NSW: Forensics lead police to sex assault charges
28 Jan 2009 5:50 PM
SYDNEY, Jan 28 AAP - More than 12 years after the violent sexual assault of two teenagers in Sydney, detectives have charged a man after re-examining forensic links.
In the first of the two crimes, which until Wednesday remained unsolved, an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and robbed at knifepoint in parkland at Parramatta on April 14, 1995.
In August the following year, a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted near the Gas Works Bridge, also at Parramatta.
Under a cold-case investigation program, forensic evidence including fingerprints were allegedly used to link a man to the assaults.
The 39-year old was arrested on Wednesday and charged a short time later with armed robbery and two counts of aggravated sexual assault.
He is due to face court at a time to be confirmed.
The cold case project will analyse thousands of samples from major unsolved crimes from the last 30 years using the latest forensic technology, in a renewed effort to uncover breakthrough evidence.
"Forensic officers are scouring clothing, weapons and other exhibits from murders, attempted murders and sexual assaults from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s so they can be analysed using forensic techniques which did not exist at that time," police said in a statement.
"There are numerous unsolved sexual assaults and unsolved homicides from the 1970s until present day that could potentially be analysed."
