Victoria Police offers $1m reward in 1988 cold case murder of John Furlan

A giant reward has been announced for information in relation to a violent murder that has been mired in mystery for almost 40 years.

Victoria Police has announced a $1m reward for information relating to the murder of Gianni “John” Furlan in Melbourne more than two decades ago.

Detective Inspector Chris Murray said Mr Furlan’s death was “shocking, brutal and a horrendous act of violence”.

The 48-year-old victim was driving his usual route to work in a white Subaru Liberty sedan along Lorensen Ave, near Merlynston Railway Station, in Coburg North on August 3, 1998.

As he always did, Mr Furlan stopped at the Merlynston News Agency for a coffee and the newspaper on the way.

About 8.35am, commercial explosives blew up Mr Furlan’s car while the vehicle was still moving.

The bomb exploded and killed Gianni Furlan instantly in Coburg North, Victoria in 1988. Picture: Supplied

The force of the explosion killed Mr Furlan instantly and hurled his car 15m down the road. Nearby shop windows were shattered, as debris was sprayed more than 300m away and the explosion was heard up to 5km away.

Lorensen Ave residents’ property and vehicles were damaged that morning, but miraculously, nobody else was physically injured.

Mr Furlan had travelled to Hobart to visit a friend and stayed for four days, leaving his Subaru Liberty parked behind a high timber fence at his home address, a few days before his death.

Investigators believe his car was fitted with an explosive device during this time.

Victoria Police has announced a million-dollar reward for information on Mr Furlan’s murder. Picture: Supplied

Witnesses reported seeing two suspect vehicles in the days before Mr Furlan’s death.

“It has been almost 30 years since John’s death, but I would like to strongly reinforce that this is both an active investigation and one that we believe is solvable,” Inspector Murray said.

“We always say that people’s circumstances can change over the years and someone who may not have wanted to provide information to police previously may now feel ready to do so.

“I hope whoever is responsible for John’s death thinks about it every day. I hope it weighs heavily on their mind along with the expectation that one day, police are going to catch up with them.

“We know people who commit or are part of horrific crimes such as these will often disclose their actions to someone.

No one has been charged with Mr Furlan’s murder. Picture: Supplied

“For that reason, detectives are putting a $1m reward on the table for information that allows us to identify, arrest and convict those responsible for his murder.”

On August 31, 2017, a coronial inquest determined that Mr Furlan died from a percussive injury (blast damage).

Despite an extensive police investigation and public appeals for information over the past 27 years, nobody has ever been charged with his death.

A $100,000 reward for information was previously offered in 2000.

“We have every reason to believe someone out there today knows what happened to John and who is responsible,” Inspector Murray said.

Originally published as Victoria Police offers $1m reward in 1988 cold case murder of John Furlan