Police are today releasing two images of a man in the hope it will provide a breakthrough in the investigation into the 2012 assault of Jill Brookes in her Altona book store.
Jill was located by a fellow trader inside her Harrington Square second-hand book shop around 5pm on Friday, 20 July 2012.
The then 61-year-old sustained life-threatening injuries to her upper body and was conveyed to The Alfred hospital.
Sadly, Jill did not recover fully from her injuries and passed away in March 2021.
Detectives have made a number of public appeals over the past 12 years, including the announcement of a $100,000 reward in February 2014.
In May 2013 a man attended the Altona North police station and dropped a letter into the station mail box in relation to the incident.
The letter contained a newspaper clipping regarding the incident and a note written with letters cut from the paper.
Despite urging the man to come forward and speak to police, he has never been identified.
Investigators are still of the belief the letter may hold the key to the investigation.
While no one has ever been charged in relation to the assault, detectives haven’t given up hope that someone out there could come forward with information to help solve the case.
Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the man in the images is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppers.com.au
