Murders stir Melbourne's cafe chatter

By BILLY ADAMS in Melbourne

The cafe chatter in the genteel surrounds of Melbourne's richest suburbs has taken a morbid turn.

For almost a month no one knew what had happened to a millionaire society couple who disappeared after enjoying a quiet family meal.

The city was abuzz with gossip and speculation.

Then early this week Margaret Wales-King and her second husband, Paul King, were found, their bodies decomposing in a hastily dug shallow grave in the bush.

They were murdered by asphyxiation, and the autopsy showed they had died within 24 hours of leaving their son's home that fateful night.

Now two obvious questions are concentrating the minds of a shocked city: who, and why?

Detectives working on the case suspected foul play long before Monday's grisly discovery, but likely motives and suspects have so far eluded their exhaustive inquiries.

The picture emerging of King, 70, and Wales-King, 68, is of a retired couple who had no obvious enemies.

The daughter of a quarrying and road construction magnate, Wales-King's passions for painting and, more recently, playing bridge were funded by a sizeable inheritance and sound investments, which had made her independently wealthy.

She spent much of her time caring for her husband, who had become an invalid after a series of strokes. One worker at his local community care group said he was "the nicest man you could ever meet".

The mystery, which has dominated Victoria's media for weeks, began when the couple left the home of their son, Matthew, shortly before 10 pm on Thursday, April 4.

The later discovery of lights left on and unwashed plates suggests they never made it home to their A$1.5 million ($1.8 million) townhouse in the leafy suburb of Armadale.

Their silver Mercedes-Benz, which was found locked and intact in another part of the city almost a week later, is believed to have been parked there the day after they disappeared.

For the next three weeks the Kings' family waited in anguish.

They were joined in Melbourne by Wales-King's sister, Di Yeldham, a well-known Sydney socialite and art dealer.

Their worst fears were confirmed on Monday when two rangers noticed what they thought was a lyrebird's nest in the Yarra Ranges National Park, east of Melbourne.

Scratching away at the mound of earth they found the bodies.

The couple were bound, dressed in the clothes they had been wearing on the night they vanished. Suggestions they were sedated before being choked are being investigated.

Although Wales-King's Louis Vuitton handbag, mobile phone and car key are still missing, police have ruled out robbery as a motive. About $100,000 of jewellery was found on the bodies, including Margaret's $90,000 diamond ring.

Double suicide or murder suicide has also been ruled out.

Police believe the Kings were victims of a planned murder.

With no obvious motive, attention has focused on those closest to the victims.

Interviews and background checks are being conducted with Wales-King's five children, 11 grandchildren and extended family, friends and associates.

Matthew's backyard was searched but police stress it was a routine measure, which is not thought to have yielded new evidence.

It is believed the only evidence found so far is that of a secure, stable family with no reason to be involved in the crime.

Detectives hope DNA testing of a quilt found with the bodies will provide a breakthrough.