On Saturday the 10th of March, 1990, Kilsyth man Douglas Phillpott was attacked while at home with his wife Irene.
During the cowardly home invasion, both Douglas and Irene were brutally bashed, and sadly, Douglas tragically died as a result of complications from his injuries.
On the night of the attack, Douglas and Irene were at their home in Balmoral Street, Kilsyth, when Douglas went out onto the back veranda at about 10:15pm to feed their cat and dog.
Irene was watching TV in the lounge room when she felt something move behind her before a hand was clasped over her mouth.
A man dressed in black and wearing a balaclava demanded money from Irene before striking her in the head and face with his fists, and then with an ornament that he picked off a nearby shelf.
During the attack, the man continued to demand money, then pulled Irene from her chair and forced her into the master bedroom.
Irene repeatedly told the man there was no money in the house.
However, he pushed her onto the bed and bound her hands and legs with tape.
He then ransacked the room and located a small quantity of cash located in a jewellery box and passport folder.
The man placed a cloth gag into Irene's mouth and while doing so, a second man, also wearing a balaclava, entered the room.
The second man asked Irene if her husband was sick before threatening to shoot her if she didn't tell them where the money was hidden.
Both men left the room, and this gave Irene the opportunity to remove her bindings and escape through the bedroom window.
She ran to a nearby home and was able to call Triple 000. When police attended her house, they located Douglas lying on the kitchen floor.
He had visible bruising and abrasions on his face and arms, and sadly, Douglas had passed away at the scene.
Douglas had a history of heart disease, and his cause of death was recorded as being heart related, due to the trauma of the incident.
Douglas and Irene were both 64 years old at the time of the incident.
The pair had been living independently at home after both their children had moved out and were married.
The family had emigrated to Australia from England in 1970 and had lived in their Kilsyth home for 20 years.
Douglas had taken a job at a fibre making company in Bayswater and he remained there until his retirement.
Irene worked part time as a cleaner for a local technical college and retired in the mid 1980s after suffering a debilitating injury and receiving a compensation payout.
The couple kept busy after retirement and volunteered at a local Salvation Army hall.
Douglas was a hardworking man whose priority was to provide for his family. Douglas and Irene were both vulnerable and defenceless and would have been no threat to any intruder.
They had a right to feel safe in their own home, and unfortunately this was not the case and it resulted in Douglas's death.
Homicide squad investigators are keen to speak to anyone who may have information about the incident and those involved.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
While over 30 years have passed, investigators still believe there are people out there with information that could help solve this case and give Douglas's family some answers.
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