Homicide squad renews appeal in 2007 murder of Melbourne TV singer and mum Joanne Howell
Homicide squad detectives believe they can crack a 13-year cold case murder of a Melbourne mum and TV singer.
Homicide squad detectives have narrowed down the window where they believe a Melbourne mum and TV singer was brutally killed in her own home more than 13 years ago.
Joanne Howell, then 51, was murdered in her Hughesdale apartment on April 21, 2007, after being savagely assaulted and strangled.
Ms Howell was found in her Poath Road apartment about 11.20pm, and despite efforts from police and paramedics to try and save her, she died at the scene.
But despite an extensive investigation and a coronial inquest, the case remains unsolved, and no one has ever been charged more than 13 years on from Ms Howell’s murder.
Victoria Police renewed their appeal for information on Tuesday and have released a new digital composite image of a man they wish to identify and speak to and a new timeframe in which they believe she was killed.
Homicide squad Detective Inspector Tim Day said a witness reported seeing a man “acting suspiciously” in the vicinity of Ms Howell’s unit around the time she was murdered.
A friend told police he had spoken to Ms Howell on the phone earlier that night for about 30 minutes from 8pm. This led detectives to initially believe she was killed sometime between 8.30pm and 11.19pm.
Police said neighbours also reported hearing a loud noise from the property sometime between 9pm and 9.30pm.
But Inspector Day said detectives now believed Ms Howell was killed within a 15-minute window either side of 9.15pm.
“The timeframe casts significant doubt on the version of events previously provided to investigators,” he said.
Inspector Day said police had received new information about Ms Howell’s death in the past year.
Detectives said nothing appeared to be missing or stolen from her unit when police arrived.
Ms Howell’s ex-boyfriend, Paul Charlton, then aged 52, was arrested at the apartment but was later released without charge.
Inspector Day said he remained a key suspect in Ms Howell’s death.
In 2011, coroner Paresa Antoniadis Spanos found Mr Charlton had “caused or contributed” to her death.
Mr Charlton, a pub karaoke singer, told the Herald Sun last week he could not prove his innocence to police and had resigned himself to that situation for the rest of his life.
Inspector Day said police were not ready to give up and the case was on the cusp of being solved.
“We strongly believe that this is a solvable case,” he said.
“There was a clear motive for the killing of Joanne.
“The trail of deceit lay down for police thus far just does not make sense, it does not stack up, and to be a good liar, you need to have a good memory, and memory often betrays the deceitful.
“Thirteen years is a long time for any family to wait for justice, but it might now be just the right time for someone to come forward with the answers that investigators need.
“Police have been told a lot of stories during the course of this investigation. Now we’re waiting for someone to tell us the truth.”
The case has been reviewed by homicide squad detectives throughout 2020.
Inspector Day said history had shown there was always someone out there who knew the real story, and he urged them to come forward.
“Police haven’t forgotten about Joanne and the community shouldn’t either – if you know anything, now is absolutely the time to come forward,” he said.
“We’re appealing to anyone who may have overheard any conversation or been a party to any conversation with any person indicating that we’re responsible or who may have knowledge of Joanne’s death.”
Her sister Lisa Hennessy told A Current Affair in 2018 the family was still in shock.
“Someone has taken someone else’s life and it’s been 10 years and no one has come forward,” she said.
“Just admit that what you’ve done is wrong and come forward.”
Ms Howell was a talented singer who worked with former Countdown star John St Peters in the 1970s.
Ms Howell was employed as a data entry operator with a security company at the time of her death.
The coronial inquest heard that on the day of her death, Ms Howell had told Mr Charlton that he had four weeks to move out and that she was moving to Perth.
The inquest also heard the pair had been arguing throughout the day and Mr Charlton left the unit about 9.30pm to take the dog for a walk.
Mr Charlton called emergency services at 11.19pm.
“I find it highly improbable that on the evening of April 21, 2007, the day when a difficult relationship broke down … an unknown assailant forced his/her way into the unit, inflicted fatal injuries on Ms Howell and left without leaving any sign of a struggle or taking anything,” the coroner found.
“Moreover, that he/she did so opportunistically while Mr Charlton was out walking the dog.”
Anyone with information that could assist investigators has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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