Coroner reopens investigation into Maria James murder
An investigation into the murder of a woman in her Thornbury bookshop almost forty years ago has been reopened.
Cold Cases
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A CORONIAL investigation into the cold case murder of Maria James has been reopened.
The single mother was stabbed 68 times and her hands bound at her Thornbury home in an attack in 1980.
But who killed her has remained a mystery with police bungling the murder investigation.
Today Acting State Coroner Iain West announced he had reopened the investigation into Ms James’s death following an application by her son Mark.
COPS CONFESS TO DNA STUFF UP IN JAMES CASE
PRIEST LINKED TO 1980 BOOKSHOP SLAYING OF JAMES
HOW THE PRIEST BECAME A SUSPECT
A 1982 inquest previously found that the homicide was committed by a person unknown.
But Mark James wrote to the Coroner in July last year requesting that finding be set aside and the investigation into his mother’s death be reopened.
Mr James said he cried when his lawyer phoned with the news.
“It’s been a long road. There were times I thought I might never get there, there have been obstacles all along the way,” he told ABC.
“So to get this news, it’s such a joyful moment.”
Coroner West said the introduction of legislative amendments to the Coroners Act last month gave him the power to reopen the investigation.
In an embarrassing stuff-up police have revealed the DNA sample used to mistakenly clear key suspects in the case was actually from another crime scene.
Local paedophile priest, Father Anthony Bongiorno, now deceased, was ruled out as a suspect — along with many others — through DNA from the exhibit, which police have confirmed was a bloody pillow case.
Father Bongiorno, who died in 2002, was found to have sexually abused someone close to Ms James in the weeks before she was murdered.
Ms James had planned to confront the local priest after that person informed her of the abuse.
Slater and Gordon principal lawyer Naty Guerrero-Diaz, who is representing Mrs James’ son Mark on a pro-bono basis, said today’s decision was a welcome development – not just for the James family but also for other families looking to have old cases re-examined.
“We hope this new coronial investigation is the first step in providing the James family with some much needed answers,” Ms Guerrero-Diaz said.
“As this is a homicide we hope that the Coroner will go on to hold an inquest and that will finally provide some answers in the 38 year old cold-case.
“New evidence uncovered by the ABC raises the question of involvement by the Catholic Church, in particular two parish priests who have been identified as potentially being involved in Mrs James’ murder.”
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