Two men named in 1973 cold case of Albury pageant queen Bronwynne Richardson

Two men have been named as killers after an Albury pageant queen was found dead more than 48 years ago.

The family of murdered pageant queen Bronwynne Richardson say they are relieved that two men involved in her brutal murder have finally been named after 48 years.

On Monday, NSW Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes told the Coroner’s Court in Albury that she was satisfied Ms Richardson’s cousin, Colin Newey, and his associate, Maxwell Martin, were involved in her assault, rape and murder in 1973.

Ms Richardson, 17, was abducted from Albury's Smollett Street on October 12, 1973, after finishing work at a Coles supermarket.

She was waiting outside for a lift outside a church and had planned to go to a ball later that evening.

The next day Ms Richardson‘s body was found in West Albury’s Horseshoe Lagoon.

The body of 17-year-old Bronwynne Richardson was recovered from a lagoon off the Murray River on Sunday October 14, 1973.

According to formal findings the 17-year-old was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered by a group of men, two of whom were named as Newey and Martin.

Newey was Ms Richardson’s cousin while known paedophile and sex offender Maxwell Martin was an associate of Newey’s, and had been released from jail the same day as the murder.

Both men are now deceased.

Deputy State Coroner, Camel Forbes said in her formal findings that Ms Richardson died of a combination of pressure to the neck and drowning.

She also said that Ms Richardson was sexually assaulted by a group of men, and that she was satisfied that two of those men were Newey and Martin.

Colin Michael Newey. Picture: Dylan Coker

The court heard in submissions made by counsel assisting the inquest Michael Dalla-Pozza that suspects Ross Eames, Geoffrey Charles Brown and Kevin Newman could not have been involved in the abduction, assault and murder.

Monday's findings follow the third coronial inquest, which was held last year, into Ms Richardson's murder.

In a statement the victim’s family said they have finally received the answers they have desperately been seeking for 48 years.

“Not knowing who killed her has devastated her family, and her death hit dad the hardest and he died not knowing who killed her,” Ms Richardson’s sister, Fiona Hume said.

Bronwynne Richardson‘s family members, including mum Noelle and sisters Janette Swinton and Fiona Hume, outside court on October 25, 2021.

“We think of every birthday, anniversary and wedding and the mystery of Bronwynne’s death that has lingered for nearly half a century and outlasted many detectives.

“Bronwynne’s murder has left such a mind blowing gap and we have not been able to grieve. We will never truly have closure but what the coroner’s finding gives us is a path to heal.

“Evil cannot exist with beauty, it has to destroy it, death may silence the monsters but it hasn’t silenced the truth.”

Ms Hume said they were in support of the coroner’s findings but that it was hard to rest while violence against women is still ongoing in communities across Australia.

“Even in the modern day that we are in today, what has happened to her (Bronwynne Richardson) continues to happen and I think people can continue to support women and break the cycle of violence against women,” Ms Hume said.

Bronwynne’s family members will attend a private ceremony at the cemetery in Albury before making their way back to Canberra where they say they will focus on healing.

Further formal findings will be released later this week.