An elderly man has been charged with the murder of his wife more than 26 years after claiming she was killed during a home invasion.
Denise Govendir, 53, was killed at Dover Heights, in Sydney’s east, early on March 10, 1998.
More than a quarter of a century later, her husband Aaron Govendir was arrested at Springwood Police Station in the Blue Mountains on Thursday.
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The now 81-year-old has been charged with murder and refused bail, and is expected to appear in Penrith Local Court later on Thursday.
Govendir had previously told detectives the couple was assaulted by a man who broke into their home claiming to be a police officer.
He said he was knocked unconscious and restrained with cable ties.
The alleged intruder reportedly assaulted Denise, who died from her injuries.
Police recovered a stolen sedan, which the purported attacker fled the scene in, 11 days after the killing but were unable to track down the unidentified assailant.
Detectives on Thursday said they would now allege Govendir made up the story about a home invasion.
An inquest held between 2005 and 2008 declared Denise died from blunt-force head injuries that were intentionally inflicted.
The NSW government in November 2023 announced a $1 million reward for fresh information that could lead to her killer’s arrest and conviction.
Speaking at the time, Denise’s daughter Tahli remembered her mother’s generosity, love and support.
“How she died was only a tiny little bit of her and that’s not the part that I focus on,” she said.
“I still have people who say, ‘I remember her, I miss her, I think about her all the time’.”
Police are expected to provide an update on the investigation on Thursday afternoon.