Fresh evidence reignites calls to reopen case of Louisa Ioannidis’s mysterious death

New grounds is bringing the tragic decease of Louisa Ioannidis, who was recovered successful a Melbourne creek successful 2011, backmost into the spotlight and raising doubts astir the archetypal coroner’s findings. Questions person haunted Louisa’s member Tass ever since his 24-year-old sister’s lifeless assemblage was discovered successful Darebin Creek, adjacent Reservoir, connected 11 October, 2011.

Based connected the forensic introspection and constabulary study astatine the time, the coroner concluded that Louisa’s decease was “consistent with drowning” under circumstances deemed non-suspicious. The lawsuit was closed without being referred to the Homicide Division and without a ceremonial judicial investigation.

“I didn’t judge that she conscionable fell into the creek and drowned,” Tass told Australian Story.

“I conscionable don’t bargain that story.”

Independent investigation

Seeking answers, Tass turned to erstwhile constabulary serviceman Julia Robson, who successful '22 began an autarkic probe into Louisa’s death. According to a previews Neos Kosmos report, past year Louisa’s family, pursuing caller accusation uncovered by Robson, requested a caller forensic reappraisal to clarify the causes and circumstances of her death.

Recently, autarkic forensic pathologist Johan Duflou re-examined the archetypal autopsy worldly and formed further uncertainty connected the drowning theory. After identifying imaginable bruises connected Louisa’s neck, helium stated:

“I don’t think manual strangulation successful this lawsuit tin beryllium excluded.”

Duflou noted that characterising a decease arsenic “consistent with drowning” is not a definitive confirmation of drowning. In Louisa’s case, helium explained, “the grounds suggesting [that her decease was owed to] drowning is limited.”

Because Louisa’s assemblage had been successful the water for galore days, decomposition made the autopsy much difficult. Duflou added that if Louisa was strangled, it is intolerable to find whether this caused her death. He ultimately recorded her origin of decease arsenic “undetermined.”

The study has present been submitted to the Coroners Court of Victoria by a team of lawyers working pro bono for Tass, alongside different caller evidence, with a petition to overturn the archetypal coroner’s study and reopen the investigation.

However, Robson told Neos Kosmos that so far, “they person not received a effect regarding whether their petition was accepted.”

The tragic timeline

Drawing from documents collected by Tass, Robson gathered cardinal grounds and, with Clare McGrath, created the podcast Troubled Waters, which explores the inheritance of Louisa’s death.

In the series, Robson and McGrath highlighted large shortcomings successful the 2011 constabulary investigation, inconsistencies successful the statements of Louisa’s partner, Joe (not his existent name), and grounds that Louisa was trying to permission the relationship.

During the archetypal investigation, constabulary relied successful portion connected Joe’s statements, contempt him facing a home violence complaint astatine the time. Legal proceedings against him were dropped pursuing Louisa’s death.

On 2 October, 2011, the time Louisa was past seen alive, a neighbour reported seeing her bleeding and overhearing an argument. According to ABC, the neighbour remembers Louisa pleading with her partner:

“Please, Joe, don’t wounded me. Stop.”

Later that evening, astir 8.44pm, Louisa near their unit with humor successful her hairsbreadth and borrowed a neighbour’s phone. She was overheard saying: “Joe, where are you? I’m waiting for you.”

When Joe arrived location astatine astir 9.45pm, helium told constabulary Louisa was not there and that helium had asked to extremity the relationship. He claimed helium then went to the country of the street and saw Louisa moving successful her pinkish nightgown towards Darebin Creek.

“I looked near and close and I saw her each the way to the extremity of Tyler Street,” helium said successful his constabulary statement.

“I whistled but she ignored me. She was bolting … I didn’t spell retired of Seston Street and I didn’t pursuit her.”

Testing the story

Robson and McGrath aboriginal attempted to recreate the scene. At 9.45pm, Robson stood astatine the extremity of Tyler Street successful a nightgown identical to Louisa’s. McGrath positioned herself where Joe claimed helium stood, astir 370 metres away, but reported she could not spot thing pinkish until Robson moved overmuch closer.

Their probe besides revealed the water level successful Darebin Creek was astir 40 centimetres astatine the time, contradicting the constabulary report. While experts admit drowning tin hap successful shallow water, Robson and McGrath raised superior doubts.

The deeper they dug, the much questions emerged.

Since the merchandise of Troubled Waters, Louisa Ioannidis’ story has struck a chord with the public. More than 22,000 radical person present signed a petition calling for an inquest into her death.