Coroner hands down findings on Lucia Amenta’s murder, suppresses key details
A STATE coroner has today handed down his finding into the death of body in a barrel grandma Lucia Amenta, but has barred almost half of it from being published.
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A STATE coroner has today handed down his finding into the death of body in a barrel grandma Lucia Amenta, but has barred almost half of it from being published.
Six pages of Judge Ian Gray’s 14 page finding, handed down in his chambers today, have been completely suppressed after he found it could potentially prejudice the fair trial of an accused person in respect of the death.
No one has been charged over Mrs Amenta’s 2008 murder despite police last year offering a $100,000 reward for information saying they were “very close” to making an arrest.
PREVIOUSLY: Inquests hears grandmother had ‘firey’ reputation
Mrs Amenta’s body was found stuffed in a barrel that was fished out of a creek in Campbellfield in October 2009.
The 70-year-old had been missing for 21 months and was last seen alive by her husband Paola Amenta outside their Fawkner home on Sydney Road on January 19, 2008, about 10.45am.
Mr Amenta told police he had gone to buy bread and returned to find his wife gone, leaving a lunch she was preparing for their son John on the kitchen table.
“Clearly there is a public interest in clarifying what happened to this woman whose death remains a mystery,” Judge Gray said in his finding.
He said police had conducted a thorough investigation focusing on Paolo Amenta and his son John Amenta.
Both men gave evidence at the inquest that Judge Gray described as “vague, unpersuasive and to a degree self serving”.
Mrs Amenta was described as a hot tempered woman who had beaten her husband.
Other friends described her as deeply religious but who also nagged her husband.
The inquest heard the homicide squad had planted listening devices in John Amenta’s home and intercepted telephone calls.
He was allegedly recorded discussing barrels and threatening to kill his former partner.
“Ultimately the inquest did not take the investigation any further in terms of identifying those responsible for the death of Mrs Amenta,” Judge Gray said.
Paul Amenta Jr told the inquest that “neither myself, brother and father had anything to do with it.”
Judge Gray agreed saying it was highly unlikely Mr Amenta Jr would have played any part in his mother’s death.
He did not make any such finding in relation to Paolo Amenta or John Amenta.
Recording an open finding Judge Gray did not refer to the matter to the DPP meaning the case remains an open homicide investigation.
“It is particularly sad that this elderly woman met her end in the way that she did, that she was not found for a lengthy period of time and that findings cannot be made about those responsible for her disappearance and death,” he said.
shannon.deery@news.com.au