Ex-RAAF member John Wetzler freed on bail as lawyer dismisses murder charge as ‘nonsense’

A man charged with the murder of his bride-to-be, 40 years after she went missing from her Windsor home, has been freed on bail after his lawyer argued there was no evidence.

Peter Wetzler leaves the Supreme Court on Wednesday with his family and lawyer after being granted bail. Picture: Wayne Taylor

A former RAAF member charged with the murder of his fiancee, who disappeared nearly 40 years ago, has been released on bail after his lawyer argued the police case was “nonsense”.

Peter John Wetzler, 65, was last month charged with the murder of his fiancee, Debra Campbell, then 21, who disappeared from her home in Windsor, in Melbourne’s inner-south, in February 1984.

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

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.

Peter John Wetzler. Picture: Supplied

Debra Campbell went missing in 1984.

The court heard 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, 1984.

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.

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 last year and Mr Wetzler was charged due to the “strong circumstantial” evidence of the case.

“The applicant has undertaken significant measures to conceal the crime,” a police report stated.

But Mr Conditsis said the case against his client was flawed, noting a housemate at the time of the disappearance said the couple was happy and she thought Ms Campbell had “done a runner”.

Debra Campbell’s body has never been found.

The lawyer said his client was not charged despite multiple police and RAAF probes into the disappearance and someone else could be responsible for her death.

“The thinking of (police) … is there is no other credible explanation for the disappearance of Ms Campbell, so he must have done it. That’s it,” he said.

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.

In granting bail, Justice John Champion said he did not find the police case to be “strong or compelling”, noting any concerns could be reduced with bail conditions.

Mr Wetzler, who was supported in court by family, was granted bail on the condition he report to Newcastle police weekly, not attend international departure points or leave NSW unless it was for Victorian court appearances.

Speaking outside court, Mr Conditsis said his client’s family were happy with the decision.

“The Wetzler family are very much looking forward to having their day in court, in respect of suspicion and investigation that has been ongoing for some 40 years and the Wetzler family are confident that in the end, justice will prevail,” he said.

Mr Wetzler will return to court in January.