When I joined as a cadet in 1959 and commenced work in in Scientific Section shortly afterwards the Golchert murders in the cane fields of Kalkie just north of Bundaberg was still a big news item. The offender Neville Pressler was a member of a well known cane farming family in the area, as were his victims.

On 19 May 1959 Cliff Golchert and his  wife Marjorie were found murdered as they slept in their bed with each receiving severe head wounds and were also shot in the head with a .22cal rifle.

A prolonged murder investigation was headed by the outstanding investigator of the day Det Insp. Bill Cronau who eventually targeted neighbour Neville Pressler as a suspect.

Pressler eventually confessed to the crimes, hitting both the victims with a length of pipe and shooting them with a rifle he found in the house. He discarded the pipe, rifle and back door key in long grass 100m from their house, he  later found these items for the police. 

He was charged and convicted November 1959 of the double wilful murders and sentenced to life in prison. 

Police never established a motive for the murders. Is was believed that he was infatuated by Marjorie Golchert who may have rebuffed him.

Pressler served his time on a prison farm and was a model prisoner. He served 18 years in prison as he never admitted the killings or showed remorse  which are a requirement for early parole.

Sequel to the Golchert Murders 

Fast forward to June 1960 when the body of Henry Pressler was found in bed with a gun shot wound to the side of his head and with a 22cal rifle beside the body.

The responding police believing it was suicide removed the rifle from the bed to check whether it had a discharged cartridge case in the chamber before any photos were taken.

Henry Pressler was the brother in law of Mrs Enid Pressler who was Neville Pressler's mother. The body was found in Mrs Pressler's home in Bundaberg where he was staying for few days to assist her with some gardening.

On interviewing Mrs Pressler she stated that before the shooting Henry had dictated a confession to her that he had murdered the Golcherts and she left it with him which he later purportedly signed. Mrs Pressler took possession of the note and did not show it to police until after the body was removed.

The P M revealed that the head wound could not have occurred with body and firearm as shown in its present location in the photograph as the bullet entered above the right ear with a downward trajectory.

Further examination of the note showed that the signature of Henry Pressler was a forgery although they could not prove Mrs Pressler had written it.

Australia's leading police handwriting expert Det Sgt Paul Clark from NSW also examined the note and concurred with Bardwell

Mrs Pressler was charged with wilful murder and in her trial which was  in Brisbane. Dan Casey Qld leading defence counsel defended the 66 year old grandmother, assisted by Gerry Brennan who later became Chief Justice of the High Court. This court  case saw Dan Casey at his emotive best.

The Crown case was the two most explosive pieces of evidence, he could not have shot himself and he did not sign the confession and fact that Mrs Pressler committed the murder to get her son released from prison.

Mrs Pressler was a very determined  mother to see her son freed, however you could say her execution was poor.

I attended the court when my boss was giving ballistic and handwriting evidence thinking to myself do I want to be subjected to this most grueling cross examination for the rest of my career. 

Following many weeks of high court room drama Mrs Pressler was found not guilty. These murders still resonate around Bundaberg even today.