Coroner Carmel Forbes on Monday found Bronwynne Richardson, 17, died on October 12 or 13, 1973, after a group attack.

She named Ms Richardson's relative, Colin Newey, and his friend Max Martin, as being part of that group of men.

Her body was dumped in water and she died of a combination of pressure to the neck and drowning.

The coroner also said her former boyfriend Geoffrey Brown, who showed controlling and obsessive behaviour towards the teenager before her death, was not involved.

The late Corowa beauty queen's family listened in as Newey and Martin were finally named following two previous open inquests which failed to provide answers.

Her sister, Fiona Hume, says nothing could ever bring closure.

Both of the killers are dead and were never convicted over the incident.

But she hopes the family, including their mother Noelle, will begin to heal.

"Evil cannot exist with beauty," Ms Hume said.

"It has to destroy it.

"Death may silence the monsters, but it hasn't silenced the truth."

The family attended the late teenager's grave site following the findings to share a private moment with her.

Ms Hume said while the findings were expected, it was a strange feeling to finally have answers.

"We've not actually been in this position before," she said.

"We've had three inquests and various interviews and television appearances.

"This is the finalisation of 48 years of a journey that nobody chose for us."

Counsel assisting the inquest Michael Della-Pozza submitted that a third man, Kevin Newman, couldn't conclusively be linked to the crime but couldn't be ruled out.

While the coroner's written findings are yet to be delivered, the court heard Ms Richardson was abducted outside the church on Smollett Street about 7.15pm.

Mr Della-Pozza said it was unclear exactly whose car was used, but it was likely an FB Holden.

She had finished her shift at Coles, which had been located roughly where the tax office now stands.

The teenager had been due to be picked up and taken to a dance at Coreen but a mix up meant the lift never arrived and she was in the area for about two hours.

There was evidence Colin Newey had been at his grandmother's home on George Street with Martin and others.

Newey's brother, Peter, said he had left when it was getting dark, which at that time of the year would have been about 6.30pm.

Colin Newey repeatedly changed his story over the years about his movements on the night and claimed to have been on an army bivouac at Chiltern.

Police investigations placed him on Smollett Street at the time his cousin was abducted.

Martin had been released from Goulburn jail on the day of the incident.

Police investigations also placed him in Albury at the time, despite Martin telling police he went straight to his parents' house after being released from prison.

He also denied knowing the Neweys despite being a best man at one of their weddings.

Mr Dalla-Pozza submitted that the coroner wouldn't be able to determine his exact role in the offending.

The court heard a segment on a Derryn Hinch show in 1989, which suggested notorious rapist and killer "Mr Stinky", who had links to Albury, was involved in the murder led to two calls to Murray Bridge Police Station.

Newey lived in the area at the time.

Those calls led to the police investigation being sidetracked for years and suspicions wrongly pointed at others.

Police believe Newey was the caller and likely tried to deflect from his own involvement in the rape and killing.

"It's been a very difficult case and event for the city of Albury," Ms Hume said.

"We understand that.

"I think that people can now themselves move on.

"It's very clear who was involved and who wasn't involved and we totally support the coroner's findings in that matter.

"Today our family's received the answers that we've been desperately seeking for 48 years - who killed our beautiful Bronwynne."

EARLIER: A coroner has named the two men involved in the killing of Bronwynne Richardson nearly half a century after the incident.

Coroner Carmel Forbes on Monday said Colin Newey and Max Martin were involved in her abduction, physical and sexual assault, and murder on October 12, 1973.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Family members listened in Albury court as the pair were finally named after two previous inquests delivered open findings.

Bronwynne Richardson was abducted in Albury on October 12, 1973, before being strangled.

Her body was found in a lagoon off what is now Waterview Road at Splitters Creek.

Newey was charged with her murder, which was later dropped, and died in 2019.

More to come

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