THE husband of one of two women stabbed to death in a Portland hair salon nearly 24 years ago has been charged with their murders.
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Robert Penny, 83, of Malvern East, briefly appeared at Melbourne Magistrates court on Monday and was remanded in custody to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court for a committal mention on July 6.
He was granted bail on Monday afternoon after facing the Supreme Court.
Justice Terry Forrest agreed to release Mr Penny on bail because of his age and ill health.
He is charged with murdering Claire Acocks and his wife Margaret Penny at a Portland hair salon on May 3 1991.
Homicide squad detectives revealed on Monday morning they had made a breakthrough in the baffling cold case, when they charged Mr Penny.
Police relaunched the case in 2006 and Penny resurfaced as a suspect last year, despite being cleared of any involvement during the original investigation.
Dressed in a collared windcheater and with his white hair neatly combed, Mr Penny was unsteady on his feet in the dock, but was not required to speak during the hearing that lasted less than five minutes.
Defence counsel Rob Stary said his client would apply for bail in the Supreme Court later on Monday.
Prosecutor Luke Excell said family members of the deceased were in court.
The Acocks family said it appreciated the interest in the cold case's developments, according to a statement provided to Victoria Police.
"We are extremely encouraged by these developments and would like to acknowledge the support which has been given to our family by Victoria Police throughout this lengthy investigation," the statement read.
"We are grateful for the determination of the Homicide Squad detectives who have continued to investigate this matter to endeavour to gain a resolution for us and justice for Claire.
"We are mindful that there are now matters before the courts so we will not be making any further statement at this time."
Mrs Penny's son, Tony, also released a statement thanking police for their ongoing commitment to solve his mother and Mrs Acocks' murder.
"I will continue to assist Victoria Police in any way possible, in the hope that the perpetrator or perpetrators will be brought to justice." the statement said
"My heartfelt thoughts are with the Acocks family at this extremely difficult time.
"I ask for my privacy to be respected by the media, as there are now matters before the court I will not be making any further comments."
Mrs Penny and Mrs Acocks were found murdered in the Old London Coiffure on the corner of Julia and Bentinck Streets on May 3, 1991.
The close-knit coastal community was rocked after the two grandmothers were were found with stab wounds to the chest and throat on a Friday afternoon in one of the most prominent buildings in Portland.
Mrs Penny, 58, was a client of hairdresser Mrs Acocks, 49.
The salon was ransacked, but only $100 was missing. No murder weapon was found.
With AAP