Man charged over cold case murder of Rodney Mitchell

A man has been charged over the murder of 37-year-old father-of-two Rodney Mitchell, who was fatally shot in the chest in Melbourne’s south-east in 1983.

A 65-year-old Tocumwal man has been charged with murder, three counts of false imprisonment and six counts of rape.

Mr Mitchell (above) was with a female friend, parked at the Police Paddocks in Rowville (pictured above), when a man allegedly ordered him out of the car.

A fight ensued and Mr Mitchell was shot twice in the chest.

Police believe the man jumped in Mr Mitchell’s car and bound the hands of then 25-year-old woman, but she managed to get away by rolling out of the car.

Two men stopped to help her and the murderer fled in Mr Mitchell’s car.

Mr Mitchell died as a result of his injuries.

The charges today also relate to two other separate incidents at the same location, one in 1980 and one in 1983, where a woman was sexually assaulted and her partner falsely imprisoned.

A $500,000 reward was offered in 2013 in an attempt to solve Mr Mitchell’s murder, who police believed was linked to another murder and at least six rapes.

The 65-year-old Tocumwal man is due to appear in court this afternoon.

Photos: Fairfax Media