Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man with the murder of Denise Govendir in Dover Heights over 25 years ago.
Just after 2am on Tuesday 10 March 1998, emergency services responded to reports of a home invasion on Dover Road in Dover Heights, where they located the body of a 53-year-old Denise Govendir.
On arrival, police were told the occupants of the home – a then 55-year-old man and Ms Govendir – had been assaulted by an unknown man who broke into their home by claiming to be the police.
It is alleged the unknown man struck the male occupant, rendering him unconscious, before restraining him with cable ties.
The unknown man then allegedly proceeded to seriously assault Ms Govendir and fled the scene in her car – a white 1997 Ford laser sedan.
The male occupant of the home called police after he had allegedly regained consciousness and officers attached to Eastern Suburbs, assisted by State Crime Command Homicide detectives, commenced an investigation under Strike Force Gulak.
On Saturday 21 March 1998 – 11 days later – detectives located and recovered the allegedly stolen car in Rose Bay, about 1.7km from the Dover Heights home.
A subsequent coronial inquest held between 2005 and 2008 confirmed Ms Govendir died as a result of blunt force head injury intentionally inflicted by a person or persons unknown.
In November 2023, the Homicide Squad with the NSW Government announced a $1 million reward for information that led to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Ms Govendir’s murder.
Following further inquiries by the Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Team, about 10.15am today (Thursday 15 August 2024), strike force detectives arrested an 81-year-old man at Springwood Police Station.
The man was charged with murder and refused bail to appear in Penrith Local Court today.
Police will allege in court the man – who was known to Denise – fabricated the story about the home invasion to cover up her murder.
