A Queensland court has heard extraordinary evidence in a decades-old murder case involving 87-year-old Vincent O'Dempsey, who has been committed to stand trial over the alleged 1964 murder of Warwick labourer Vincent Raymond Allen. The allegations emerged during a committal hearing in Brisbane, where multiple witnesses described long-running rumours linking O'Dempsey to unsolved killings and body disposal methods.
O'Dempsey was charged in 2019 over the disappearance and alleged murder of Allen, who was last seen alive in April 1964. The case remained unsolved for more than five decades before Queensland Police reopened investigations and announced a reward for information. Despite the passage of time and the absence of a recovered body, prosecutors argued there was sufficient evidence for the matter to proceed to trial.
One of the most striking pieces of evidence came from convicted drug offender Warren McDonald. He told the court that he had discussed the notorious South Australian Snowtown murders with O'Dempsey after hearing media coverage of the case. According to McDonald's testimony, O'Dempsey allegedly remarked that the killers had used the wrong type of acid when attempting to dispose of bodies, claiming sulphuric acid would have been more effective than hydrochloric acid.
The Snowtown murders, also known as the "Bodies in Barrels" murders, involved a series of killings in South Australia during the 1990s, with several victims' remains discovered in barrels stored inside a disused bank vault. The case became one of the most notorious serial murder investigations in Australian criminal history.
During the hearing, witnesses also described longstanding rumours that Allen's body had been hidden within the wall of the Leslie Dam near Warwick, where O'Dempsey had worked as a labourer during the 1960s. However, police investigators told the court they consider that scenario highly unlikely. Detectives instead believe Allen may have been buried somewhere in the Warwick region.
Several witnesses claimed they had heard stories over the years suggesting O'Dempsey was involved in a killing and subsequent disposal of a body. Some testified that the rumours had circulated widely within local communities for decades. Others recalled conversations in which O'Dempsey allegedly made comments that they interpreted as suspicious or incriminating.
O'Dempsey has consistently denied involvement in Allen's disappearance. Evidence from family members included testimony that he had denied responsibility for the alleged murder throughout the years. His legal representatives have maintained that the prosecution case relies heavily on hearsay, historical rumours and witness recollections dating back many decades.
After reviewing the evidence, Deputy Chief Magistrate Anthony Gett determined that a prima facie case existed and ordered O'Dempsey to stand trial in the Supreme Court. The ruling does not determine guilt or innocence but means the court found sufficient evidence for a jury to consider the allegations at trial. No trial date has yet been announced.
The case remains one of Queensland's longest-running unresolved homicide investigations and continues to attract significant public interest because of its age, alleged underworld connections and the enduring mystery surrounding Allen's disappearance.
