Priest ‘got pretty heated’ and tried to force way into Maria James crime scene
Evidence of bloodied fingerprints found at the scene of the horrific murder of single mother Maria James vanished after her brutal death and remains missing.
Bloodied pillowslips found at the bookshop murder scene of single mother Maria James vanished after her brutal death and have not been found in more than 40 years.
The 38-year-old mum was stabbed more than 60 times when she was found dead in her home at the back of her Thornbury bookshop in June 1980.
A coronial inquest is now examining her unsolved murder including the police investigation, how evidence was handled and who could be responsible.
Former crime scene examiner Terrence Collins gave evidence at the Coroners Court on Tuesday about his role in collecting evidence and the process.
The retired policeman said Mrs James was found dead in her bedroom at the back of the property with her hands bound in front of her.
He said he collected pillow slips on June 18, the day after Mrs James’ body was found, and they would have been logged at the forensic centre.
In documents tracking the receipt of evidence one showed the pillow slip had been received on June 25, 1980 and forwarded to another officer five days later - on June 30.
The next entry showed Senior Constable Collins receiving the pillow slip in August the next year, but he said he couldn’t answer where it went after.
“That I cannot answer,” he said.
But he said they had the pillowslip tested because of the finger prints in blood but hadn’t been able to extract any prints.
His evidence came after a former detective who was one of the first at the scene said a priest was “domineering” and tried to barge into the crime scene.
Catholic priest Anthony Bongiorno is one of six persons of interests named in the latest coronial probe into the murder of Mrs James.
Former detective Cliff Hall said the priest arrived at the scene shortly after he did and tried to barge his way into the scene.
“He was aggressive and domineering,” Sergeant Hall said.
He said Father Bongiorno kept trying to “physically push past” him and go into the crime scene.
“It got pretty heated and he wouldn’t stop insisting about getting in,” Mr Hall said.
Mrs James’ eldest son Mark James requested an inquest be reopened after his younger brother Adam revealed bombshell new evidence in 2013, the court was told.
Adam, who has cerebral palsy and Tourette syndrome, told his mother that he was sexually abused by Father Bongiorno the weekend before her death, he said.
“I want the priest’s involvement to be properly explored,” Mr James said outside court.
The priest has since died.
Of the persons of interest only Paco Macevski is alive, the court was told.
No charges have ever been laid over Mrs James’s death.
The hearing in front of Coroner Caitlin English continues on Wednesday.