What happened to Georgina Watmore and Catherine Holmes? The mystery remains unsolved.
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Still no answers
On the eve of it being thirty years since the murders of his sister Georgina Watmore and her close friend Catherine Holmes, David Booth remains confident someone has answers to what happened in the early hours of April 15, 1987.
Mr Booth, who was living in Canberra at the time of the murders, admitted he never imagined the case would remain unsolved for as long as it has, and fears his family and Catherine’s family may never have closure. Read more.
April 16, 1987: Cowra Police Station
Twelve detectives were assembled from the Homicide Squad Cowra, Forbes and Young to investigate the murders of two young women the previous day.
Catherine Holmes, 29, and Georgina Watmore, 23, were found in a house at 1 Jindalee Circuit about 1.15pm on Wednesday, April 15, 1987.
Holmes was deceased and Watmore barely alive when they were found. Read more.
$200,000 reward still on offer
A $200,000 reward is still on offer for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the those responsible for the murders of Catherine Holmes and Georgina Watmore.
The figure was approved by NSW Government in 2010 - 23 years after the crime.
It eclipsed the initial reward of $50,000 set during May, 1987. Read more.
An intruder at Catherine’s house
Two people, who were minding Catherine Holmes’ kids at the time, informed police of an intruder at Holmes’ house weeks prior to the murders.
They heard someone enter the house, walk through to Cathy’s bedroom and leave.
Police were told that Cathy had stated she knew the identity of the person but wouldn’t reveal their identity. Read more.
Boy hypnotised in effort to find killers
Police went to great lengths in efforts to gain a breakthrough in the murders of Georgina Watmore and Catherine Holmes.
On May 29 the 15-year-old boy, who lived in Victor Street, told police that about 3.40pm on April 14, 1987 he was walking home from school along Victor Street.
He told police that as he walked past the side gate of Catherine Holmes’ home he saw Catherine and a male in the backyard arguing. Read more.
Rumour mill doesn’t assist
Cowra residents did police no favours during the investigations into the murders of Catherine Holmes and Georgina Watmore in April, 1987.
As would be expected in a country town the size of Cowra, many rumours were generated as to who was responsible for and the motive behind the murders, one of the investigating officers said in a statement prepared for a Coroner’s inquest. Read more.
A timeline of murder
Murder and manslaughter has filled pages of the Cowra Guardian and the national print media on more occasions than we should be comfortable with since the late 1950’s. Read more.
