Deceased/Not Found Australia - Gerhard Wagner, 61, Brisbane, 7 January 1999 *Arrest*

Police offer reward over disappearance of Brisbane man Gerhard Wagner believed murdered in 1999

August 03, 2014

On January 7, 1999, Gerhard, 61, had been working on his boat at a friend’s workshop in Hemmant.

Police tracked him crossing Story Bridge on his motorbike after leaving the workshop.

After that, Gerhard Wagner, the man who had lived to give, vanished.

Paul believes his brother’s murderer was motivated by money. Gerhard was an ordinary man, devoted to his family, giving to a fault. He had no enemies. Perhaps he lent someone money and they didn’t want to pay it back?

“I think about him nearly every day,” Paul said. “All these years, what goes through your mind is, how did it happen? Did he know the person or persons? Was he beaten to death? Shot? Stabbed?

“Nobody would have believed this would happen. He was ordinary, but he was amazing the way he looked after his family. And these are the real heroes, aren’t they?’’

Police this week announced a $250,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers, phone 1800 333 000.



http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...murdered-in-1999/story-fnihsrf2-1227011341611

Police have made a possible breakthrough in the Gerhard Wagner cold case

20 Aug 2014

Police have made a possible breakthrough in the cold case disappearance and suspected murder of Brisbane man Gerhard Wagner

Today a home in The Gap, in Brisbane's north-west, was raided and police were seen leaving with documents.



Photo: A $250,000 reward is on offer for information leading to a conviction over Mr Wagner's suspected murder. (Supplied: Qld Police Service)

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-...akthrough-in-gerhard-wagner-cold-case/5684844

Home raided at The Gap in cold case murder investigation of Gerhard Wagner

August 21, 2014


POLICE investigating the cold-case murder of Gerhard Wagner have raided the home of a relative.

Detectives arrived at a neatly kept brick home in The Gap yesterday morning, armed with a warrant.

They spent several hours inside, searching through boxes in a garage area, before leaving with what appeared to be a stack of diaries

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...f-gerhard-wagner/story-fnihsrf2-1227030927680

Oh my, so it was a relative. Greed got the better of them I suppose. jmo

Going great with cold cases QPS!! Well done!!

Man charged following 1999 murder of Gerhard Bruno Wagner

October 22, 2014 at 11:26 am


A 53-year-old man from Brisbane’s northern suburbs was today charged following the suspected murder of Gerhard Bruno Wagner in 1999.

Gerhard Wagner was last seen on 7 January 1999 departing his friend’s boat workshop at Hemmant on his 1986 Kawasaki Virago 750 motorcycle.

Today’s arrest is the culmination of a protracted investigation by detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Investigation Unit and Brisbane Region and with assistance and support from the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Detective Superintendent Steve Holahan of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Group acknowledged the commitment of investigators and the assistance provided by the public and particularly Gerhard’s family.

“While I’m confident the arrest will provide some comfort to Gerhard’s family, who joined us in appealing for information earlier this year, we are still committed to bringing closure to the family,” Detective Superintendent Steve Holahan said.

“This case highlights the fact police will continue to investigate unsolved crimes regardless of when they were committed. I would certainly encourage anyone who has information that could assist us in locating Gerhard’s remains or in fact, any unsolved crime to contact police or Crime Stoppers,” Detective Superintendent Holahan said.

The 53-year-old man has been charged with one count each of murder, interfere with a corpse and stealing of a vehicle. He will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2014/10/22/man-charged-following-1999-murder-gerhard-bruno-wagner/

Dogged police work leads to fresh arrests in cold cases of McCulkin family and Gerhard Wagner

October 25, 2014

THEY’RE Queensland’s greatest mysteries – more than 170 cold-case murders dating back to the 1950s that have baffled generations of police.

Detectives this week made dramatic inroads into their number, laying charges over the murders of five people in a series of breakthroughs.

And the charges are expected to continue, with The Courier-Mail told that police will seek to use new double jeopardy laws for the first time on a cold-case murder from the 1990s.

The State Government this year overhauled laws to allow police to recharge suspects in historic cases when compelling new evidence emerges.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...d-gerhard-wagner/story-fnihsrf2-1227101635342

Gerhard Wagner cold case arrest: Nephew charged with murder of Brisbane man

The nephew of missing Brisbane man Gerhard Wagner has faced court charged with murdering his uncle in 1999.

Robert James Wagner, 53, of The Gap, is accused of killing Mr Wagner, stealing a motorcycle, as well as stealing a boat in July 2001.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-22/man-charged-murder-gerhard-wagner-cold-case/5832964

From April:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-...face-murder-trial-uncle-disappearance/7308202

The nephew of missing Brisbane man Gerhard Wagner has been committed to stand trial for his uncle's alleged murder 17 years ago.

Click to expand...

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...s/news-story/07db2938d739806170c1ad75997c42b5

September 2016

A BRISBANE man has been formally indicted for the cold-case murder of his wealthy bachelor uncle.

Robert James Wagner, 55, did not appear in the Supreme Court today where prosecutors formally handed up a one count murder indictment to Justice David Boddice.

The court was told he is in custody on remand.

Speaking outside of court, Guest Lawyers law clerk said Wagner’s case had taken two years to get through the committal stage.

No trial date has been set, the case returns to the Supreme Court for mention on October 28.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-20/robert-wagner-on-trial-for-uncles-murder/9464814

[h=1]Murder-accused bought acid-proof boots after uncle's disappearance, trial hears[/h]By Ellie Sibson
Updated February 20, 2018 15:56:32

"A Queensland man accused of murdering his wealthy uncle over money 20 years ago has his fate in the hands of a jury. Robert James Wagner, 57, is accused of murdering Gerhard Wagner at his Brisbane home on January 7, 1999, amid a row over money...

The jury began its deliberations on Thursday [afternoon] after listening to the evidence for more than two weeks.

The trial has heard Gerhard Wagner had considerable assets. Prosecutors claim Robert Wagner owed Gerhard $84,000 and was in a difficult financial position before he disappeared.

It is alleged Robert Wagner murdered his uncle in the garage of the Ashgrove unit he lived in, which was owned by his uncle. A witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, came forward with claims Wagner told him he had killed his uncle and got away with it."
https://www.smh.com.au/national/que...f-wealthy-queensland-man-20190627-p521xp.html

"A Supreme Court jury in Brisbane deliberated for more than a day and a half before finding Robert Wagner guilty of murdering his uncle Gerhard Wagner in 1999...

Prosecutor Phil McCarthy said Robert Wagner, now 57, had committed a "heinous crime against a person who regarded him as a son".

"His death had left an inevitable hole in his family unit," he said.

In sentencing Wagner to life in prison, Justice Peter Applegarth said greed was the motivation behind the "cold-blooded" crime."
'Evil deeds': Man jailed for life for bludgeoning, dismembering uncle