A Turkish rapist is still on the loose in Australia 51 years after attacking a woman in her Melbourne bedroom.
The then 30-year-old woman was asleep in her home in Fitzroy when a stranger broke in and raped her in the early hours of July 22, 1974, and nine days later police arrested George Karakis over the attack.
Karakis, who was born in Turkey but was given a Greek translator during his police interview, was charged with rape, burglary and indecent assault.
He was then released on bail after his wife put up a $1,000 surety, but failed to show up to court and the now-78-year-old has evaded capture ever since.
Victoria Police said he fled before NSW Police could arrest him in Sydney in 1990, and a fresh appeal for information failed in 2015, and have now launched a new appeal to locate him with a digitally generated image of what he could look like today along with his original mugshot.
“At the time of his arrest Karakis was a 27-year-old living in Gore Street, Fitzroy with his wife, sister and brother-in-law. He was recorded as being about 162cm tall with brown eyes and had a 2cm scar over his left eyebrow,” police said.
Yarra Crime Investigation Unit Detective Senior Constable Ruby Roberts said Karakis’s victim is still traumatised by the attack and justice was long overdue.
“Our victim survivor is now in her 80s and been forced to live most of her adult life knowing this man has not faced court for the brutal crime he is accused of,” she said.
“This crime changed her life forever and 50 years is a long time to live without the justice we would so dearly like to give her. There will absolutely be people out there who know where Karakis fled and may even know where he is now residing.
“Given the length of time, there is also the possibility he has passed away – we just want to find answers so we can close this chapter in our victim’s life. Sometimes the smallest piece of information is all we need to get that break-through lead that could result in an arrest.”
Header image: Left, the 1974 mugshot. Right, the digitally generated image (supplied).
The post Hunt for Turkish rapist who’s been on the loose in Australia for 51 years first appeared on The Noticer.
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