Sons of murdered mum Maria James want priest’s body exhumed as cold case evidence bungle reveale

AUSTRALIA
9 News – A Current Affair

The sons of a woman brutally stabbed to death in Melbourne’s north in 1980 have called for the exhumation of a Catholic priest’s body for DNA testing as an evidence bungle comes to light.

Victoria Police have admitted an exhibit from the murder scene of Maria James – one that had been used to eliminate suspects – was in fact from another case.

A Current Affair can also reveal the quilt cover police took from Mrs James’ home as an exhibit in the investigation, is now missing.

Nearly 40 years ago, the mother of two was stabbed 68 times while on the phone to her ex-husband, in the Thornbury bookstore that was her home and workplace.

Her ex-husband, John James, grew concerned after claiming to hear screaming over the phone, and went to the store to investigate.

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