News | International
20 Feb 2025 4:39
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > International

    Man charged more than 40 years after woman assaulted in her Melbourne home

    Police allege Michael Francis Martin, 69, sexually assaulted an elderly woman by breaking into her home in Melbourne's inner-west in 1981 and 1983.


    A Melbourne man charged over alleged rapes dating back four decades will make a bid for freedom after he was arrested on Friday and brought before a court.

    Police allege Michael Francis Martin, 69, sexually assaulted an elderly woman by breaking into her home in Melbourne's inner-west in 1981 and 1983.

    The alleged victim, Jessie Grace Lauder, was aged in her 80s at the time of the attacks and died in 1993.

    Early Friday afternoon, police announced they had arrested a Hoppers Crossing man in Wyndham Vale. Shortly after, police said they had charged him with multiple offences.

    He faced the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday afternoon charged with two counts of attempted aggravated rape, aggravated burglary, aggravated indecent assault, rape, burglary and common assault.

    During a brief filing hearing, a lawyer for Mr Martin said he would make an application for bail on Tuesday, and would in the meantime be held in custody.

    The lawyer said there were a number of health issues Mr Martin was battling, including a tumour in his neck that required hospital treatment.

    Mr Martin was not required to enter a plea to the charges.

    Alleged assaults happened two years apart

    Police previously said Ms Lauder was 82 years old and lived alone in Mason Street, Newport, in Melbourne's inner-west, when she was attacked the first time.

    She had lived at the property for 55 years and was widowed in 1977.

    On Tuesday, September 22, 1981, police said Ms Lauder was in bed when a man forced entry through a back door at about 10pm.

    He entered the bedroom armed with a knife and then took her to another room and sexually assaulted her.

    Police said he then looked through Ms Lauder's purse before leaving the property by climbing over the back fence.

    The same man is alleged to have returned almost two years later on July 6, 1983.

    This time Ms Lauder was in the lounge room getting ready for bed about 9pm when the man broke into her home through the front door.

    Police said he sexually assaulted her again.

    During the second incident, the man referred to the earlier offence in 1981 and warned Ms Lauder not to call police.

    In both incidents, police said the man concealed his identity with items over his face.

    Grandson fronted fresh police appeal

    Earlier this month, Ms Lauder's grandson Malcolm made an emotional public appeal for information to solve the case, describing her as an independent woman who lived through two world wars and raised two sons during The Great Depression.

    "She was five-foot-nothing, my grandmother, five-foot-nothing, and someone has gone into the sanctuary of her own home, not once but twice — somewhere she should be the most protected that she should ever feel," Mr Lauder said.

    In a statement, police described Friday's arrest as "a momentous day" that came after years of investigations.

    "If you have experienced sexual violence or abuse, even decades ago, police will listen and we will investigate," Detective Inspector Mark Burnett said.

    © 2025 ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved

     Other International News
     19 Feb: Guy Pearce says Kevin Spacey 'targeted' him on 1997 film set, prompting a video response
     19 Feb: Emma Raducanu in tears early in Dubai loss to Karolína Muchová, man removed from courtside
     19 Feb: A$AP Rocky found not guilty of firing gun at former friend in 2021 Hollywood shooting
     19 Feb: Meghan Markle announces rebrand with rare photo of Princess Lilibet ahead of show premiere
     19 Feb: Donald Trump takes aim at Ukraine over war with Russia, dismisses concerns about peace talks
     19 Feb: Video shows moment Delta Air Lines flight crash-lands in Toronto, catches fire and flips onto roof
     19 Feb: ICC Champions Trophy starts in Pakistan, its first global cricket tournament since 2009 terrorist attack on Sri Lankan team
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Injuries have forced the Chiefs to keep All Blacks first five Damian McKenzie at fullback for Friday's Super Rugby tussle with the Crusaders in Hamilton More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Fonterra has chosen to name its consumer business Mainland Group -- rather than Anchor - as it looks for a buyer, through either a trade sale or an Initial Public Offering More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    A potential sighting of Tom Phillips and his three children in the King Country, wasn't the missing family 4:37

    Soccer:
    Wellington Phoenix skipper Alex Rufer's pushing to maximise his game time in Saturday's A-League derby against Auckland FC at Mt Smart 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Warwick Davis became emotional as dedicated his BAFTA Fellowship Award to his late wife 21:54

    Entertainment:
    David Jonsson "didn't see a space for himself" in the industry before he won the BAFTA EE Rising Star Award 21:24

    Politics:
    Auckland's mayor asking for the chance to finish the job he's started 21:17

    Entertainment:
    'Conclave' was named Outstanding British Film at the EE BAFTAs 20:54

    Entertainment:
    Dame Maggie Smith was remembered at the EE BAFTA Awards on Sunday (16.02.25) evening 20:24

    Entertainment:
    The Prince and Princess of Wales did not attend the 2025 British Academy Film Awards as they were on holiday 19:54

    Entertainment:
    Hilaria Baldwin has opened up about the secret of keeping her marriage to Alec Baldwin alive 19:24

    Business:
    Fonterra has chosen to name its consumer business Mainland Group -- rather than Anchor - as it looks for a buyer, through either a trade sale or an Initial Public Offering 18:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd