Detectives from Sexual Crimes Squad are appealing for public assistance in the hope it will lead to a further breakthrough in the investigation into a sexual assault in Brighton over 40 years ago.
About 2am on the morning of Sunday 12 December, 1982, a woman, then aged 19, was forced into a Ford sedan with a black stripe on the side, in the vicinity of Redan Street in St Kilda by four men while she was trying to hail a taxi.
She was driven to a deserted spot by Brighton beach foreshore where each of the men sexually assaulted her.
After the assault, she was pushed out of the car before the men fled the scene.
Two women and a man provided assistance to the young woman, giving her a blanket and driving her to an inner-city police station.
An investigation was conducted at the time and the forensic exhibits were stored
in what was referred to as the cold case freezer at the Victoria Police Forensics Services Department.
In 2012, following advancements in DNA technology, the exhibit for this investigation was the first to be re-tested, resulting in obtaining the DNA profile of an alleged offender.
The profile was run through the DNA database and matched to an offender already in the system for unrelated offending.
In 2016, a then 51-year-old man was convicted of abduction, false imprisonment, three counts of rape and aggravated rape.
He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with a minimum term of five years.
However the investigation has remained open as police continue to search for and identify the three other men believed to be involved in the incident.
Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad's cold case team are today appealing for any information in relation to the incident.
They are keen to speak to anyone who has any information about the incident or who may have been responsible.
Victoria Police is committed to investigating matters of sexual assault and bringing those responsible to justice, no matter how much time has passed.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.auExternal Link
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Mark Burnett, Sexual Crimes Squad:
"While someone has already been charged in relation to this assault, that does not mean the investigation ends there.
"We believe there were three other men involved in this incident, and we are determined to pursue every avenue of inquiry we can to provide answers to the victim after over 40 years.
"This attack had lifechanging consequences for her. She still suffers the physical and emotional impacts of this on a daily basis.
"If you know anything about this incident, then now is the time for you to come forward and speak to us.
"Historical sexual offending matters are incredibly complex, but we know people's circumstances can change over time, and this appeal might be the prompt needed to help close a terrible chapter in someone's life."
