Bombshell arrest made in cold case murder of Ricky Balcombe
A bombshell arrest has been made in the 20-year-old cold case murder of Geelong teenager Ricky Balcombe.
Karl Hague has been charged over the killing for a second time following revelations made on a Channel 7 program.
Wednesday's arrest came after a review into the 22-year investigation revealed in March on Channel 7's Million Dollar Cold Case.
Ricky Balcombe was 16 years old when he was stabbed to death at the entrance of a Geelong shopping centre on May 5, 1995.
Hague was charged with murder later that year, but the case was dropped a week before it went to trial when two witnesses committed suicide and a third was unable to testify.
Just a few months ago Hague, 44, spoke publicly for the first time, insisting he was innocent and claiming the police were corrupt.
Now Ricky's heartbroken parents have finally come face to face with their son's alleged killer.
Hague told the court he will be applying for bail and wanted his case heard on Friday, but Judge Lex Lasry did not set a date, telling Hague he needed to follow the appropriate processes.
Detectives told the court they have new evidence, taking 100 additional statements after making a vow earlier this year to solve the case.
