reveal the intricacies on how the man was arrested but said it was a “mammoth investigation” involving multiple detectives over decades.

The veteran cop said the 68-year-old came peacefully during his arrest and confirmed he had “very limited links” to the ACT.

He said forensics was a part of the investigation as well as the public’s assistance but said the arrest was not generated from information from the community.

John Mikita and Detective Superintendent Scott Moller speak to media on September 20, 2023 following an arrest in the murder investigation of Irma Palasics in Canberra in 1999. Picture: Sam Turner

Mrs Palasics’ grandson John Mikita described the feeling of being told on Wednesday of the latest arrest, saying “24 years is a long time”.

“We did as a family begin to start to think we would actually never get closure,” he said.

“Within the first five to 10 years you hope that something happens, 15 to 20 you start to think nothing will ever happen.

“I couldn’t personally and the family couldn’t give up the hope.”

Mr Mikita said he felt “utter disbelief” when his family were told of the arrest after years of his own public activations through corflutes and advertising to ensure his grandmother’s memory wasn’t “left behind”.

The grieving grandson had one message to the public.

“24 years leaving us with the sadness and not knowing what happened, it’s time to come forward,” he said.

“It’s time to share what happened on that night so that we can definitely feel a little bit better about putting that closure into the case.

“It’s never too late to come forward.”