Bronwynne Richardson: First day of inquest reveals new evidence

New evidence has been revealed during the third inquest into the unsolved rape and murder of Bronwynne Richardson in 1973.

Bronwynne Richardson's family arriving at Albury court house ahead of the third inquest into Miss Richardson's death.

New evidence has arisen which has sparked the third inquest into the brutal rape and murder of Albury teen Bronwynne Richardson, making Maxwell Martin and Colin Newey the principal suspects.

It was revealed at Tuesday’s inquest that Newey, a cousin of Miss Richardson, was behind two anonymous phone calls made to police in 1989, which subsequently led the police on a new path of investigation.

The inquest started on Tuesday in Albury Coroner’s Court, almost 50 years after Miss Richardson’s death, with the deceased’s family present.

On October 12, 1973, Miss Richardson was abducted from Smollett St after finishing her shift at Coles.

The 17-year-old was raped and strangled before being thrown into the Murray River, where her body was found two days later in Horseshoe Lagoon.

In the 2011 inquest NSW Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes delivered an open finding and referred the matter to the Commissioner of Police for further investigation after a witness provided new evidence during the course of the inquest.

During the course of police investigations since 1973, five men have been suspected of being involved at different times - Geoffrey Brown, Ross Eames, Kevin Newman, Newey and Martin.

In 1990 three men were charged in relation to the incident, and in 2014 another was charged, but none have been convicted.

In 2019 a $1 million reward was offered for any information leading to a conviction in Bronwynne Richardson’s murder.

During the inquest on Tuesday, counsel assisting Sally Dowling told the court that police originally suspected Brown, an ex-boyfriend of Miss Richardson who had displayed “stalker like” behaviour.

But then came two anonymous phone calls in 1989 which claimed Martin, Newman, Brown, and Eames had all been at the scene when Miss Richardson was killed. It was also claimed in the calls that Brown and Martin were the key perpetrators.

The court heard from 1989 until 2011, investigations had followed a course based on the belief that Eames had made the anonymous phone calls to the Murray Bridge police station in South Australia, referencing key details about Miss Richardson’s murder.

In 2011, new information emerged which implied Newey was the one who made the two anonymous phone calls which led police on a new path of investigation.

Ms Dowling said since the 2011 inquest new information had come to light which had changed the focus of the investigation, making Newey and Martin (both deceased) the principal suspects. She told the court it was now evident Mr Newey had allegedly made the 1989 phone calls which successfully diverted police investigations, stating that the suspect’s alibi could now be disproved.

“We anticipate at the conclusion of our submissions Your Honour will find that Newey had some involvement in Bronwynne Richardson’s abduction, rape and murder, that Max Martin also had some involvement and participated in her abduction, rape and murder with Colin Newey,” Ms Dowling said.

She said it could not be excluded that Newman had some involvement alongside Mr Newey and Mr Martin, but it was unlikely that Brown and Eames were involved.

More to come.