Homicide Squad detectives have charged a third man following the death of Kenneth Handford in Springbank in September.

Mr Handford was found dead at his Springbank home near Ballarat in Victoria on September 15 – the day he was supposed to celebrate his 90th birthday.

Police charged a 38-year-old Creswick man on Friday with being an accessory to murder and handling stolen goods.

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Police are searching for a Subaru wagon. Photo: Vic Police

He appeared at Ballarat Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon.

A 38-year-old Sebastopol man and a 28-year-old Wendouree man were also arrested on Tuesday in connection with Mr Handford’s death.

Each face counts of murder and aggravated burglary.

Mr Handford was found seriously assaulted and bound to a chair two days after the crime allegedly occurred.

Police said they believed his death was part of a robbery gone wrong, as it was well known Mr Handford carried a significant sum of cash.

Money and his four war medals were allegedly stolen from his home during the incident.

It was believed Mr Handford may have tried to fight off his attackers in an attempt to protect his belongings.

Although some of the war medals stolen in the attack were recovered, police said some had not been found, including a World War II 1939-1945 Star and the Pacific Star.

Detectives also appealed for public assistance to identify a vehicle, a 1997 green Subaru station wagon with registration 1FH 8KE, seen in the area at the time of the incident.

– with ABC