Cold case: Man charged over 1992 murder of 89-year-old Hugo Benscher

Queensland Police have today charged a man in relation to the murder of 89-year-old Hugo Benscher, who was found bound and gagged on the floor of his Point Paradise home on the Gold Coast in 1992.

The 69-year-old man from Launceston, Tasmania, was extradited to Brisbane on Tuesday where he was charged with one count of murder, more than 27 years after the crime took place. Police confirmed that the man, who has not yet been named, had previously lived on the Gold Coast.

Hugo was found dead on the floor of his waterfront home in Paradise Point on the morning of Sunday, June 21 1992. The elderly man had been bound and gagged and had also sustained a head injury.

Today’s arrest came after a renewed public appeal in 2019 and a review by investigators of the Homicide Group’s Cold Case Investigation Team and Gold Coast CIB.  As part of the investigation, thousands of pieces of evidence were reviewed, witnesses re-interviewed, evidence re-examined, and new information was received leading to today’s arrest.

At the time of Hugo’s death, there were a spate of burglaries and home invasions in other nearby canal estates and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

A government reward of $250,000 is also on offer for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person, or persons, responsible for the murder.

While an arrest has now been made, Queensland Police urged anyone who may have any information regarding the murder to come forward and released an image of a brooch they believe may be linked to Hugo’s death.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said: “During the recent investigation police came into possession of a brooch that we believe may be linked to Hugo’s murder and we are asking anyone with knowledge of the brooch to contact police.

“We also remain interested in speaking with anyone who interacted with Hugo at the Runaway Bay Yacht Club around 1992 or have knowledge of a boat in coming into the Paradise Point canal where Hugo lived on the evening of June 20 1992.”

The accused male is due to appear at Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.