Murder charges for ex-RAAF member John Wetzler withdrawn in court

A man charged with murder 40 years after his bride-to-be went missing from her Windsor home has had the charge dropped.

All charges have been dropped against Peter John Wetzler. Picture: Wayne Taylor

A former RAAF member charged with the murder of his fiancee, who disappeared nearly 40 years ago, has had his murder charge dropped in court.

Peter John Wetzler, 66, fronted the Melbourne’s Magistrate Court on Wednesday to hear the prosecutor withdraw his murder charge.

Mr Wetzler was charged with the murder of his fiancee Debra Campbell in September 2023.

Ms Campbell, then 21, disappeared from her home in Windsor, in Melbourne’s inner-south, in 1984.

Mr Wetzler, then 26, and Ms Campbell, both members of the Royal Australian Airforce, were due to have an engagement party just days after she disappeared on February 25.

Debra Campbell, then 21, who went missing in February 1984. Picture: Supplied

A 1998 coronial inquest found Ms Campbell, whose body has never been found, was likely to be deceased but the circumstances of her death could not be determined.

The court previously heard during Mr Wetzler’s bail application, the couple allegedly argued about Ms Campbell being unhappy with her work before she walked out the front door of their Windsor home and never returned.

Debra Campbell’s body has never been found. Picture: Supplied.

Police did not find blood stains during searches of the couple’s apartment and in interviews Mr Wetzler denied killing her.

The court heard the investigation was reopened in 2022 and Mr Wetzler was charged due to the “strong circumstantial” evidence of the case.

Mr Wetzler, who was arrested at his NSW home, was granted bail in October last year after his lawyer, Manny Conditsis, argued the case against his client was weak and he should have never been charged.

Peter Wetzler leaves the Supreme Court with wife Sandy Wetzler, sister Margaret Freeman and his lawyer Manny Conditsis after he was granted bail in October 2023. Picture: Wayne Taylor

During the bail application, the lawyer said there was no direct evidence, such as forensics, linking Mr Wetzler to Ms Campbell’s disappearance.

He added it was “nonsense” that his client wanted to kill her because he was having an affair with another woman and “lost it” during an argument.

“That is utter speculation, the evidence points in another direction,” he said.

After the charges were withdrawn by the prosecution on Wednesday, the court heard Mr Wetzler was seeking $130,000 in legal costs.

His defence team and the prosecution are still in the process of negotiating the costs.

Mr Wetzler was discharged from the court and left the courtroom with his family by his side.