DNA Links Men to 1999 Canberra Murder

0:00It's April 1st. You're listening to Sydney News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Corey with the story. In the cold case trial for the 1999 murder of Canberra grandmother Irma Palacics, jurors got a close look at key evidence, a milk, container and water jug from her fridge. Police say DNA on those items matches accused killers, Joseph Vecconi and Steve Fabricani and Steve for Brutal, home invasion where Irma died and her. He has been Gregor, got beaten and bound. The attack stole $30,000 in cash and jewelry from a hidden kitchen spot. Gregor told cops one intruder grabbed a drink from the fridge that night, but it took over 20 years to mash the DNA to these two Melbourne men. Fabrici got nabbed in 2024 after an undercover sting where he admitted just being the lookout. Defences hammer the cops, questioning DNA reliability and pushing other suspects, like a guy named Shannon Dunn, who claimed he was there but bailed, early. They also flagged 333 leads over the years, including Irma's grandson,

1:04but detectives ruled them out and stuck to the hard. Science. Tensions flared in court as lawyers grilled lead detective Craig Marriott on contamination mishaps like lab DNA on tape and blood mix-ups from A-T-A, sloppy search room. Marriott defended his team's fresh focus on the DNA matches, saying no solid proof of a third man from witnesses like Gregor or Fabrici. Prosecutors wrapped their case without defenses calling witnesses, so closing arguments hit next week. Jurors can inspect those containers up close, just no touching, as this decades-old mystery nears a verdict.