By Ewen McRae
By Erin Pearson/The Age
The estranged husband of slain Melton South woman Cindy Crossthwaite has faced court charged with her murder, 12 years after the mother-of-three was found beaten to death just metres from her infant son.
Footscray man Emil Petrov, 55, appeared emotionless in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Standing on the steps outside the court, Jesmine Crossthwaite, the daughter of Mr Petrov and Ms Crossthwaite, thanked investigators for never giving up on the case.
“I’m just so grateful this day has finally come. It’s been a long 12 years,” she sobbed.
Magistrate John Hardy remanded Mr Petrov to reappear in October.
Ms Crossthwaite, 41, was found dead from head injuries with her 13-month-old son Jonas locked in a bedroom of their Andrew Street home on June 20, 2007.
Mr Petrov had separated from his wife in September 2005. He is the father of her two eldest children.
Cindy Crossthwaite was last seen dropping her nine-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son off at Coburn Primary School in Richard Road, Melton South, just a few blocks from their home, about 9am on the day of her death.
After being unable to raise her on the phone all day, her father Philip went to her home where he discovered her badly beaten body. He said the damage was so severe his daughter could only be identified by scars she’d received from a previous motorbike crash.
When he unlocked the door he was met by a scene of horror and quickly realised his daughter was dead.
“I had to walk through the blood to go and find [Jonas],” he said.
The breakthrough in the high-profile case comes two years after police announced a
$1 million reward for information to help catch the killer, which police said remained on offer.
Anyone with further information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
