A man accused of murdering his wife and her hairdresser at a Victorian salon 25 years ago knew details about the brutal deaths that alarmed police.
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Margaret Penny and her hairdresser were found beaten and stabbed to death inside the Old London Coiffure Hairdressers in Portland in May 1991.
Robert Penny was charged with their murders in 2015 but died in March before he could face a committal hearing. A fresh inquest into the murders will be held later this year.
Within hours of the murders, Penny made comments to family members that police later deemed suspicious, the Victorian Coroners Court was told on Thursday.
He told his children "their mother had been killed with a comb knife and scissors", said counsel assisting the coroner Jessica Wilby.
He also allegedly told Claire Acocks' family that the hairdresser had "died quickly and was killed with a tail comb".
"He could not explain to police how he came to be in possession of this information," Ms Wilby told an inquest directions hearing.
The women's bodies were found on May 3 after Ms Penny failed to meet a friend for afternoon tea.
"They had been stabbed multiple times, which was described by police as 'brutal' and 'vicious'," said Ms Wilby.
Ms Penny had arrived for her regular 2pm appointment with Ms Acocks about 15 minutes late that Friday.
Ms Acocks was last seen alive at 3.05pm when she went outside to collect something from her car.
Neighbours reported hearing screams about 3.30pm and a door slamming.
Their bodies were discovered at 4.30pm.
Police interviewed 6000 people as part of the murder investigation, and despite an inquest in 1995, the murder remained unsolved.
The victims' families, however, continued to press authorities for answers.
"Suspicions had been raised by the Acocks and Penny families about the possible involvement of Mr Penny," said Ms Wilby.
Police were able to gather new evidence on fingerprint analysis, DNA, and the women's wounds thanks to advances in technology that were not available in 1991, and charged Penny with the murders in 2015.
Up to 50 witnesses were expected to give evidence at a committal hearing to determine whether he should stand trial.
But Penny died of natural causes on March 26, aged 84.
His granddaugther requested a second inquest into the women's murders, saying it would provide closure about her grandfather's possible involvement.
"This case has a long and complex history," said coroner Jacqui Hawkins.
"It's most unfortunate that the criminal process was unable to be completed due to Mr Penny's death."
The inquest will begin on November 23.
– AAP
