Annette Mason was bludgeoned to death in an Anzac Ave house in Toowoomba in November 1989

Annette Mason was just a 15-year-old girl with her life in front of her when she was bludgeoned to death in an Anzac Ave home.

This month will mark the 34th anniversary of the brutal murder of Toowoomba teenager Annette Mason and still her family is searching for answers.

Although a coroner’s inquest in the 15-year-old death was mostly completed in 2022, DNA re-examination and the reinvestigation of certain evidence have prevented the coroner from bringing down his findings, which is taking a huge toll on Annette’s family.

Leading the family’s charge for justice for Annette all these years has been her sister Linda Mason whose energy and determination have been unwavering.

However, the stress of waiting for an outcome has taken a toll on her as well.

Linda Mason says waiting for an outcome to the coroner’s inquest into her sister Annette’s murder is “bloody frustrating” and taking a toll on her family.

“Waiting for an outcome to the inquest is bloody frustrating,” Linda told The Chronicle this week.

“The waiting has taken a further toll on my family, added to the stress we’ve all had to go through over the past 34 years.

“Mum’s been sick for so long but I think she’s hanging in there for an outcome to the inquest.

“It’s really frustrating and my family is falling apart.”

Linda lives in the hope that the coroner will at least suggest to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to look at charging someone in relation to her death.

“We just want something positive to come from all this,” she said.

Annette Mason's (L-R) mother Jean, sister Linda and father Mick Mason leave the Coroners Court in Brisbane.

No-one has ever been charged with Annette’s murder, despite police identifying persons of interest early into the investigation.

The teenager’s bludgeoned and bloodied body was found under a doona in the sunroom of a house (since removed in 2000) she shared with other young women at 131 Anzac Ave, Harristown, about 2pm, Sunday, November 19, 1989.

Police claimed the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head inflicted by what police at the time believed to have been a “nonmetallic object”.

A piece of timber was found in the laundry at the house and some speculated that it was the murder weapon.

Annette Mason

Annette had been seen in Toowoomba’s CBD early evening the previous night but her movements after that and who she had been with remain open to speculation.

Also, a mystery is why anyone would want to brutally kill a 15-year-old, bubbly teenager, who wouldn’t harm anyone.

Before the inquest was suspended for further DNA testing – and then delayed indefinitely due to Covid-19 – Coroner Terry Ryan heard from a number of witnesses including two identified “persons of interest” – Alan McQueen and Michael Laine.

One witness, Nathan Beningfield, told the inquest he had once allegedly heard Mr Laine say he had killed a girl with a piece of wood.

Mr Laine denied having anything to do with the teenager’s death and, in his evidence before the inquest, said he had always co-operated with police throughout.

Toowoomba police Detective Mick Bianchi inspects the murder scene in November 1989.

Alan McQueen also appeared in person before the inquest but exercised his rights, claiming privilege against self-incrimination and declining to answer questions.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Adrian Braithwaite, described Mr McQueen as a person of interest in the police investigation.

Linda Mason believes there are still people living in Toowoomba who hold the key to solving her sister’s murder.

Those people may still live in fear of coming forward but surely it’s time after all these years to give Annette’s family peace and have the murder of their beloved teenage sister and daughter solved.

Since December 2004, a reward of $250,000 has been offered for information leading to a conviction in relation to Annette Mason’s murder.

If you have any information that can help solve the death of Annette Mason but are too fearful to go to police, contact me through either email [e-mail] or phone [phone] and I can take that information to police while you remain anonymous.

Or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.