Overview
- Victorian Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher found exceptional circumstances and approved bail with strict conditions.
- Terms include remaining in Victoria, living at his St Helena address, twice-weekly police reporting, and a $500,000 surety from his wife, Terri Freeman.
- The prosecution case was described as circumstantial, with the judge noting contested issues about the killer’s identity.
- Police allege Melinda Freeman was killed between 6pm and 7.30pm on October 4, 1991, while the 63-year-old accused maintains he found her after returning home later that night.
- Investigators obtained a DNA sample in 2023 that did not significantly advance the case; the matter returns to court in March 2026.