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Cold Case Murder: Husband Faces Trial After 34 Years
11 Mar
Summary
- Husband charged 34 years after wife's 1991 death.
- Accused pleaded not guilty, case fast-tracked to Supreme Court.
- Police reinvestigation led to charges after decades of suspicion.
A man accused of murdering his wife 34 years ago has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Craig Freeman, 63, was charged in 2025 with the murder of his wife, Melinda Freeman, who was found dead in their Whittlesea home on October 4, 1991. The case is now set to proceed to the Supreme Court of Victoria for a jury trial.
Ms Freeman, aged 27, was allegedly found deceased after being assaulted in her home. Her husband claimed he discovered her body upon returning to the house. Despite suspicions over the years, police were unable to build a case until a recent reinvestigation.
Freeman was granted bail in December 2025, with exceptional circumstances cited due to the prosecution's case being largely circumstantial. He is subject to strict bail conditions, including reporting to police twice weekly and not contacting prosecution witnesses.
At the time of her death, Ms Freeman's husband had been having an affair, a fact revealed in a 1997 coroner's inquest. However, the inquest delivered an open finding due to insufficient evidence. Police had offered a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction.
