Melbourne man arrested over ACT cold case murder

A 68-year-old Rowville man arrested over the cold case murder of an elderly woman in Canberra has been hospitalised with a “heart condition” just hours after he was taken into custody.

A man arrested over the cold case murder of an elderly grandmother in the ACT has been hospitalised with a “heart condition” just hours after he was taken into custody.

Rowville man Steve Fabriczy, 68, was due to face an extradition application hearing on Wednesday afternoon so that he could be sent to the ACT and face a charge of murder.

But the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard he was instead rushed to hospital by ambulance after he “complained of a heart condition this morning and asked to see a nurse”.

Mr Fabriczy was arrested on Wednesday morning by cold case investigators probing the 1999 murder of grandmother Irma Palasics, 72.

Steve Fabriczy was due to face an extradition application hearing on Wednesday afternoon.

He is yet to be charged, with his lawyer telling the court he was expected to make an application for bail to appear in an ACT court, where charges were set to be filed.

Given his hospitalisation, Mr Fabriczy was remanded in custody with his extradition application adjourned to Thursday.

He will return to Dandenong Magistrates’ Court via video link if his health issues continued.

Cold case homicide investigators from the ACT on Wednesday arrested a 68-year-old man from Rowville over the death of 72-year-old Irma Palasics.

Mrs Palasics and her husband Gregor were bound with cable ties and repeatedly bashed on November 6, 1999, after two men forced their way into their home in the suburb of McKellar.

A Reebok-brand shoe found at the scene of the murder of Irma Palasics.

The sneaker is still regarded as a key element of the inquiry.

Mr Palasics managed to free himself and call emergency services but his wife suffocated on her own blood and died at the scene.

The intruders stole cash and jewellery from the Grover Crescent home.

An image of a man police believe may have information on the 1999 murder in Canberra of Irma Palasics.

Canberra murder victim Irma Palasics.

ACT Policing has for years been investigating a scenario that two men travelled from Melbourne for the deadly burglary.

They believe a second man remains at large.

The arrested man will appear in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court today where police will seek his extradition to Canberra.

A Reebok sneaker found at the scene is still regarded as a key element of the inquiry.

A spokesman for ACT Policing said it was believed someone in Melbourne’s Hungarian community would have vital information on who was responsible.

The couple had been the victims of aggravated burglaries in 1997 and 1998 which are believed to be linked to the third case.

A $500,000 reward remains in place for anyone able to help police secure a successful prosecution for the murder of Mrs Palasics.