Cold case Rodney Mitchell murder breakthrough: Tocumwal man charged over 1983 death
A 35-YEAR-OLD lovers’ lane alleged murder mystery has been cracked open, with a man charged over the Rowville death of Rodney Mitchell in 1983.
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A MAN charged over a 35-year-old lovers’ lane murder mystery has been remanded in custody.
James Dobbie wasn’t required to sit in the dock while his matter was mentioned briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday night.
The 65-year-old, a NSW resident from border town Tocumwal, is accused of murdering Rodney Mitchell at Rowville in 1983.
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He is also charged with three counts of false imprisonment and six counts of rape, related to two other incidents at the same location in 1980 and 1983 where a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted and her partner falsely imprisoned.
Mr Mitchell was with a woman in Police Paddocks in Rowville when he was shot dead.
Reports at the time said the area was a lovers’ lane.
Mr Dobbie did not apply for bail on Friday night and his lawyer asked the court to hear the matter without him.
The court heard Mr Dobbie had hearing problems and required a “considerable” amount of medication after a heart attack and stroke in recent years.
The case will return to court on Tuesday.
Victoria Police on Friday said: “Today’s charges are as a result of a long and dedicated investigation by homicide squad detectives, including a recent review by current members of the homicide cold case team.”
In May 2013, a $500,000 reward was offered for information about the case.
At the time, Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles said: “I’m hoping that by raising the reward from $50,000 to $500,000 we will be able to provide some justice for Rodney and his family. There is someone out there who knows what happened.
“I want that person to imagine how it would feel to wait 30 years for justice.”
Det. Sen-Sgt Iddles said: “We will continue to search for those responsible for these terrible crimes, no matter how long it takes.”