Membrey dad tells his story after 17 years - Ninemsn

Roger Membrey left a message on his daughter's answering machine that was never returned.

He found her Ringwood flat dark when he arrived on a hot December 1994 night to search for her.

But inside Elisabeth Membrey's flat he saw a pool of blood on the hallway carpet.

Mr Membrey has not heard from his daughter since.

Finally, on Wednesday, Mr Membrey got to tell his story to a Victorian Supreme Court murder trial.

He told jurors how his daughter, a recent arts graduate from La Trobe University majoring in politics, was a "very fine woman".

Mr Membrey described how his daughter wanted to become a broadcast journalist and how she had been in discussion with a network, but was killed before it could be finalised.

"People were drawn to her because she was a happy person. She had the personality that people liked, they enjoyed talking with her," Mr Membrey said.

As Mr Membrey gave his evidence the man accused of killing his daughter - 45-year-old Shane Andrew Bond - sat just a few metres away at the back of the court.

He has pleaded not guilty and his barrister has told the jury that key witnesses in the case had an axe to grind with Bond and their accounts could not be believed.

Mr Membrey can't remember the last time he saw his daughter. She would call in often, he told the trial.

On December 7, 1994, he called his daughter about lunchtime. Elisabeth Membrey had an appointment with a medical specialist and he was surprised he hadn't heard from her.

Mr Membrey left a message on her answering machine asking her to give him a call.

His wife Joy called Ms Membrey about 6pm to invite her out to dinner. There was no answer and she too left a message.

After dinner they received a call from Ms Membrey's boyfriend Jason Lee saying he hadn't been able to catch up with her and wondering if she was with her parents.

The Membreys began searching.

They checked the car park of the Manhattan Hotel where Ms Membrey worked, but her car was not there.

So they drove to her flat in Bedford Rd, Ringwood.

Ms Membrey's car was parked in her usual spot.

They rang the doorbell and no one answered. The house was dark inside.

Later, Mr Lee arrived and was able to get into the flat through a slightly ajar window.

Inside they found blood on the hallway carpet.

By now Mr Membrey was beginning to think his daughter may be injured.

Police were called.

Prosecutor Geoffrey Horgan, SC, asked Mr Membrey if since that time he had had any contact with his daughter.

"Absolutely none," he replied.

He also asked whether anyone that he knew had had contact with her.

"No, no one that we know has contacted her, there's been no contact whatsoever," Mr Membrey said.

Ms Membrey was last seen leaving the Manhattan Hotel late on December 6, 1994.

Bond's barrister Michael O'Connell, SC, denies his client killed Ms Membrey or that he is the man allegedly seen arguing with Ms Membrey three times on the day she disappeared.

He also said the $1 million reward for information about the crime may have influenced what witnesses have said.

He told jurors they would not be able to exclude the possibility that someone else may have committed the crime.

The trial before Justice Terry Forrest continues on Thursday.

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