Melbourne’s body in barrel murder sits unsolved ten years on

It’s Melbourne’s body in the barrel case — 70-year-old grandmother Lucia Amenta found curled in a foetal position in a barrel dumped in a Coburg lake. Ten years on, the case remains tantalisingly close to being solved.

John Amenta holds a photo of his mother Lucia Amenta. Picture: Rob Baird

The homicide squad’s files are packed with murders tantalisingly close to being solved.

The case of Lucia Amenta — whose body was found stuffed in a barrel 10 years ago — is one of them.

When Mrs Amenta vanished 21 months earlier, detectives were confronted with a near-certain murder, without motive or a body.

There were also issues with witnesses they suspected were being far from candid about what they knew.

But when the grandmother’s remains were pulled from a lake in Jack Roper Reserve, Coburg, in October 2009, it shaped as a significant breakthrough.

Investigators made some significant headway in that period but, ultimately, almost a decade has passed with no one brought to justice for the sickening crime against a 70-year-old woman.

John Amenta next to a picture of his mother posted on a truck.

Mrs Amenta had last been seen alive 21 months earlier by her husband Paola, who was to tell investigators she had left their Fawkner home about 10.45am to buy bread.

Mr Amenta said she had left a lunch for their son John on the kitchen table of the Sydney Rd home.

The homicide squad investigation was always going to be challenging in the absence of a body.

Attention focused heavily on the source of the barrel, later found to have been one used to transport gherkins from India.

Police were to allege Paola Amenta had a barrel of similar design in his backyard.

Experienced homicide squad investigator Brent Fisher said he believed Mrs Amenta knew her killer or killers.

“There is evidence pointing to some persons of interest and some suspects. Having seen that material I believe we are very close in terms of charging someone,” Det. Sgt Fisher said in 2013.

Detectives at the scene where Lucia Amenta’s body was found in a barrel in Coburg.

John and Paolo Amenta.

“We have no motive but … the crime scene, nothing was disturbed, nothing taken, and there was no sign of forced entry.

A subsequent coronial inquest generated as many questions as answers.

Judge Ian Gray returned an open finding, declining to refer the matter to the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Six pages of the finding were suppressed on the grounds they could prejudice the fair trial of someone.

Judge Gray noted there had been a thorough police investigation into Paolo and John Amenta.

He said they had given evidence that was “vague, unpersuasive and to a degree self-serving”.

John Amenta accused police of a witch-hunt.

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He said his parents were like “chalk and cheese” but at no stage could he entertain the prospect of his father being involved in her death.

“I didn’t think once at all it was my dad,” he told the inquest.

A $100,000 reward remains in offer for anyone able to help convict the killer.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Originally published as Melbourne’s body in barrel murder sits unsolved ten years on