The jury in the Irma Palasics cold case murder trial has been shown a milk container and a water jug that allegedly contain DNA evidence linking Joseph Vekony and Steve Fabriczy to the 1999 crime. The two containers were cut from their evidence bags by lead detective Craig Marriott for the jury to examine.
Mr Fabriczy admitted to being present during the home invasion but claimed he acted only as a lookout. The prosecution argues that DNA on the items matches the two accused men. The home invasion occurred in Canberra, where grandmother Irma Palasics died and her husband Gregor was bashed, tied up, and gagged. The offenders stole $30,000 in cash and jewellery from a hidden compartment in the kitchen.
Mr Palasics, who has since died, told police on the night of the murder that he saw one of the men take a swig from something in the fridge, leading to the discovery of DNA on the containers. It took over 20 years for that DNA to be linked to the accused.
Mr Fabriczy was arrested in 2024 after police identified him through DNA. He had been drawn into a fictitious criminal organisation during an undercover police operation, paid $10,000 for tasks to gain his trust. He eventually admitted to being at the scene but said he was only the lookout. Police later found Mr Vekony, and his DNA matched the unknown sample on the water bottle.
Defence lawyers challenged the police investigation and the reliability of the DNA evidence. Mr Fabriczy's lawyer, Skye Jerome, pointed to statements from a man named Shannon Dunne who claimed to have been at the scene but left because he did not want to be involved in violence. Detective Marriott said Mr Dunne's statements were inconsistent and lacked credibility. The defence also raised the possibility of a third man, but Detective Marriott stated his focus was on the DNA evidence, as other leads had been thoroughly investigated.
