Hugo Benscher cold case: Man arrested over 1992 Gold Coast death

Police have arrested a 62-year-old man over the 1992 murder of a wealthy Gold Coast widower following an in-depth review of the cold case.

THE son of a wealthy Gold Coast widower killed in his home 27 years ago said he was relieved at news of an arrest.

Detectives yesterday revealed they had travelled to Launceston to arrest Phillip Stearman, 62, for the 1992 murder of Hugo Benscher following an in-depth review of the cold case.

Son receives ‘last chance’ for cold case justice

The charged man will front court on Wednesday.

Phillip Stearman, 62, was today arrested in Launceston. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Hugo’s son Ron fronted a press conference yesterday where he expressed his gratitude to detectives who never gave up.

“I must say... I had given up all hope...,” he said.

“Twenty-seven years is a long time.

“The way my father was killed at the age of 89 - he was hit over the head, tied and gagged, he suffocated to death. A terrible way to go.

“The person who committed this crime showed no mercy, no compassion, no heart, no feelings towards an old sick feeble man, my father.”

Hugo Benscher was 89 years old when he was killed in 1992.

Police believe the 89-year-old inventor was the victim of a violent home invasion.

Hugo was known to spend a lot of time at the local Runaway Bay Yacht Club where it was thought a lot of people learned of his wealth.

He was last seen alive on the morning of June 20, 1992, and was known to be alive that evening when he had a conversation with someone over the phone.

Neighbours would later tell police they woke to the sounds of a high-revving outboard motor in the adjacent canal that night, leading police to consider whether someone had approached the house from the water.

The Gold Coast canalfront home of Hugo Benscher after his death in 1992.

Ron said he was taken to see his father’s body soon after the death and had remained haunted by the image.

“I thought that if someone broke into your home to commit a theft why go to those extremes?” he said.

“Why hit him over the head with such force?

“He had a hole in his head. He was 89 years old. He needed a walking stick to get around.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said police still needed information from the public.

They want to speak to anyone who remembers speaking to Hugo at the Runaway Bay Yacht Club around 1992 or who has knowledge of a boat in the Paradise Point canal on the evening of the murder.

“During the recent investigation, police came into possession of a brooch that we believe may be linked to Hugo’s murder and we are asking anyone with knowledge of the brooch to contact police,” she said.

Originally published as Hugo Benscher cold case: Man arrested over 1992 Gold Coast death