Letter clue in bashing of Altona bookshop owner Jill Brookes

UPDATE: THE husband of a bookshop owner so brutally bashed she can barely speak hopes an anonymous letter writer could solve the crime.  

Michael Overend

POLICE investigating the brutal bashing of a bookstore owner a year ago have received an anonymous letter they think could hold the key to solving the crime.

Jill Brookes, 61, was found inside her Altona second-hand book shop about 5pm on July 20 last year after suffering life-threatening injuries to her upper body.

A letter, which was written with letters cut out from a newspaper and also contained a news report about the incident, was dropped off by a man at Altona North police station at the end of May.

Investigators from Hobsons Bay CIU believe the man holds information vital to the investigation and are urging him to contact police.

The husband of the Altona bookshop robbery fought back tears as he described how the attack has destroyed their lives.

"I will never have my wife back home with me," Michael Overend said of his wife Jill today.

"I have taken leave from work (as a railway signalman) because I have found it very hard to come to terms with the fact Jillian won't be coming home.

"She will always be in an institution of some kind.

"Jill is 62 and I'm 60 - I thought we would live out our life together when we retired. That's not going to happen now. Best I have is visits to her and seeing her slowly deteriorate.

"They are just maintaining her and she needs 24 hour medical supervision."

He added: "this has completely destroyed Jill and my life.

"I'd dearly love to catch him. It would give me some peace.

"No one in their right mind would do what they have done to Jill.

"There is something seriously wrong with this person.

"They need help as much as Jillian does.

"Any info anyone has to help solve this, it will benefit whole of society."

Mr Overend said medical experts didn't expect Jill to survive for the first two months and struggles to communicate even a few words.

"She is very badly damaged. She can't communicate and you can see the frustration in her face."

Detective Senior Constable Matt Noonan said: "This has been an incredibly challenging time for Jill and her family.

"She sustained life-threatening injuries and the reality is that she's incredibly lucky to still be with us.

"We've been working hard over the past 12 months to try and identify who is responsible and bring about some justice for the Brookes family.

"The person who dropped the letter into the police station had some information that makes us believe he has the key to identifying and locating the offender, and we are appealing for him to make contact with police again."

Investigators have made several public appeals for information over the past year but no arrests have been made.

They want to hear from anyone who was in the Harrington Square area from 3-5pm on the day.

Last November details of a man police believed could help with their investigation were released, along with information about a truck seen in the area around the time of the assault.

The man was described as caucasian with a medium build.

It is believed he was wearing full khaki overalls and a dark, checked flannel shirt at the time of the incident.

Mrs Brooks is still in poor health and her condition has not improved much over the past year.

Det SC Noonan said information can be provided to police or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

"The important thing is that if you know something then say something," he said.

"It might seem like a small or insignificant detail but it could make a big difference in this case."

Anyone who has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.