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Stepfather killed young Vic woman: coroner

Georgie MooreAAP
A coroner has ruled that Barbara Dawson, whose body was found in 1980, was killed by her stepfather.
Camera IconA coroner has ruled that Barbara Dawson, whose body was found in 1980, was killed by her stepfather. Credit: AAP

A young woman found naked and bound at a Melbourne creek more than 40 years ago was killed by her stepfather, a coroner says.

Barbara Dawson was last seen alive on October 29, 1980. The 20-year-old's body was discovered partially submerged in a shallow ford at Kororoit Creek, Altona North three days later.

She was naked with her throat cut and plastic bags around her head and her feet. A 1981 inquest could not determine who killed her.

In 2003, her stepfather Peter Dawson was arrested. Neither he nor anyone else was charged, and he died in Queensland in 2008 at the age of 65.

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A new inquiry by coroner Audrey Jamieson has determined Mr Dawson, on the balance of probabilities, caused his stepdaughter's death.

Victoria's Coroners Court was last month told Mr Dawson and his partner, Helen, kept a "tight leash" on the young woman.

She wasn't allowed to socialise and stayed home unless she was working at a Footscray supermarket.

In the lead-up to her death, she clashed with her parents because she wanted to be allowed to go out with a coworker.

Two days before she disappeared, Ms Dawson withdrew $1400 from her bank account.

When the discovery of her body made the news, her stepfather told a neighbour: "No, she has gone away on a holiday".

Mr Dawson was in the area her body was found a day before passers-by made the grim discovery.

Later, Mr Dawson's partner was overheard saying: "I'll call the police and tell them everything".

Mr Dawson admitted down the track to his son: "I've done it (killed) before", the court was also told.

On the day of the young woman's disappearance, a telegram arrived at the family's Tottenham home.

"Decided to be on my own for a while. Let you know where I am later," it read.

It was signed "Babs". Her family said only Mr Dawson used that nickname for the young woman.

The telegram was requested and dictated by a man calling from a Footscray phonebox, according to the phonogram operator at the time.

In 2005, Mr Dawson was arrested and charged with the murder of his first wife, Patricia.

She has never been found after disappearing in South Australia in 1972.

The murder charge was dropped in 2006.

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