Iain HOGG
Iain HOGG
The body of Iain Hogg has not yet been recovered. Police believe that the same person is responsible for Mr Hogg’s disappearance and suspected murder and the murder of Mr Rosson.
MURDER OF FREDERICK HUGH ROSSON aka CHARLES ALEXANDER "Slim" JOHNSTON
$250,000 REWARD
REWARD: The Minister for Police and Corrective Services has approved a reward of $250,000 be offered for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Frederick Hugh ROSSON aka Charles Alexander "Slim" JOHNSTON at Nerang on 14 March 2002.
INDEMNITY FROM PROSECUTION: In addition, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the crime, who first gives such information. The allocation of the $250 000 reward will be at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of the Police Service.
CIRCUMSTANCES: Between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm on Thursday 14 March 2002, Frederick Hugh ROSSON aka Charles Alexander "Slim" JOHNSTON, 68 years, was shot dead in the rear workshop area of his residence at 22 Pademelon Pass, Nerang. A Post Mortem revealed that his death was the result of a single gunshot wound to the head. In the weeks preceding his death Mr ROSSON had advertised his CZ 9mm pistol for sale in "The Personal Trading Post". The weapon and a quantity of ammunition was found missing following the discovery of his body. A red Toyota Celica Coupe was seen to drive to the victim's address around the time of his death. This vehicle has been identified as belonging to Ian Stewart HOGG, 46 years, who is missing under suspicious circumstances from his Currumbin home. Mr HOGG has not been heard from since he contacted his mother on the evening of 10 March 2002.
Any member of the public with information which could assist Police is asked to contact:
• the Homicide Investigation Group, Brisbane, Phone (07) 3364 6122;
• or Gold Coast CIB (Southern Investigative Group), Phone (07) 5535 1257;
• any Police Station; or
• Crime Stoppers, Phone 1800 333 000.
Office of the Commissioner of the Police Service, BRISBANE
R ATKINSON COMMISSIONER
Thursday, May 9, 2002. Posted: 11:14:36 (AEDT) - ABC
New clues in double murder mystery released
Detectives trying to solve an apparent double murder on the Gold Coast have
released details of another piece of the puzzle.
Sunglasses, a beanie and a bronze necklace, thought to be stolen, have been
found in a car that is central to both cases.
The damaged red Celica sedan belongs to missing Currumbin liquor store manager
Iain Hogg, who has not been seen since March 10.
It was sighted at a hinterland property where 70-year-old Charles Johnston was
killed four days later.
Detective Inspector Jim Keogh has asked anyone who is missing such property or
who knew Mr Hogg to come forward.
"We really have to try and tie down as much of the background of Mr Hogg so we
can learn a bit more about who he may have associated with up to his time of
disappearance," he said.
Police have renewed their appeal for information about murders of two men on the Gold Coast and in the Tweed two years ago.
Bottle shop manager Iain Stewart Hogg disappeared from his Currumbin unit on March 10, 2002.
His car was seen at Tweed Heads the next day and a large pool of his blood was found nearby.
Detectives believe Mr Hogg's car was used in the murder of Charles Alexander Johnson at Mount Nathan in the Gold Coast hinterland on March 14.
They are offering a total of $350,000 for information about the two deaths.
IT’S been 14 years, but police are still hopeful modern technology and pure luck will solve the brutal murder of a Nerang grandfather.
IT’S been 14 years, but police are still hopeful modern technology and pure luck will solve the brutal murder of a Nerang grandfather.
Charles “Slim” Johnson, 68, was tinkering in his beloved shed at the rear of his Pademelon Pass home on Thursday, March 14 in 2002 when he was shot dead with his own gun.
Mr Johnson had advertised his CZ 9mm pistol for sale in a trading post and that day had a planned meeting with two men interested in buying it.
The men arrived at the home and police believe they feigned interest in the weapon before using it to shoot Mr Johnson in the head.
The gun was never recovered, but ballistics testing proved the murder weapon was Mr Johnson’s own 9mm.
Mr Johnson’s family found him slumped in the shed about 3pm that day.
Witnesses reported seeing men arrive at the property between 11am and 1pm, but no one has ever been charged with his murder.
Deepening the mystery was evidence that the car used by the killers was stolen from another murdered man just days earlier.
Blood belonging to Gold Coast bottleshop manager Iain Stewart Hogg was found on the banks of the Tweed River on March 11, 2002.
His distinctive red Celica was seen at Mr Johnson’s home before being found the next day dumped in 15th Ave, Palm Beach.
Former Gold Coast crime-fighter Superintendent Jim Keogh was one of the lead investigators. He said the two murdered men were not known to each other and had no link other than the car.
“The murders are worlds away from each other, but we are confident that the car used to access Mr Johnson’s home was Mr Hogg’s stolen Celica,” Supt Keogh said.
“Mr Johnson’s fatal mistake was advertising his gun for sale from his home address.
“The motive for his killing is still unclear after all these years, but Mr Hogg did appear to have a secret life involving brothels.
“His body has never been found, but it is believed it was dumped in the Tweed River.”
Supt Keogh said all cold cases remained open.
“All unsolved crimes remain open and as we continue to progress with technology it is hoped that they will all eventually be solved,” he said.
“Sometimes it can just be dumb luck. This week someone renovating their home solved a 14-year-old murder mystery in Brisbane. You just never know.
“Police believe the same offenders are responsible for both murders, so if we solve one, we solve both.”
In 2009, Mr Johnson’s daughter, Beth Richardson, told the Gold Coast Bulletin her father’s murder had changed her family.
“I really don’t understand it,’’ she said at the time. “You just have to take your head away from it. There is nothing you can do.
“It was just so major and affected parts of us we didn’t even think about — even with health. It was just so huge, so unnatural for us.’’
A $250,000 reward is available in each case for anyone who provides information that leads to the conviction of a killer or killers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
