New evidence in old murder case

COLD CASE: Forensic officers Det Snr Sgt Noel Paine (right) and Det Snr Const Gary Kennedy prepare to search Bronwyn Winfield’s former home. In the background are Det Snr Const Pat Gleeson and Det Snr Sgt George Radmore (right), from the Northern Region Unsolved Homicide Team.

David Nielsen

NEW witnesses and fresh evidence have been unearthed in the cold case investigation into the suspected murder of a Lennox Head woman who went missing 16 years ago.

Lismore Forensic Services Group officers and Northern Region Unsolved Homicide Team detectives yesterday returned to Bronwyn Joy Winfield's former home in Sandstone Crescent to conduct a forensic examination of the house.

It was the last place Mrs Winfield, then aged 31, was seen alive on the night of May 16, 1993.

A former neighbour of Mrs Winfield and her estranged husband discussed with detectives his recollections of the night 16 years ago.

With the consent of the current, unrelated residents of the house, the forensic officers and detectives then searched for evidence not collected in the initial investigation into Mrs Winfield's disappearance.

The homicide detectives would not comment on what they hoped to find in the house, but DNA evidence can survive indefinitely under certain conditions.

Detective Senior Sergeant George Radmore said new witnesses had come forward since the reopened investigation was publicised in The Northern Star.

“Already we've had new information come forward that we weren't anticipating,” he said.

At the Lennox Head property yesterday morning, Detective Snr Sgt Radmore said they were treating as a crime scene the house Mrs Winfield and her estranged husband, Jonathan Winfield, who lives locally, used to share.

“We're here to conduct crime scene examinations for forensic evidence associated with the suspected murder of Bronwyn Winfield in 1993,” he said.

“It would be fair to say that this was the place where she was last seen alive.”

Back in 2002, a coronial inquest into Mrs Winfield's death found that she had died on or about May 16, 1993, and that a 'known person' should be charged with her death.

Her husband, Jonathan Winfield, was named by police during the inquest as the person they believed was most likely responsible.

He reported her missing to police 11 days after she was last seen alive.

Mrs Winfield's family could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Police are urging anyone with information regarding the case to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.