Robert Kaleske and Carolyn Blair

Announced November 2007

Victoria Police hope a $100,000 reward could lead to information to help solve a vicious attempted murder that left two people with acquired brain injuries.

Robert Kaleske and Carolyn Blair were brutally attacked while they slept in their Plumpton Avenue home in Craigieburn on 6 December 2004.

Police believe the person or persons entered the property through an unlocked rear door sometime between 11:15pm on 5 December and 11:45am on 6 December.

The couple were bashed with what appeared to be a blunt object and left for dead.

The alarm was raised by a nephew of Robert who came to visit the couple and found them severely injured lying in their bed.

Detectives described the unprovoked attack as one of the most violent they had encountered.

Detective Sergeant Michael Engel said the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible would provide an incentive for people to come forward.

"We are hoping this reward will encourage anybody who knows anything about this incident to come forward".

"It remains our belief that those involved intended to kill both Carolyn and Robert and that was the purpose of them attending their premises on that evening" he said.

Neighbours did not see anything suspicious in the lead up to the attack and no witnesses have ever come forward.

However Detective Sergeant Engel said he was confident that somebody in the community knew who was responsible for the attack and encouraged them to come forward.

He said the incident had irrevocably changed the quality of the couple’s lives.

"Both Carolyn and Robert suffered permanent physical damage as a result of the injuries sustained that evening, from which they will never recover" he said.

"We would like to identify those people involved and hold them accountable for their actions and provide Carolyn and Robert with some answers as to why they were targeted".

"It won’t change their quality of life but it will give them the justice that they deserve," Detective Sergeant Engel said.

A reward of up to $100,000 will be paid at the discretion of the Chief Commissioner of Police, for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for this attack.

The Director of Public Prosecutions will consider, according to established guidelines, the granting of indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders in this matter.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au(opens in a new window)