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Jun 14, 2024 · The single mother was murdered in a frenzied stabbing in the bedroom of her home, at the back of her bookshop on High Street in Thornbury in Melbourne's north. Her sons, Mark and Adam James, are hoping the reward draws out the person who could finally solve their mother's case.
- Coroner delivers open finding in inquest into the 1980 murder of ...
Maria James was murdered in her home adjoining her Thornbury...
- Coroner delivers open finding in inquest into the 1980 murder of ...
- A Brutal Murder and A Faltering Investigation
- Priest Emerges as 'Strongest Suspect'
- Missing Exhibits and Mistakes Hampered Investigation
- DNA Samples Could Be The Case's Last Shot
Maria James was murdered in her home adjoining her Thornbury second-hand bookshop in June 1980 in what was described as a "bizarre" attack. She was stabbed 68 times in the front and back of her body. Her murder has remained unsolved for decades. The case went cold until the ABC's 2017 podcast "Trace" made numerous discoveries that sparked a new cor...
Police officers told the inquest Father Bongiorno had tried to barge his way into the crime scene as the murder investigation was getting underway. Former detective Cliff Hall said the priest was adamant he needed to administer last rites to Maria James. "It was pretty heated, he insisted on getting in … he was trying to push past me … reasonable a...
The initial police investigation into the murder of Maria James was exhaustive and wide-ranging, but major flaws were later found in the way exhibits from the case were documented and kept. Shortly after the crime, Ms James's clothes were sent to be dried out before forensic testing, but vanished. A year later pillow slips from the murder scene dis...
The rediscovery of two exhibits has opened potential avenues of inquiry for investigators. A pillow has yielded a partial, mixed DNA profile — that is, some DNA from Maria James and some from an unknown male. The male DNA matches that of convicted killer Peter Keogh, but would also be a match with 50 per cent of the population. The DNA sample has n...
- Tim Callanan
Sep 27, 2021 · The coronial inquest into the unsolved murder of Melbourne woman Maria James has homed in on two suspects — a Catholic priest and a convicted killer. Key points: Former detective Ron Iddles told the inquest Father Anthony Bongiorno had the motive, means and opportunity to murder Maria James.
Mar 31, 2022 · An inquest into the unsolved murder of Melbourne woman Maria James has criticised the police investigation into her death – including the loss of key evidence – but did not identify her...
Mar 31, 2022 · The 1980 murder of Maria James remains unsolved, but her sons have vowed to keep fighting for justice despite a coroner being unable to rule on who killed her.
Dec 7, 2020 · Maria James was stabbed 68 times in the back of her second-hand bookshop, where she lived with her young sons, then aged 13 and 11 years old. After a series of discoveries made by the ABC's true-crime podcast Trace, a new coronial inquest was announced.
Sep 6, 2021 · Maria James was found dead in her bedroom on June 17, 1980. On Monday, during the opening of a three-week inquest, the coroner heard one of those previously missing items – a blood-soaked bed quilt – had recently been found but no DNA could be obtained. Other items including Ms James’ green jumper remain missing.
