Jill Brookes death: Mystery man sought by cops in new push to solve violent bashing of second-hand bookshop owner in 2012
Police hope they can find the person who seriously assaulted a Melbourne bookstore owner in 2012, as they release photos of a man they want to talk to.
Jill Brookes suffered severe brain damage and life-threatening injuries after she was smashed and robbed at her second-hand bookshop in Harrington Square in Altona in Melbourne’s south-west about 5pm on July 20 that year.
The then 61-year-old was taken to Alfred Hospital but never fully recovered from her injuries and eventually died in March 2021.
“I have been involved in this investigation for the past 12 years and it is something that has stuck with me throughout that time,” Detective Inspector Matthew Noonan said.
‘Jill’s family have never understood why this happened to her and unfortunately we were never in a position to give them the answers, despite an extensive investigation.
“Jill suffered life-threatening injuries during the attack, and those injuries had a tremendous impact on her quality of life until her death.”
Victoria Police launched a new appeal on Saturday to find a man seen in the area on the day Ms Brookes was beaten.
Police have released images of a man (pictured) they want to speak to who was in the Altona area in 2012 when an elderly woman was beaten in her bookshop
A $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the person responsible for the attack
There is no indication the man was involved in the attack on the bookstore owner, but police have never been able to identify him and want to know if he has anything to offer to the investigation, officers said.
The man was seen at Altona train station around 3.25pm on July 20, before boarding a train and arriving at Westona train station about five minutes later.
Police also believe he was seen walking along Maidstone St in Altona at around 3.30pm that day.
Detectives have repeatedly appealed for the community’s help to find Ms Brookes’ attacker, but to no avail.
In 2014, they offered a $100,000 reward for information leading them to her attacker.
Jill Brookes (pictured) suffered serious brain damage and life-threatening injuries after being beaten and robbed in her second-hand bookshop
Ten years later, they still believe a man who dropped a letter in the letterbox of the Altona North police station in May 2013 is the key to the investigation.
However, the man never spoke to the police.
The letter contained a newspaper clipping about the case and a note written with letters cut from the paper.
Police have scoured countless hours of CCTV and followed up on hundreds of reports over the years in the hope of finding the person who punched Ms Brookes, Detective Inspector Noonan said.
“We are hopeful that this man (in the CCTV footage) can provide us with new lines of investigation,” he said.
“I understand that a significant amount of time has passed, but we are still hopeful that this matter can be resolved.
‘All we need is the right information from the right person.’
Police are calling on anyone with information to contact them.
The $100,000 reward remains on offer.