Darren Chalmers pleads guilty over 1992 Geelong murder of Annette Steward

A Perth man has entered a shock guilty plea over a cold-case murder just five months after he was extradited to face prosecution.

Darren John Chalmers, 56, returned before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, pleading guilty to the 1992 murder of Annette Steward.

Ms Steward, 29, was found in her home on Hope St, Geelong West, on March 18, 1992, naked and strangled to death.

Police believe she was strangled by Chalmers two days earlier, according to a court documents.

The circumstances surrounding the death of the mother of two had remained a mystery for more than 30 years.

Victoria Police offered a $1 million reward for information relating to her death in 2015.

In 2020, Chalmers was arrested and interviewed by Victorian detectives as WA Police conducted an unrelated investigation.

Wearing glasses and prison greens, he sat with his arms draped over a desk as he admitted to the crime with a softly-spoken voice.

“Guilty, your honour,” he said, looking down at his hands.

Chalmers was extradited from Perth in March after he was charged with Ms Steward’s murder.

He was committed by Magistrate Rohan Lawrence to the Victorian Supreme Court and will appear in that court later this month.

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