1 00:00:05,921 --> 00:00:07,281 Speaker 1: Approache production. 2 00:00:14,601 --> 00:00:16,761 Speaker 2: Welcome to Real Crime with Adam Shanda. I'm your host, 3 00:00:16,761 --> 00:00:21,761 Speaker 2: Adam shann What makes a good detective? Each successful investigator 4 00:00:21,801 --> 00:00:25,241 Speaker 2: I've met has their own attributes, but common to all 5 00:00:25,481 --> 00:00:28,601 Speaker 2: is a quality of doggedness born of empathy for the 6 00:00:28,681 --> 00:00:30,401 Speaker 2: victims and their families. 7 00:00:31,361 --> 00:00:32,761 Speaker 1: Good human traits, I reckon. 8 00:00:32,801 --> 00:00:36,241 Speaker 2: You'd probably say there's also an independence of thought and action, 9 00:00:36,801 --> 00:00:41,201 Speaker 2: an ability to see evidentiary pathways and opportunities that others don't. 10 00:00:42,281 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 2: That independence can cause dramas for detectives with their colleagues, 11 00:00:46,361 --> 00:00:48,481 Speaker 2: but the good ones accept that's part of the job. 12 00:00:49,001 --> 00:00:52,521 Speaker 3: Janette Dawson's family says the sentencing of her husband Chris 13 00:00:52,641 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 3: Dawson marks the end of a very long, painful and 14 00:00:56,441 --> 00:00:57,441 Speaker 3: challenging journey. 15 00:00:58,241 --> 00:01:01,481 Speaker 2: My guest today, retired New South Wales detective Sergeant Damian Lunn, 16 00:01:01,601 --> 00:01:02,441 Speaker 2: had those qualities. 17 00:01:02,441 --> 00:01:05,161 Speaker 1: In fact, he's still got them. In a third tenty 18 00:01:05,241 --> 00:01:06,401 Speaker 1: five year career in the cops. 19 00:01:06,681 --> 00:01:09,041 Speaker 2: He's worked on all kinds of cold cases, the high 20 00:01:09,081 --> 00:01:12,121 Speaker 2: profile ones, mostly from the Lynette Dawson murder. 21 00:01:12,601 --> 00:01:15,961 Speaker 3: Chris Dawson will remain behind bars as a convicted wife 22 00:01:16,081 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 3: killer after a failed appeal. 23 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,481 Speaker 1: The disappearance of Sheyl Grimmer. 24 00:01:20,881 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 3: The disappearance of three year old Cheryld Grimmer remains one 25 00:01:24,161 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 3: of Australia's longest running missing person cases. 26 00:01:27,881 --> 00:01:30,961 Speaker 2: And continues to work as a consultant to private investigations 27 00:01:30,961 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 2: by media, including the murder of twenty three year old 28 00:01:33,801 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 2: Rachel Childs on the New South Wales South Coast in 29 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 2: two thousand and one. 30 00:01:38,441 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 3: Rachel Childs was brutally murdered on the New South Wales 31 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,601 Speaker 3: South Coast in two thousand and one. Despite a major 32 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,961 Speaker 3: homicide investigation, her killer has never been brought to justice. 33 00:01:49,641 --> 00:01:52,041 Speaker 2: He's also found time to enter the blood sport of 34 00:01:52,121 --> 00:01:56,721 Speaker 2: local government, currently serving as the Deputy Mayor of Ballina Shire. 35 00:01:57,601 --> 00:02:00,481 Speaker 2: He's supposed to be retired from a life of public service, 36 00:02:01,041 --> 00:02:03,681 Speaker 2: but I don't think he's ready to do that, and 37 00:02:03,761 --> 00:02:07,601 Speaker 2: maybe he just does. Know how I'm grateful the day 38 00:02:07,601 --> 00:02:09,481 Speaker 2: men's found the time to talk to me today, Can I. 39 00:02:09,441 --> 00:02:14,681 Speaker 1: Mate, Adam? How are you buddy? Very well? Am I 40 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: right that you simply can't retire? 41 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:20,361 Speaker 4: Well, it goes like this, you know, after thirty five 42 00:02:20,441 --> 00:02:22,921 Speaker 4: years of serving the community and caring about the people 43 00:02:23,001 --> 00:02:26,401 Speaker 4: in my community and my work colleagues, that I suddenly 44 00:02:26,441 --> 00:02:29,561 Speaker 4: won Friday afternoon, I retire and the next day I've 45 00:02:29,601 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 4: stopped caring. 46 00:02:30,401 --> 00:02:31,961 Speaker 1: So it's not to go at all with me. 47 00:02:32,081 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 4: It's probably in my DNA to keep doing some sort 48 00:02:34,721 --> 00:02:37,401 Speaker 4: of community service and that's where I am today. 49 00:02:37,481 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, but also getting involved in these cold case investigations 50 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,961 Speaker 2: where you're working really as a detective again in these 51 00:02:45,001 --> 00:02:48,281 Speaker 2: podcasts and things that you get involved in. And I 52 00:02:48,321 --> 00:02:51,121 Speaker 2: heard you say once in another podcast that you didn't 53 00:02:51,201 --> 00:02:55,081 Speaker 2: quite know how to prepare for that day after stopping 54 00:02:55,121 --> 00:02:56,041 Speaker 2: working as a detective. 55 00:02:56,081 --> 00:02:56,721 Speaker 1: Is that a fair thing? 56 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 5: Oh? 57 00:02:57,721 --> 00:02:58,241 Speaker 1: Absolutely. 58 00:02:58,321 --> 00:03:01,481 Speaker 4: And I remember waking up on the Saturday morning after 59 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,481 Speaker 4: a sort of a long day of farewelling, and I 60 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 4: woke up and I checked my phone. I've got a 61 00:03:05,601 --> 00:03:08,281 Speaker 4: mister a phone call overnight, because I normally used to 62 00:03:08,321 --> 00:03:11,161 Speaker 4: receive a phone call being a detective in charge of 63 00:03:11,161 --> 00:03:14,121 Speaker 4: me eight other investigators out there in the bush. And 64 00:03:14,161 --> 00:03:16,241 Speaker 4: I had to kick myself and go, what are you doing, 65 00:03:16,321 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 4: you idiot? You know she retired yesterday. No one wants 66 00:03:19,281 --> 00:03:21,801 Speaker 4: to know that you are today. So yeah, it was 67 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:25,041 Speaker 4: a difficult process and I never really thought that would 68 00:03:25,081 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 4: ever occur to me, but it did. 69 00:03:26,881 --> 00:03:29,401 Speaker 1: It just happened, and to. 70 00:03:29,361 --> 00:03:31,241 Speaker 2: Me I think you always use this line about, you know, 71 00:03:31,321 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: good detectives are good humans, and I think that you've 72 00:03:34,761 --> 00:03:38,401 Speaker 2: always had that quality that you do care for the victims, 73 00:03:38,401 --> 00:03:41,041 Speaker 2: you care for the families, you care for closure, And 74 00:03:41,081 --> 00:03:45,001 Speaker 2: I wonder in your own psychological makeup how difficult it 75 00:03:45,081 --> 00:03:47,801 Speaker 2: is to walk away from these cases. And I think 76 00:03:47,841 --> 00:03:50,681 Speaker 2: that's something that all detectives have to get used to. 77 00:03:51,201 --> 00:03:52,361 Speaker 1: They can't solve everything. 78 00:03:53,201 --> 00:03:55,801 Speaker 4: Well, that's right, and the reality is that you can't 79 00:03:55,841 --> 00:03:58,161 Speaker 4: solve every one of them. But you know, the ones 80 00:03:58,161 --> 00:04:00,481 Speaker 4: that I did solve, I was just pleased with the 81 00:04:00,481 --> 00:04:03,121 Speaker 4: fact that I kept in contact with the families and 82 00:04:03,161 --> 00:04:05,521 Speaker 4: the victims of the victims. So I always say secondary 83 00:04:05,561 --> 00:04:09,561 Speaker 4: victims of the family members. And you know, it's about 84 00:04:10,241 --> 00:04:13,561 Speaker 4: really just having some common sense and trying then to 85 00:04:13,601 --> 00:04:16,161 Speaker 4: do your best, you know, and there's once you can't solve. 86 00:04:16,201 --> 00:04:17,721 Speaker 4: And I used to wear a lot of my cases 87 00:04:17,721 --> 00:04:19,721 Speaker 4: on my sleeve because if I lost the court matter, 88 00:04:19,801 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 4: it was like the worst day of my life. It 89 00:04:21,801 --> 00:04:23,921 Speaker 4: didn't mean it was a simple stealing in a store, 90 00:04:24,521 --> 00:04:26,801 Speaker 4: you know. I think I was pretty good convicting a 91 00:04:26,841 --> 00:04:30,001 Speaker 4: lot of people, and it is disappointing and you go 92 00:04:30,121 --> 00:04:34,241 Speaker 4: home and you're upset, and your mates and you fellow 93 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,601 Speaker 4: detectives or police officers you worked on the matter with. 94 00:04:36,681 --> 00:04:38,481 Speaker 4: You know, you'll go for a beer afterwards and you 95 00:04:38,521 --> 00:04:40,641 Speaker 4: go through what they call a post book them where 96 00:04:40,681 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 4: you try and work out where things went wrong, but 97 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,361 Speaker 4: also the good ones when we did get a conviction, 98 00:04:46,561 --> 00:04:48,681 Speaker 4: and we used to talk about what things were right 99 00:04:48,761 --> 00:04:49,241 Speaker 4: and good. 100 00:04:50,561 --> 00:04:53,161 Speaker 2: I first met you around the Ryl Grimmer case. She 101 00:04:53,241 --> 00:04:56,361 Speaker 2: disappeared in January twelve, nineteen seventy from fairy Meadow Beach. 102 00:04:56,401 --> 00:04:59,761 Speaker 2: You worked with Frank Sandertali on that case from twenty sixteen. 103 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,961 Speaker 2: You got the case to the court and it looked 104 00:05:02,961 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: to be an overwhelming case, only to be derailed by 105 00:05:07,481 --> 00:05:11,721 Speaker 2: a retrospective piece of legislation. And I interviewed you with 106 00:05:11,841 --> 00:05:16,721 Speaker 2: Frank Sanbertali, and I've never heard a detective sob the 107 00:05:16,761 --> 00:05:20,001 Speaker 2: way Frank did. And it really came home to me. 108 00:05:20,721 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: I mean, he's a good Italian boy, very expressive. But 109 00:05:24,081 --> 00:05:27,721 Speaker 2: I think you feel the same way about your cases. 110 00:05:28,361 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 2: And I wonder do you have anybody in your life 111 00:05:32,761 --> 00:05:35,241 Speaker 2: who says, Demo, that's enough, step away. 112 00:05:37,041 --> 00:05:37,801 Speaker 1: No, I don't. 113 00:05:38,241 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 4: I just got people used to say to me, keep 114 00:05:41,521 --> 00:05:45,041 Speaker 4: going because with the Len Dawson homicide that was over 115 00:05:45,041 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 4: for twenty four years in total before he got to court. 116 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 4: It was never going to give up on that one, 117 00:05:50,161 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 4: and even little Eryl, you know, I just felt we 118 00:05:52,521 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 4: had a really good brief. There's no doubt in my 119 00:05:55,521 --> 00:05:58,441 Speaker 4: mind that the person that we charged, and his pseudonym 120 00:05:58,521 --> 00:06:01,161 Speaker 4: is Mercury, was the person responsible. 121 00:06:01,921 --> 00:06:05,001 Speaker 2: Yes, ofcause he came forward a year after the disappearance 122 00:06:05,081 --> 00:06:09,361 Speaker 2: of Cheryl and confessed in minute detail, very very good confession. 123 00:06:09,761 --> 00:06:13,401 Speaker 2: And unfortunately there apparently wasn't an adult on the scene 124 00:06:13,921 --> 00:06:16,281 Speaker 2: at the time in this boy's home where he confessed. 125 00:06:16,561 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 2: And so when you came to lay the charge in 126 00:06:19,361 --> 00:06:23,721 Speaker 2: twenty nineteen, you were stuck with this retrospective legislation. But 127 00:06:23,761 --> 00:06:28,561 Speaker 2: of course every murder troll, every case is prosecuted under 128 00:06:28,601 --> 00:06:32,601 Speaker 2: the law of the day, So you were rolling the 129 00:06:32,681 --> 00:06:35,001 Speaker 2: dice to some extent where you're not well. 130 00:06:35,041 --> 00:06:37,921 Speaker 4: I did some research and it wasn't required back in 131 00:06:38,001 --> 00:06:40,841 Speaker 4: nineteen seventy one, when he came forward some sixteen months 132 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,921 Speaker 4: after Little Cheryl hadn't vanished and suspected of being murdered, 133 00:06:45,481 --> 00:06:47,841 Speaker 4: that there wasn't a requirement for a juvenile to have 134 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,361 Speaker 4: an adult present if he has been questioned by police 135 00:06:50,361 --> 00:06:53,721 Speaker 4: officers or a person in authority. So I was comfortable 136 00:06:53,761 --> 00:06:56,080 Speaker 4: with that, and also the fact that I had sent 137 00:06:56,121 --> 00:06:59,241 Speaker 4: the brief of evidence to our legal services department at 138 00:06:59,241 --> 00:07:02,161 Speaker 4: Police Headquarters of Paramatta to make sure that I got 139 00:07:02,161 --> 00:07:04,521 Speaker 4: everything right and to make sure that I had enough 140 00:07:04,521 --> 00:07:07,041 Speaker 4: evidence there to swear out of first instant warrant for 141 00:07:07,081 --> 00:07:08,281 Speaker 4: his arrest in Victoria. 142 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,801 Speaker 1: And they came back and said, yes you do, but 143 00:07:11,881 --> 00:07:12,281 Speaker 1: you had. 144 00:07:12,121 --> 00:07:15,721 Speaker 2: This retrospective legislation that you had to contend with. And 145 00:07:15,761 --> 00:07:18,401 Speaker 2: as I say, every case has tried on the law 146 00:07:18,481 --> 00:07:24,441 Speaker 2: of the day, so was a part of you still doubtful? 147 00:07:24,601 --> 00:07:27,161 Speaker 2: Still there was an element of risk to this whole thing. 148 00:07:28,281 --> 00:07:30,241 Speaker 4: No, because this was only brought up in a matter 149 00:07:30,281 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 4: before the Supreme Court before Justice Hume that the defense 150 00:07:34,361 --> 00:07:37,681 Speaker 4: for the accused brought this up about the unfairness that 151 00:07:37,721 --> 00:07:41,561 Speaker 4: he wasn't back in the day compared to today's standards, where 152 00:07:41,601 --> 00:07:44,281 Speaker 4: an adult person or a person in an authority must 153 00:07:44,281 --> 00:07:47,921 Speaker 4: be present with the juvenile being questioned. And it wasn't 154 00:07:47,961 --> 00:07:51,201 Speaker 4: a consideration in my fact when I arrested him, because 155 00:07:52,121 --> 00:07:54,881 Speaker 4: the statute said back in that day that era that 156 00:07:55,001 --> 00:07:58,441 Speaker 4: an adult wasn't required, so I really had no and 157 00:07:58,521 --> 00:08:00,201 Speaker 4: he thought of that until it was raised by the 158 00:08:00,201 --> 00:08:04,561 Speaker 4: Crown Prosecutor, and then we realized that without that evidence 159 00:08:04,641 --> 00:08:08,721 Speaker 4: of the record of interview taken by Detective Sergeant Joe 160 00:08:08,721 --> 00:08:11,881 Speaker 4: Parrington early May nineteen seventy one, that we won't be 161 00:08:11,921 --> 00:08:13,441 Speaker 4: able to get over the line with this because all 162 00:08:13,481 --> 00:08:17,401 Speaker 4: our reinvestigation centered on that record of interview that he'd 163 00:08:17,601 --> 00:08:22,721 Speaker 4: undertaken freely and voluntarily and told investigators exactly what. 164 00:08:22,721 --> 00:08:24,281 Speaker 1: He did on that day. 165 00:08:24,441 --> 00:08:26,681 Speaker 4: And there is no doubt in my mind that you 166 00:08:26,721 --> 00:08:28,921 Speaker 4: would have had to have been there. It was because 167 00:08:28,921 --> 00:08:32,641 Speaker 4: of what you had said to those investigators. So it 168 00:08:32,681 --> 00:08:34,361 Speaker 4: didn't come into play with me, and so it was 169 00:08:34,441 --> 00:08:36,641 Speaker 4: raised by the Crown and we had a discussion about this, 170 00:08:36,721 --> 00:08:39,281 Speaker 4: and we both agreed then that this is going to 171 00:08:39,281 --> 00:08:41,361 Speaker 4: be thrown out the record of interview because of the 172 00:08:41,441 --> 00:08:45,601 Speaker 4: retrospective law about now having no adult person with this 173 00:08:45,681 --> 00:08:48,921 Speaker 4: young person being questioned, well, we couldn't get over it, really, 174 00:08:48,961 --> 00:08:52,161 Speaker 4: and I agreed with the Crown Prosecutor that we couldn't 175 00:08:52,601 --> 00:08:57,081 Speaker 4: possibly go any further, and as a result of that, 176 00:08:57,081 --> 00:09:00,361 Speaker 4: that matter was then basically if you want to tossed 177 00:09:00,361 --> 00:09:00,921 Speaker 4: out of court. 178 00:09:02,161 --> 00:09:04,041 Speaker 1: It must have been a crushing blow to you personally. 179 00:09:04,521 --> 00:09:08,761 Speaker 4: Oh And the biggest worrying for me was how do. 180 00:09:08,841 --> 00:09:09,841 Speaker 1: I tell a family this? 181 00:09:10,481 --> 00:09:14,521 Speaker 4: How do I tell a family about retrospective law, a 182 00:09:14,601 --> 00:09:18,361 Speaker 4: judgment made by a Supreme Court justice and they just 183 00:09:18,401 --> 00:09:23,881 Speaker 4: don't understand the legal technicalities of this judgment. And we 184 00:09:23,961 --> 00:09:25,921 Speaker 4: had to dumb it down to basically say, well, it's 185 00:09:25,921 --> 00:09:29,201 Speaker 4: the retrospective of law, and they couldn't understand it, and 186 00:09:29,201 --> 00:09:32,041 Speaker 4: it was hard to tell them. And I even felt 187 00:09:32,121 --> 00:09:36,041 Speaker 4: so sorry for them that afternoon, that Friday afternoon, when 188 00:09:36,041 --> 00:09:40,041 Speaker 4: they went through such a terrible time to know that 189 00:09:40,081 --> 00:09:42,761 Speaker 4: the person that they were confident I was going to 190 00:09:42,801 --> 00:09:45,001 Speaker 4: face trial was suddenly I was walking free out the 191 00:09:45,081 --> 00:09:46,401 Speaker 4: back doors of Darlau Court. 192 00:09:48,321 --> 00:09:51,681 Speaker 2: And the emotional stakes in that situation were so high 193 00:09:51,721 --> 00:09:56,241 Speaker 2: because Ricky Nash, Cheryl's brother, had carried the guilt and 194 00:09:56,321 --> 00:09:59,161 Speaker 2: he was the one that had failed Cheryl that day 195 00:09:59,201 --> 00:10:00,921 Speaker 2: at Very Meadow when he turned his back to go 196 00:10:00,961 --> 00:10:02,761 Speaker 2: back to his mother to say she wouldn't come out 197 00:10:02,761 --> 00:10:05,041 Speaker 2: of the shower blocks, and by the time they came back, 198 00:10:05,561 --> 00:10:09,121 Speaker 2: she'd been taken. And you were the one that revealed 199 00:10:09,561 --> 00:10:12,561 Speaker 2: to Ricky that there was this confession the family had 200 00:10:12,601 --> 00:10:16,481 Speaker 2: no idea about, and so the expectation must have been 201 00:10:16,641 --> 00:10:20,321 Speaker 2: so high. And I know how investigators in the past 202 00:10:20,321 --> 00:10:23,801 Speaker 2: have made the mistake of saying this is the slam dunk, 203 00:10:24,001 --> 00:10:26,121 Speaker 2: the laid down maas, we're going to get this bloke. 204 00:10:26,721 --> 00:10:28,681 Speaker 2: How difficult is it when you're dealing with a family 205 00:10:28,801 --> 00:10:31,881 Speaker 2: like that and someone like Ricky who has carried this 206 00:10:32,001 --> 00:10:33,801 Speaker 2: weight all those years. 207 00:10:34,761 --> 00:10:38,121 Speaker 4: Well, this matter had been investigated a number of occasions 208 00:10:38,361 --> 00:10:42,841 Speaker 4: under the Strikeforce vessel, and I just don't know why 209 00:10:42,881 --> 00:10:45,201 Speaker 4: the family weren't alerted to the fact that someone had 210 00:10:45,201 --> 00:10:48,681 Speaker 4: come forward back in late April nineteen seventy one to 211 00:10:48,681 --> 00:10:50,881 Speaker 4: say that they were responsible, but to tell them the 212 00:10:50,921 --> 00:10:53,201 Speaker 4: fact that we had this record of interview, and it 213 00:10:53,281 --> 00:10:56,041 Speaker 4: was chilling as to what the description of what this 214 00:10:56,121 --> 00:10:58,281 Speaker 4: person said he had done to Cheryl. 215 00:10:58,761 --> 00:10:59,681 Speaker 1: I really couldn't. 216 00:10:59,801 --> 00:11:03,561 Speaker 4: I had to give it to Ricky fairly straight, minus 217 00:11:03,601 --> 00:11:06,681 Speaker 4: the gory details, because I've also got a care for 218 00:11:07,681 --> 00:11:10,601 Speaker 4: the victim's family as well as to how they feel 219 00:11:10,641 --> 00:11:12,401 Speaker 4: and what they might do afterwards. 220 00:11:13,641 --> 00:11:16,961 Speaker 2: It's a difficult balancing act because as a detective you're 221 00:11:16,961 --> 00:11:20,121 Speaker 2: actually there for the crown, not the family. Of the victim. 222 00:11:20,321 --> 00:11:22,361 Speaker 2: You're actually there to prove the case for the crown. 223 00:11:22,801 --> 00:11:26,041 Speaker 2: How do you balance that with how much information you 224 00:11:26,121 --> 00:11:29,241 Speaker 2: tell the family to make sure you don't prejudice a 225 00:11:29,281 --> 00:11:31,681 Speaker 2: prosecution or create false hope. 226 00:11:32,041 --> 00:11:34,121 Speaker 4: Well that's a great question, mate, and I thank you 227 00:11:34,241 --> 00:11:37,281 Speaker 4: for asking that. It's a balanced decision, and it's tricky. 228 00:11:37,281 --> 00:11:40,841 Speaker 4: It stages to get the rapport from family and the trust. 229 00:11:40,881 --> 00:11:44,681 Speaker 4: You need to be transparent. In some regard, you can't 230 00:11:44,681 --> 00:11:48,521 Speaker 4: be one hundred percent transparent because if something was to 231 00:11:48,521 --> 00:11:52,481 Speaker 4: get out or said, etc. It may jeopardize the integrity 232 00:11:52,521 --> 00:11:56,321 Speaker 4: of the trial. So I was and Frank as well, 233 00:11:56,441 --> 00:11:59,241 Speaker 4: we were confident in this that we would give the 234 00:11:59,281 --> 00:12:03,161 Speaker 4: information if asked, but we wouldn't go into any further 235 00:12:03,201 --> 00:12:07,001 Speaker 4: detail about it, and we'd just say please just trust. 236 00:12:06,681 --> 00:12:09,281 Speaker 1: As we know what we're doing. All will be explained 237 00:12:09,281 --> 00:12:09,721 Speaker 1: in the end. 238 00:12:10,041 --> 00:12:12,441 Speaker 4: But if you asked me a hard question and I 239 00:12:12,441 --> 00:12:14,121 Speaker 4: won't be able to answer it, I'll tell you I 240 00:12:14,121 --> 00:12:17,441 Speaker 4: won't be able to answer it. And at the same time, 241 00:12:17,601 --> 00:12:20,441 Speaker 4: my lay is non aedges to the family but also 242 00:12:20,481 --> 00:12:23,041 Speaker 4: to the crown prosecuted, because he relies on my evidence 243 00:12:23,121 --> 00:12:28,681 Speaker 4: and my investigation. Or how Frank and my investigation to 244 00:12:28,721 --> 00:12:31,081 Speaker 4: get this matter proceeded through to trial. 245 00:12:32,281 --> 00:12:36,321 Speaker 2: And this certainly happened in the Lynette Dawson case as well, 246 00:12:36,361 --> 00:12:39,761 Speaker 2: where during the trial of Chris Dawson, you were put 247 00:12:39,841 --> 00:12:42,961 Speaker 2: under the spotlight where you were accused of not doing 248 00:12:43,441 --> 00:12:46,721 Speaker 2: certain things, certain interviews, or looking at certain piece of 249 00:12:46,761 --> 00:12:50,641 Speaker 2: information that might have been exculpatory of Chris Dawson. The 250 00:12:50,641 --> 00:12:55,081 Speaker 2: fact that there were witnesses that had allegedly seen Lynn 251 00:12:55,441 --> 00:12:57,641 Speaker 2: years after she was supposed to have disappeared, and you 252 00:12:57,681 --> 00:12:59,081 Speaker 2: were in the hot seat in that moment. So I 253 00:12:59,081 --> 00:13:02,601 Speaker 2: think those in the Supreme Court, it's a very unforgiving 254 00:13:02,681 --> 00:13:07,321 Speaker 2: atmosphere and you have to not be falling victim having 255 00:13:07,361 --> 00:13:08,041 Speaker 2: tunnel vision. 256 00:13:08,801 --> 00:13:10,921 Speaker 4: Well, that's right, you know, But also you know, there 257 00:13:10,961 --> 00:13:12,321 Speaker 4: seemed to be a lot of red herrings in the 258 00:13:12,361 --> 00:13:15,441 Speaker 4: doors and trial that I just thought that we needed 259 00:13:15,481 --> 00:13:17,561 Speaker 4: to get the information that I knew that was right, 260 00:13:18,121 --> 00:13:20,521 Speaker 4: and for someone to say I think I saw her 261 00:13:20,641 --> 00:13:23,681 Speaker 4: or whatever, I did chase those down, you know, to 262 00:13:23,721 --> 00:13:27,201 Speaker 4: some extent. There are others that throughout the investigation there 263 00:13:27,281 --> 00:13:29,881 Speaker 4: was it was stalled because I was running it basically 264 00:13:29,881 --> 00:13:32,121 Speaker 4: by myself for a large number of years. I had 265 00:13:32,161 --> 00:13:35,961 Speaker 4: no other assistance, and you know it's difficult. I knew 266 00:13:35,961 --> 00:13:39,081 Speaker 4: the people that needed to be spoken to. So when 267 00:13:39,121 --> 00:13:43,201 Speaker 4: the matter was formally requested by the unsold Hoomicit squad 268 00:13:43,241 --> 00:13:45,521 Speaker 4: to take the matter over, which I had been to 269 00:13:45,561 --> 00:13:47,681 Speaker 4: them on a number of occasions to ask them for 270 00:13:47,761 --> 00:13:51,241 Speaker 4: their assistance, and I was refused, I said to them, well, 271 00:13:51,281 --> 00:13:52,961 Speaker 4: there's a list of people that you need to speak with, 272 00:13:53,081 --> 00:13:57,041 Speaker 4: and I outlined that and eventually they were spoken to. 273 00:13:57,121 --> 00:13:59,401 Speaker 4: So I was confident that because they had a large 274 00:13:59,441 --> 00:14:01,241 Speaker 4: number of people working on it, you know, except one 275 00:14:01,281 --> 00:14:04,641 Speaker 4: copper like myself, So they had the team that could 276 00:14:04,641 --> 00:14:04,921 Speaker 4: do it. 277 00:14:06,081 --> 00:14:08,281 Speaker 2: Yeah, And how frustrating is it you worked on it 278 00:14:08,321 --> 00:14:11,401 Speaker 2: for eighteen years, wasn't I believable? In Dawson case and 279 00:14:11,441 --> 00:14:13,601 Speaker 2: you've gone to the Director of Public Prosecutions a couple 280 00:14:13,641 --> 00:14:15,601 Speaker 2: of times. You know that Chris Dawson has done it, 281 00:14:15,761 --> 00:14:18,921 Speaker 2: but you can't get the DPP to mount a prosecution. 282 00:14:19,001 --> 00:14:20,161 Speaker 1: How frustrating was that? 283 00:14:20,961 --> 00:14:23,081 Speaker 4: I look a little bit more so frustrating out Well. 284 00:14:23,121 --> 00:14:26,441 Speaker 4: I had a meeting with the Director of Public Prosecutions, 285 00:14:26,441 --> 00:14:30,161 Speaker 4: the two icee and also the Police Minister's Chief of 286 00:14:30,241 --> 00:14:35,241 Speaker 4: Staff up in laden Quarry Towers in Sydney. And when 287 00:14:35,361 --> 00:14:39,161 Speaker 4: I was told by the DPP that you were insufficient 288 00:14:39,161 --> 00:14:42,201 Speaker 4: in evidence, and when I asked where I was insufficient, 289 00:14:42,441 --> 00:14:45,321 Speaker 4: they said to me, it's privileged information and we can't 290 00:14:45,361 --> 00:14:49,121 Speaker 4: tell you. And I couldn't believe that I was copying 291 00:14:49,121 --> 00:14:53,041 Speaker 4: that answer, because apparently the brief had been sent outside 292 00:14:53,081 --> 00:14:57,361 Speaker 4: of a chambers or DPP to a private entity to 293 00:14:57,641 --> 00:15:00,761 Speaker 4: look at it, and it came back and I need 294 00:15:00,761 --> 00:15:03,161 Speaker 4: to be told that, you know. When I asked where 295 00:15:03,201 --> 00:15:06,041 Speaker 4: I'm in sufficient, I was and told where I was. 296 00:15:06,201 --> 00:15:10,081 Speaker 4: And I found that just very, very difficult to believe. 297 00:15:10,161 --> 00:15:12,121 Speaker 4: But I think it was John Pickering, now I think 298 00:15:12,121 --> 00:15:14,521 Speaker 4: he's a district or judge, said he can keep going 299 00:15:14,561 --> 00:15:16,281 Speaker 4: at it, so I. 300 00:15:16,281 --> 00:15:20,681 Speaker 2: Did, well, I mean, how can that be an interest 301 00:15:20,681 --> 00:15:24,161 Speaker 2: of justice, because surely you should be told where you're 302 00:15:24,201 --> 00:15:25,121 Speaker 2: weak and you have to go. 303 00:15:25,081 --> 00:15:26,161 Speaker 1: Back and do more work. 304 00:15:26,401 --> 00:15:28,961 Speaker 2: I mean, like, yes, you were really faced with back 305 00:15:29,001 --> 00:15:31,961 Speaker 2: then the absence of a body, and back in those 306 00:15:32,041 --> 00:15:34,801 Speaker 2: days that was a huge hurdle to get over, not 307 00:15:34,881 --> 00:15:36,481 Speaker 2: just in New South Wales but across the country. 308 00:15:36,561 --> 00:15:39,841 Speaker 1: Things are changing. Was that your major hurdle? 309 00:15:40,241 --> 00:15:42,081 Speaker 2: They never found Lynn, by the way, but was that 310 00:15:42,121 --> 00:15:44,921 Speaker 2: the major hurdle for you, you think, I think it 311 00:15:44,961 --> 00:15:45,281 Speaker 2: may have. 312 00:15:45,241 --> 00:15:47,681 Speaker 4: Been for the DPP, yes, but for me it wasn't 313 00:15:47,721 --> 00:15:51,361 Speaker 4: because you know, we had successful prosecutions with Bruce Burrell, 314 00:15:51,401 --> 00:15:54,441 Speaker 4: who was charged onto counts of murder and the bodies 315 00:15:54,441 --> 00:15:57,481 Speaker 4: have never been found, and I was confident that presidents 316 00:15:57,481 --> 00:16:00,121 Speaker 4: had been set in the Supreme Court, and I was 317 00:16:00,161 --> 00:16:02,321 Speaker 4: confident that I didn't need a body to prove that 318 00:16:02,441 --> 00:16:05,361 Speaker 4: Linn was murdered. We did all the fact checks of life, 319 00:16:05,641 --> 00:16:07,961 Speaker 4: a proof of life checks and found that she wasn't. 320 00:16:08,401 --> 00:16:12,401 Speaker 4: Basically some common sense tea that she's not alive. But 321 00:16:12,441 --> 00:16:14,161 Speaker 4: it may have been a sticking point for the DVP. 322 00:16:14,321 --> 00:16:15,761 Speaker 4: I don't know, but they've never told me. 323 00:16:16,601 --> 00:16:19,121 Speaker 2: Is it difficult to I mean, you must have thought 324 00:16:19,161 --> 00:16:21,761 Speaker 2: Chris Dawson was guilty from the beginning, and I think 325 00:16:21,761 --> 00:16:23,361 Speaker 2: you've said that on numerous occasions. 326 00:16:23,881 --> 00:16:27,161 Speaker 1: How do you not lose your objectivity? 327 00:16:27,561 --> 00:16:30,561 Speaker 2: What checks and balances did you employ as an investigator 328 00:16:30,921 --> 00:16:34,201 Speaker 2: not to lose your way in those moments because of 329 00:16:34,241 --> 00:16:36,841 Speaker 2: a personal conviction of someone's guilt. 330 00:16:37,281 --> 00:16:38,601 Speaker 1: Well, I was aware that. 331 00:16:38,481 --> 00:16:41,961 Speaker 4: When I was investigating the early days of Len's disappearance 332 00:16:42,041 --> 00:16:46,081 Speaker 4: back in the late nineties, that there was some witnesses 333 00:16:46,081 --> 00:16:50,161 Speaker 4: coming forward about some inappropriate sexual behavior by Chris Dawson 334 00:16:50,241 --> 00:16:53,121 Speaker 4: and his twin brother and a number of other teachers 335 00:16:53,161 --> 00:16:56,641 Speaker 4: at Cromer High School. So I went to my superior, 336 00:16:56,881 --> 00:17:01,681 Speaker 4: Paul him and he's a lovely, dedicated former detective inspector 337 00:17:02,081 --> 00:17:04,481 Speaker 4: with an old school cop and I said, look, I 338 00:17:04,481 --> 00:17:08,721 Speaker 4: don't want to get sidetracked on these sexual assaults. Apparently 339 00:17:09,001 --> 00:17:11,961 Speaker 4: it's occurred, and he said, your main aim is to 340 00:17:11,961 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 4: find out what happened to Lend. He said, put that 341 00:17:13,961 --> 00:17:16,561 Speaker 4: in a report and that'll be dealt with later on. 342 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 4: And eventually, after all those years, that matter was dealt 343 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 4: within the court where Chrys Dawson was again found guilty 344 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 4: of carnal knowledge. 345 00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:26,401 Speaker 1: So I didn't want to know, look, go. 346 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,201 Speaker 4: Out and lock him up for that, and go, well, 347 00:17:28,201 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 4: I can't get you on murder, I'll get you on 348 00:17:30,321 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 4: a sexual offense, and you know, because that would be 349 00:17:33,001 --> 00:17:36,641 Speaker 4: malicious prosecution in my book, So I had to keep 350 00:17:36,681 --> 00:17:39,401 Speaker 4: the focus on and I said, I wanted to know 351 00:17:39,681 --> 00:17:43,521 Speaker 4: what happened to Lyn Dawson and if I could try 352 00:17:43,521 --> 00:17:45,521 Speaker 4: and find her. But obviously that was always going to 353 00:17:45,521 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 4: be difficult because I believe from the first moment she 354 00:17:48,281 --> 00:17:50,281 Speaker 4: was murdered by her husband. 355 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:54,321 Speaker 1: So I just kept kept going Chromer High School. 356 00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:56,761 Speaker 2: In fact, all those Northern Beaches, those schools, it was 357 00:17:56,761 --> 00:17:59,001 Speaker 2: a shock over had but Peter Wayne Scott was also 358 00:17:59,041 --> 00:18:02,761 Speaker 2: he was abusing boys. I mean, do you think we've 359 00:18:02,801 --> 00:18:06,920 Speaker 2: really seen the extent of the criminal wrongdoing by teachers 360 00:18:06,961 --> 00:18:08,521 Speaker 2: in that era at that school? 361 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,801 Speaker 1: Oh? No, largely no, I would say. 362 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:15,001 Speaker 4: But the difficulty part now would be having those former 363 00:18:15,041 --> 00:18:18,161 Speaker 4: students come forward and they will give it an opportunity 364 00:18:18,441 --> 00:18:22,001 Speaker 4: through that the Teacher's Pet podcast, I believe, and through 365 00:18:22,001 --> 00:18:25,640 Speaker 4: the media about what was going on to come forward, 366 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,241 Speaker 4: and there was a strike force set up after Dawson 367 00:18:29,321 --> 00:18:32,641 Speaker 4: was convicted about those matters. And as I said, I'm 368 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:34,721 Speaker 4: not privy to who came forward or what was said, 369 00:18:34,761 --> 00:18:38,001 Speaker 4: but I think some of them now they're middle aged 370 00:18:38,041 --> 00:18:40,321 Speaker 4: and they don't want to be identified because they've got 371 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 4: a young family, but telling the authorities what had happened, 372 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,801 Speaker 4: but I don't want to go to court, and that's 373 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:47,561 Speaker 4: what I think. 374 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:48,041 Speaker 1: May have happened. 375 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,801 Speaker 2: And I guess also the blazing publicity that went around 376 00:18:51,801 --> 00:18:55,521 Speaker 2: the world with the Teacher's Pet podcast possibly could have 377 00:18:55,561 --> 00:18:59,561 Speaker 2: scared off a few possible witnesses victims who might have 378 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,481 Speaker 2: come forward but don't want to be in the glare 379 00:19:02,481 --> 00:19:05,360 Speaker 2: of publicity because taken them into the Supreme Court talking 380 00:19:05,441 --> 00:19:13,001 Speaker 2: about these really sensitive, embarrassing, damaging matters is no easy task. 381 00:19:13,801 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 1: Oh absolutely, And I agree with you, And you know 382 00:19:16,561 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: you can't drag them to court. 383 00:19:18,481 --> 00:19:20,521 Speaker 4: If they're happy to tell you what their stories were, 384 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,120 Speaker 4: what they experienced, you may then be able to find 385 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 4: someone else if you might say, look, I'm happy to 386 00:19:25,521 --> 00:19:27,921 Speaker 4: give evidence, and I'm happy to go to court if required. 387 00:19:28,681 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 4: You can't make all of them go to court. I 388 00:19:30,481 --> 00:19:33,761 Speaker 4: understand that it is a sensitive area, and I'm certainly 389 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 4: not the one to demand someone go to court and 390 00:19:36,721 --> 00:19:38,801 Speaker 4: give evidence. If they're happy to tell me a story 391 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 4: and they don't want to enforce in each charges or 392 00:19:42,241 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 4: lay a complaint of any ledgs wrongdoing, I'm happy to 393 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,321 Speaker 4: listen to them because that gives me, you know, also 394 00:19:48,441 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 4: a great perspective of who the person is. You know, 395 00:19:51,481 --> 00:19:54,801 Speaker 4: who I was investigating, and I'll go to when he 396 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,921 Speaker 4: lenks to find out what that type of person, who 397 00:19:58,041 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 4: that person was, and what was his background, etc. So 398 00:20:01,561 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 4: some of it was handy, but eventually I think they 399 00:20:04,521 --> 00:20:09,041 Speaker 4: are in a large scale strike force on the sexual offenses, 400 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:12,001 Speaker 4: and it only resulted, I think, in Chris Dawson being 401 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:13,001 Speaker 4: charged with one offense. 402 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,041 Speaker 2: Well that's right, because I think without making allegations against 403 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 2: his twin brother Paul, his name did come up in 404 00:20:19,961 --> 00:20:24,561 Speaker 2: dispatches with fairly questionable, if not illegal behavior. Was that 405 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:28,441 Speaker 2: a missed opportunity to also charge Paul with some sort 406 00:20:28,441 --> 00:20:29,401 Speaker 2: of offenses out of this. 407 00:20:30,481 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 4: I would not have because I had a directive my 408 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 4: commander to find out what happened to Lin Dawson. I 409 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 4: think later on this may have been the subject with 410 00:20:38,481 --> 00:20:40,961 Speaker 4: the State Crime Command with their strikeforce that I think 411 00:20:41,001 --> 00:20:43,680 Speaker 4: was Strike pall Southward that they ran that. 412 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:45,880 Speaker 1: But yet again I don't know. 413 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,721 Speaker 4: What was said between the police and the alleged victims 414 00:20:48,761 --> 00:20:51,640 Speaker 4: of alleged offending by Paul Dawson. I don't certainly know, 415 00:20:51,761 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 4: but it was there a missed opportunity possibly, I don't know, 416 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,920 Speaker 4: and I can't speak on behalf of that strike force. 417 00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 2: It does seem like unfinished business, but I guess the 418 00:21:03,481 --> 00:21:08,281 Speaker 2: first order of unfinished business is where is Lynn Dawson's body. 419 00:21:08,640 --> 00:21:10,561 Speaker 2: There was a lot of work put into the so 420 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 2: called soft soil right next to the house near the 421 00:21:13,481 --> 00:21:14,641 Speaker 2: pool and things like that. 422 00:21:14,921 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: What was your theory about what Dawson did with his wife. 423 00:21:19,481 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 4: Well, I've been to that properly on a number of occasions, 424 00:21:21,761 --> 00:21:25,160 Speaker 4: and I've excavated that property around the pool, and I 425 00:21:25,241 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 4: was fairly confident that she wasn't anywhere else in that 426 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 4: property then, because we were driving star pickets into the 427 00:21:31,441 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 4: ground and we couldn't get more than a couple of 428 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,441 Speaker 4: inches because of the rocky soil underneath. And so when 429 00:21:36,481 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 4: they went back there I think it was two eighteen 430 00:21:38,441 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 4: two nineteen, where they did a fairly large excavation, I 431 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:45,241 Speaker 4: wasn't hopeful of anything being found, to be honest with you, 432 00:21:45,281 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 4: because I was confident that it was a difficult place 433 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,041 Speaker 4: to bury her body. And you know, at the same time, 434 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,001 Speaker 4: if the body is there, well the game's over. She 435 00:21:54,120 --> 00:21:57,400 Speaker 4: just didn't run away, so it'd be silly. 436 00:21:57,201 --> 00:21:58,001 Speaker 1: For her to be there. 437 00:21:58,001 --> 00:22:00,400 Speaker 4: But there was a period I think of about twelve 438 00:22:00,481 --> 00:22:03,241 Speaker 4: hours at the Chris Dawson had an opportunity to dispose 439 00:22:03,321 --> 00:22:07,001 Speaker 4: of his wife's body where and no matter how or 440 00:22:07,041 --> 00:22:12,001 Speaker 4: where she is, I simply just don't know any theories. Well, 441 00:22:12,041 --> 00:22:14,801 Speaker 4: I believe he was en route to Southwest Strokes that night, 442 00:22:14,921 --> 00:22:18,001 Speaker 4: the Saturday night after the Friday, the eighth of January, 443 00:22:18,041 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 4: when Lynn allegedly arrived home from a psychologist in relation 444 00:22:24,001 --> 00:22:27,400 Speaker 4: to some marriage guidance counseling with Chris. We know later 445 00:22:27,481 --> 00:22:29,961 Speaker 4: that night she did speak to her mother late that night, 446 00:22:30,001 --> 00:22:32,681 Speaker 4: around about nine and nine thirty ish, and from then 447 00:22:33,241 --> 00:22:36,840 Speaker 4: he goes to work the following morning, a Saturday morning, 448 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:39,481 Speaker 4: to the Northbridge Bars where he was a part time 449 00:22:39,521 --> 00:22:44,041 Speaker 4: life saver, and Lynn hadn't turned up. Allegedly she got 450 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,561 Speaker 4: on a bus to go to shopping somewhere in the 451 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,120 Speaker 4: city and would have joined her husband and her mother 452 00:22:50,481 --> 00:22:52,961 Speaker 4: and the two kids at the pool for lunch, and 453 00:22:53,041 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 4: she never turned up. So I believe that somewhere between 454 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,321 Speaker 4: that afternoon and the following morning, she's been discarded somewhere, 455 00:23:01,321 --> 00:23:02,321 Speaker 4: and I just simply just. 456 00:23:02,281 --> 00:23:03,201 Speaker 1: Don't know it. 457 00:23:03,241 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 4: And I know that Chris Dawson went up to Southwest Frocks, 458 00:23:06,201 --> 00:23:10,360 Speaker 4: so my guess is anywhere between Bayview and Southwest Frocks. 459 00:23:11,321 --> 00:23:14,241 Speaker 2: I remember having a conversation with your former colleague Roger 460 00:23:14,281 --> 00:23:18,281 Speaker 2: calib Rogerson about Christopher Dale Flannery, and he said Flannery's 461 00:23:18,281 --> 00:23:20,481 Speaker 2: big mistake was that he was a barrier of bodies. 462 00:23:20,921 --> 00:23:21,881 Speaker 1: That was a big mistake. 463 00:23:22,120 --> 00:23:24,400 Speaker 2: Why would you bury your body where it can be 464 00:23:24,481 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 2: found when you've got the Pacific Ocean stretching out to 465 00:23:28,001 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 2: the horizon beyond. And of course that that's what mc 466 00:23:31,281 --> 00:23:33,721 Speaker 2: namara and Rogerson did with Jamie Gower, the drug dealer 467 00:23:33,721 --> 00:23:36,241 Speaker 2: that they killed. I mean, I think the same thing 468 00:23:36,281 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 2: of Dawson. That he had access to a boat, he 469 00:23:39,201 --> 00:23:41,721 Speaker 2: could have gone out at a cover of darkness or 470 00:23:41,801 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 2: without much suspicion being raised at that time and simply. 471 00:23:44,761 --> 00:23:48,121 Speaker 1: Disposed of her body. What do you think of that theory? Oh? 472 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:51,521 Speaker 4: Look, absolutely certainly she wasn't there at Bayview. So where 473 00:23:51,640 --> 00:23:53,481 Speaker 4: is she? That's the big question. And you know we're 474 00:23:53,481 --> 00:23:56,001 Speaker 4: looking at a good twelve hour period, so you know, 475 00:23:56,241 --> 00:23:58,041 Speaker 4: there's a lot you can do in twelve hours. There's 476 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,201 Speaker 4: a lot long way you can drive within twelve hours 477 00:24:00,201 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 4: to dispose of a body somewhere remotely, orbit, in sea 478 00:24:03,681 --> 00:24:07,921 Speaker 4: or land. That's always going to be the question mark 479 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:12,640 Speaker 4: where she is. And hopefully now with the new the legislation, 480 00:24:12,761 --> 00:24:15,880 Speaker 4: Lynn's Law called nobody no parole. If he's up for 481 00:24:15,961 --> 00:24:18,561 Speaker 4: parole at some stage and he's still alive and he 482 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:22,481 Speaker 4: wishes to re enter the community after saving his minimum 483 00:24:22,481 --> 00:24:24,961 Speaker 4: parole sentence, that he might be able to tell of 484 00:24:25,041 --> 00:24:27,481 Speaker 4: the authorities where she is so he can get out 485 00:24:27,961 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 4: before he dies in prison because all his avenues of 486 00:24:32,481 --> 00:24:35,161 Speaker 4: appeal are exhausted. He's there for the duration. 487 00:24:36,041 --> 00:24:38,281 Speaker 2: And I've seen this again and again where people in 488 00:24:38,281 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 2: that position still don't reveal the location of the body. 489 00:24:42,801 --> 00:24:44,761 Speaker 2: What do you think it is in the human psyche 490 00:24:44,961 --> 00:24:47,721 Speaker 2: of these killers that makes them do this? 491 00:24:48,681 --> 00:24:48,881 Speaker 1: Well? 492 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:50,960 Speaker 4: I always believe that they've said they haven't done it 493 00:24:50,961 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 4: from day one to their loved ones, to their families, 494 00:24:53,681 --> 00:24:56,600 Speaker 4: and the families believe them. And then to suddenly turn 495 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 4: around at the last minute to say, well, yes I 496 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 4: did and I am responsible would be absolutely devastating for 497 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:08,080 Speaker 4: defender's family and his loved ones and his partner maybe 498 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:12,041 Speaker 4: or partners or her partner, and they just they wouldn't 499 00:25:12,080 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 4: say it. I think they will take their secrets to 500 00:25:14,241 --> 00:25:14,640 Speaker 4: the grave. 501 00:25:15,521 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 2: Do you think it's all in the approach to the killer, 502 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:21,761 Speaker 2: that there is a way was skillfully de viewing understanding 503 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 2: human psychology, that there can be a breakthrough still that 504 00:25:24,801 --> 00:25:29,081 Speaker 2: a detective today could make that approach to Dawson, who 505 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 2: could then reveal. 506 00:25:31,441 --> 00:25:34,481 Speaker 4: Oh, absolutely, you know. I say to myself, never ever 507 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,801 Speaker 4: say no. Some of these killers, you know, after being 508 00:25:37,921 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 4: incarcerated for a period of time, they change, they find 509 00:25:42,001 --> 00:25:43,601 Speaker 4: God some of them do you know, And they think 510 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:46,241 Speaker 4: it's a good thing to tell the authorities. But if 511 00:25:46,241 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 4: you don't ask, you'll never know. So it's a good point. 512 00:25:49,521 --> 00:25:51,561 Speaker 4: I think they even went to see Neddie Smith at 513 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:56,281 Speaker 4: some state and also the Blangelo killer as well, prior 514 00:25:56,321 --> 00:25:59,721 Speaker 4: to him dying in hospital. And I think it will 515 00:25:59,761 --> 00:26:01,761 Speaker 4: take a skilled detective to go in there and gain 516 00:26:01,801 --> 00:26:04,521 Speaker 4: the rapport of that person and then over a number 517 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,801 Speaker 4: of visits and ask, you know, you don't go in 518 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 4: and demand, you get their rapport and then try and 519 00:26:10,801 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 4: find out through some skillful interviewing where that anybodies may be. 520 00:26:16,201 --> 00:26:18,161 Speaker 2: Yeah, that case, I was thinking I was actually Mary 521 00:26:18,201 --> 00:26:20,001 Speaker 2: Louise while I from one ninety three was killed by 522 00:26:20,041 --> 00:26:23,360 Speaker 2: Robert John Adams who posed as a policeman and abducted 523 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 2: her from a nightclub in North Sydney, had murdered her 524 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 2: and disposed of her body, and he wasn't convicted for 525 00:26:29,201 --> 00:26:32,240 Speaker 2: decades afterwards, and he never reveal where the body was 526 00:26:32,321 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 2: and I actually went to see him in Saysnock jail 527 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,961 Speaker 2: and I said to him, this is before the nobody 528 00:26:37,001 --> 00:26:38,680 Speaker 2: no Parole law came out. 529 00:26:38,761 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: Lynn's Law, and I said, well, you're not that old. 530 00:26:42,281 --> 00:26:45,321 Speaker 2: You will get out of jail here, and you'll get 531 00:26:45,360 --> 00:26:48,360 Speaker 2: out sooner if you reveal where her body is. And 532 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:49,961 Speaker 2: he said, listen, I'm not going to tell you I 533 00:26:50,001 --> 00:26:51,961 Speaker 2: did or I didn't do it, but think of it 534 00:26:51,961 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: this way, that I met a woman after this happened. 535 00:26:55,481 --> 00:26:56,801 Speaker 1: I've had several kids with her. 536 00:26:57,321 --> 00:27:00,521 Speaker 2: They've grown up in the knowledge of my innocence, and 537 00:27:01,201 --> 00:27:04,761 Speaker 2: I've spent all their inheritance on trying to prove we've 538 00:27:04,801 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 2: lost You think I'm going to turn around now and 539 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:09,561 Speaker 2: say I did it, And I think that's to your point. 540 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 4: Absolutely, And I agree with you there, Adam, about those 541 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:16,240 Speaker 4: comments he made about that murderer, and that's what I 542 00:27:16,281 --> 00:27:18,680 Speaker 4: say as well. I think they have denied it for 543 00:27:18,721 --> 00:27:21,761 Speaker 4: so long that they actually start believing their own lie 544 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:26,441 Speaker 4: and they cannot and will not admit to what they've done. 545 00:27:27,640 --> 00:27:29,321 Speaker 1: Which brings us back to Mercury. 546 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:33,281 Speaker 2: Jeremy Buckingham, the new South Wales politician, has recently named 547 00:27:33,360 --> 00:27:36,441 Speaker 2: him in the Parliament I'm not one hundred percent sure 548 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:38,041 Speaker 2: that's going to do much good. 549 00:27:38,521 --> 00:27:42,001 Speaker 1: It certainly puts pressure on him. You've met Mercury, you 550 00:27:42,041 --> 00:27:42,761 Speaker 1: interviewed him. 551 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 2: Do you think he's ever likely to reinstate his confession 552 00:27:47,001 --> 00:27:50,360 Speaker 2: that he did, in fact abduct and kill Sheryl Grimmer. 553 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 4: I don't believe we'll ever hear a peep out of 554 00:27:53,961 --> 00:27:56,600 Speaker 4: him again. He was in custody for nearly two years 555 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:59,121 Speaker 4: pro prior to going to the Supreme Court. Now, when 556 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:03,200 Speaker 4: I arrested him back in two thousand and seventeen, I 557 00:28:03,241 --> 00:28:07,281 Speaker 4: had him in custody at Frankston Station whilst we finished 558 00:28:07,281 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 4: our interviews and while preparing some paperwork to go to 559 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:12,920 Speaker 4: court for the extradition later that afternoon. So we had 560 00:28:12,961 --> 00:28:15,921 Speaker 4: a number of hours in the cell area. And now 561 00:28:16,041 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 4: this is the person I've just mind you. I've just 562 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:20,201 Speaker 4: told them when I'm flowing down there at the meeting 563 00:28:20,281 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 4: that you're under a rest for murder and I intend 564 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:25,201 Speaker 4: to charge you with murder today and I intend to 565 00:28:25,521 --> 00:28:27,801 Speaker 4: drag you back to New South Wales tomorrow morning to 566 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 4: face the court. And yet he goes into custody and 567 00:28:31,041 --> 00:28:33,961 Speaker 4: he said, coolest coul come any of the custodial staff 568 00:28:34,281 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 4: have ever witnessed if someone was innocent, I would expect 569 00:28:38,481 --> 00:28:40,561 Speaker 4: them to be crawling up the wall and trying to 570 00:28:40,561 --> 00:28:43,961 Speaker 4: dig their way out and yeeling obscenity saying they're innocent. 571 00:28:44,361 --> 00:28:45,441 Speaker 1: None of this ever happened. 572 00:28:45,881 --> 00:28:49,001 Speaker 4: And I don't believe even after two years in custody, 573 00:28:49,521 --> 00:28:52,561 Speaker 4: he's never come after me for a wrongful arrest or 574 00:28:52,841 --> 00:28:56,681 Speaker 4: wrongfull incarceration, passed the magistrate and went to court, then 575 00:28:56,721 --> 00:28:58,681 Speaker 4: it was deemed enough evidence to go to a trial. 576 00:28:59,121 --> 00:29:03,401 Speaker 4: So he's never never said boo, And I don't know why. 577 00:29:03,641 --> 00:29:06,801 Speaker 4: And I don't believe all to make a noise because 578 00:29:07,241 --> 00:29:09,521 Speaker 4: if he makes a noise, then there'll be a meter 579 00:29:09,641 --> 00:29:13,361 Speaker 4: on top of him all my straightaway. 580 00:29:13,921 --> 00:29:18,201 Speaker 2: Because you've read that. We've all read the confessional, I guess, 581 00:29:18,201 --> 00:29:22,521 Speaker 2: and it's highly detailed. You corroborated key elements of it. 582 00:29:23,201 --> 00:29:25,001 Speaker 2: I don't think you've got any doubt that he was 583 00:29:25,041 --> 00:29:29,081 Speaker 2: the killer. And yet it seems like the cases at 584 00:29:29,121 --> 00:29:32,601 Speaker 2: a standstill, to the point where you interviewed another witness 585 00:29:33,041 --> 00:29:34,921 Speaker 2: who was a young boy at the time back in 586 00:29:35,001 --> 00:29:40,241 Speaker 2: nineteen seventy, who believed he saw Mercury walking away from 587 00:29:40,321 --> 00:29:41,401 Speaker 2: the beach with. 588 00:29:41,801 --> 00:29:43,761 Speaker 1: Eryl in his arms. 589 00:29:44,481 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 2: He came forward and wanted to give evidence, and it 590 00:29:47,281 --> 00:29:51,121 Speaker 2: seems like New South Wales police are not interested in 591 00:29:51,161 --> 00:29:51,841 Speaker 2: his evidence. 592 00:29:52,961 --> 00:29:54,201 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I was aware of that. 593 00:29:54,441 --> 00:29:58,361 Speaker 4: Information came from another podcast and I was given this 594 00:29:58,401 --> 00:30:02,601 Speaker 4: person's details. I rang him and I struck a rapport 595 00:30:02,641 --> 00:30:04,921 Speaker 4: with him, so much so that I said, look, would 596 00:30:04,921 --> 00:30:07,001 Speaker 4: you be willing? I said, I'm retired now. I said, 597 00:30:07,201 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 4: I can't come and see, but I'm retired. I do 598 00:30:09,361 --> 00:30:12,241 Speaker 4: know the officers in charge up at the Unsold Thomicide 599 00:30:12,241 --> 00:30:15,161 Speaker 4: Squad and some very good officers there, and so would 600 00:30:15,161 --> 00:30:18,681 Speaker 4: you be comfortable with if I provided your details to them? 601 00:30:18,721 --> 00:30:22,881 Speaker 4: And he said, yes, you would. So I contacted Detective 602 00:30:22,921 --> 00:30:25,601 Speaker 4: Chief Inspector Dave laidel Or from the Unsold Homicide Squad. 603 00:30:25,641 --> 00:30:29,401 Speaker 4: I know Dave from over many decades from working not 604 00:30:29,441 --> 00:30:32,641 Speaker 4: with him, but on cases etc. These particulars were taken 605 00:30:32,921 --> 00:30:36,281 Speaker 4: and I've only to find out recently that apparently not 606 00:30:36,281 --> 00:30:39,001 Speaker 4: even a statement's been taken from him. So I'm a 607 00:30:39,041 --> 00:30:41,201 Speaker 4: sort of a bit loss as to why that hasn't happened. 608 00:30:42,721 --> 00:30:45,161 Speaker 2: Well, I made some inquiries about it and was told 609 00:30:45,161 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 2: by a senior homicide detective that they were concerned that 610 00:30:48,321 --> 00:30:51,921 Speaker 2: with the absence of contemporaneous notes or anything to corroborate 611 00:30:52,401 --> 00:30:55,960 Speaker 2: his observations, he would get torn up in the box 612 00:30:56,201 --> 00:30:57,281 Speaker 2: in cross examination. 613 00:30:57,601 --> 00:30:58,961 Speaker 1: Put yourself back in the job. 614 00:30:59,601 --> 00:31:02,480 Speaker 2: Would you be confident to put a witness up in 615 00:31:02,521 --> 00:31:05,200 Speaker 2: such a critical case like this where there are was 616 00:31:05,241 --> 00:31:09,841 Speaker 2: it contemporaneous notes or some way of independently corroborating his testimony. 617 00:31:10,761 --> 00:31:12,521 Speaker 1: Well, that's really matter for the court. 618 00:31:12,561 --> 00:31:14,401 Speaker 4: That's a matter for the prosecutor and the defense to 619 00:31:14,441 --> 00:31:17,801 Speaker 4: make those decisions. And I don't believe pleage should be 620 00:31:17,841 --> 00:31:21,121 Speaker 4: start getting involved being a judged during executioner as to 621 00:31:21,201 --> 00:31:23,841 Speaker 4: what's going to happen in a trial. I just believe 622 00:31:23,841 --> 00:31:26,001 Speaker 4: if you're honest and telling the truth before a jury, 623 00:31:26,081 --> 00:31:28,081 Speaker 4: the jury will see it and they will hear it. 624 00:31:28,601 --> 00:31:30,921 Speaker 4: And I don't go into the fact that he might 625 00:31:30,921 --> 00:31:33,121 Speaker 4: get tailed up in the court as a witness. Well, 626 00:31:33,561 --> 00:31:36,121 Speaker 4: we don't know that, and don't make those presumptions. It 627 00:31:36,161 --> 00:31:39,121 Speaker 4: may happen, it may not happen. And yet a jury 628 00:31:39,201 --> 00:31:41,121 Speaker 4: might be able to see that look in the absence 629 00:31:41,121 --> 00:31:43,921 Speaker 4: of any notes, etc. Or what it might have been 630 00:31:43,921 --> 00:31:46,641 Speaker 4: associated what you saw or what you heard on the day. 631 00:31:47,241 --> 00:31:50,881 Speaker 4: Let it fully qualified jury and who are briefed according 632 00:31:51,001 --> 00:31:53,601 Speaker 4: by the Crown to understand that this is the person 633 00:31:53,681 --> 00:31:56,401 Speaker 4: that's going to come forward after many, many decades and 634 00:31:57,001 --> 00:32:00,161 Speaker 4: no there are no associated notes or etc. 635 00:32:00,641 --> 00:32:01,721 Speaker 1: But listen to his evidence. 636 00:32:01,841 --> 00:32:04,681 Speaker 4: And I don't want to go in to start saying, well, 637 00:32:04,761 --> 00:32:06,961 Speaker 4: watch should go into a trial and what should be 638 00:32:07,001 --> 00:32:10,161 Speaker 4: included and what should be excluded. That's not my decision. 639 00:32:10,201 --> 00:32:14,081 Speaker 4: I'm a seeker of truth, a secer of fact for 640 00:32:14,161 --> 00:32:17,361 Speaker 4: the prosecution and the courts, the seeker of the truth. 641 00:32:17,681 --> 00:32:20,721 Speaker 4: So I don't want my jobs to be anywhere mixed 642 00:32:20,801 --> 00:32:23,841 Speaker 4: up with the judicial process as to what a good 643 00:32:23,881 --> 00:32:25,121 Speaker 4: investigator should be doing. 644 00:32:25,761 --> 00:32:28,961 Speaker 2: So you're saying, leave the prosecuting to the prosecutor, and 645 00:32:29,241 --> 00:32:31,881 Speaker 2: don't second guess what's going to happen, don't. 646 00:32:31,721 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 4: Second guess what may happen, and have those concerns that 647 00:32:34,761 --> 00:32:37,361 Speaker 4: you're not going to take a statement from this person 648 00:32:37,401 --> 00:32:40,681 Speaker 4: because he'll get torn up in the witness box and 649 00:32:40,841 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 4: it'll look bad for us. That's a judicial process that 650 00:32:44,321 --> 00:32:46,161 Speaker 4: should be not even entering in the minds of a 651 00:32:46,161 --> 00:32:47,041 Speaker 4: good investigator. 652 00:32:48,921 --> 00:32:52,081 Speaker 2: I'll tell you what your former colleagues in this above 653 00:32:52,161 --> 00:32:55,401 Speaker 2: police must shudder when they hear your name came in 654 00:32:55,801 --> 00:32:58,361 Speaker 2: and there's nothing more X than an ex detective. Do 655 00:32:58,441 --> 00:33:01,041 Speaker 2: you have much contact with them these days? You don't 656 00:33:01,041 --> 00:33:03,361 Speaker 2: spare them. You certainly give them a good bollocking when 657 00:33:03,401 --> 00:33:06,761 Speaker 2: they need it well and rightly so. 658 00:33:07,001 --> 00:33:09,641 Speaker 4: And you know I've copped criticism, tell you, but I 659 00:33:09,721 --> 00:33:12,641 Speaker 4: recently had lunch with some wonderful gentleman and I'm sure 660 00:33:12,681 --> 00:33:14,401 Speaker 4: that they won't mind me if I mentioned their names. 661 00:33:14,601 --> 00:33:18,281 Speaker 4: Dennis Spray, in charge of the Kerry Wheeland investigation, and 662 00:33:18,401 --> 00:33:21,481 Speaker 4: she was kidnapped from paramatter. Pans Rupp, a former ex 663 00:33:21,521 --> 00:33:27,161 Speaker 4: homicide and good old hard style cop. Those sort of guys, 664 00:33:27,161 --> 00:33:30,121 Speaker 4: Mark Sweeney, who was a very very experienced crime scene examiner, 665 00:33:31,281 --> 00:33:33,761 Speaker 4: and Brenton Lee, Chief Inspector Brenton Lee who's an old 666 00:33:33,801 --> 00:33:37,881 Speaker 4: knock about detective as well. And these guys are all retired, 667 00:33:37,921 --> 00:33:40,081 Speaker 4: and they're the sort of guys that when I was 668 00:33:40,081 --> 00:33:41,361 Speaker 4: in the coops, that I looked up to. 669 00:33:42,921 --> 00:33:43,201 Speaker 1: Yeah. 670 00:33:43,281 --> 00:33:45,001 Speaker 2: I've spoken to a couple of those gents. I won't 671 00:33:45,001 --> 00:33:48,561 Speaker 2: specify which one about a particular case. And here's words 672 00:33:48,561 --> 00:33:50,881 Speaker 2: to me about getting involved, actually not getting involved in 673 00:33:51,161 --> 00:33:53,721 Speaker 2: a podcast about this word to say, I don't want 674 00:33:53,761 --> 00:33:55,841 Speaker 2: to get ahead of the plow. I don't want to 675 00:33:55,841 --> 00:33:57,361 Speaker 2: get it ahead of the machinery of guy. I don't 676 00:33:57,401 --> 00:33:59,801 Speaker 2: want to possibly prejudice an investigation. 677 00:34:00,361 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: Do you ever worry that you don't know what you 678 00:34:03,241 --> 00:34:03,561 Speaker 1: don't know? 679 00:34:03,601 --> 00:34:05,921 Speaker 2: There could be things going on with witnesses and things 680 00:34:05,921 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 2: that you could be obstructing. 681 00:34:09,361 --> 00:34:11,001 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and what I do. 682 00:34:11,321 --> 00:34:13,721 Speaker 4: With any of the producers I work with, I make 683 00:34:13,761 --> 00:34:16,361 Speaker 4: sure that we're not going onto a subject which may 684 00:34:16,401 --> 00:34:21,121 Speaker 4: be an active investigation. And I caution to that a 685 00:34:21,121 --> 00:34:23,521 Speaker 4: lot of the times, and to say I think we 686 00:34:23,521 --> 00:34:25,641 Speaker 4: should go back and do something different, or you know, 687 00:34:26,041 --> 00:34:27,881 Speaker 4: this is what you should do at the moment, leave 688 00:34:27,881 --> 00:34:30,441 Speaker 4: this alone to see what happens, because and I know 689 00:34:30,521 --> 00:34:32,641 Speaker 4: things might be happening in the background, And I certainly 690 00:34:32,641 --> 00:34:36,521 Speaker 4: don't want to jeopardize or ruin the integrity of a 691 00:34:36,561 --> 00:34:41,041 Speaker 4: current investigation that may be fruitful and in evidence at 692 00:34:41,081 --> 00:34:43,961 Speaker 4: the latter stage, which I don't want to interrupt or 693 00:34:44,281 --> 00:34:48,041 Speaker 4: give it a Hopefully that information will go through, and 694 00:34:48,281 --> 00:34:52,121 Speaker 4: I don't want to interrupt it and spoil what's happening. 695 00:34:52,921 --> 00:34:55,441 Speaker 2: As we speak today. The general Grammer case is at 696 00:34:55,481 --> 00:34:58,521 Speaker 2: a standstill. If they don't interview this witness and take 697 00:34:58,561 --> 00:35:01,201 Speaker 2: his evidence and try to go forward again. What happens 698 00:35:01,241 --> 00:35:04,281 Speaker 2: with that case, I mean there is a limit, like 699 00:35:04,321 --> 00:35:07,121 Speaker 2: you never give up, but you do eventually run out 700 00:35:07,161 --> 00:35:09,721 Speaker 2: of things to do. What can happen with this case 701 00:35:09,721 --> 00:35:10,721 Speaker 2: to take it forward again? 702 00:35:11,281 --> 00:35:14,081 Speaker 4: Well yet again, Adam, if someone was there that particular 703 00:35:14,201 --> 00:35:18,121 Speaker 4: day and have been afraid to come forward after despite 704 00:35:18,321 --> 00:35:21,961 Speaker 4: number of media requests and public statements about this, if 705 00:35:21,961 --> 00:35:24,721 Speaker 4: they now feel the strong enough now to come forward. 706 00:35:25,001 --> 00:35:27,401 Speaker 4: And it's about partnerships as well. So someone may have 707 00:35:27,481 --> 00:35:29,481 Speaker 4: been in a relationship with someone at the time that 708 00:35:30,121 --> 00:35:33,401 Speaker 4: may be very suspicious of their behavior and they're afraid 709 00:35:33,441 --> 00:35:36,001 Speaker 4: to speak up because of their loyalty to that person. 710 00:35:36,641 --> 00:35:39,201 Speaker 4: Now it may be the case today that those loyalties 711 00:35:39,281 --> 00:35:43,041 Speaker 4: no longer exist and they are now free to come 712 00:35:43,121 --> 00:35:45,440 Speaker 4: forward without fear of being harassed, etc. 713 00:35:45,761 --> 00:35:46,281 Speaker 1: Or threatened. 714 00:35:46,961 --> 00:35:49,401 Speaker 4: The perpetrator may have passed away, so there's no further 715 00:35:49,441 --> 00:35:52,721 Speaker 4: fear of anything. But I just hope that someone in 716 00:35:52,761 --> 00:35:55,641 Speaker 4: their mind and surely someone would know something about this 717 00:35:56,201 --> 00:36:00,121 Speaker 4: to come forward. And what happens then it regnites the investigation, 718 00:36:00,441 --> 00:36:02,441 Speaker 4: It gets a second win, and you start going back 719 00:36:02,481 --> 00:36:04,921 Speaker 4: into it again. And I just believe I think a 720 00:36:05,081 --> 00:36:07,841 Speaker 4: lot of these matters instead of just selling them they 721 00:36:07,841 --> 00:36:08,921 Speaker 4: are certainly solvable. 722 00:36:11,281 --> 00:36:14,561 Speaker 2: How much do the individual detectives who are still working 723 00:36:14,561 --> 00:36:18,481 Speaker 2: on these cases, how much capacity and independence do they have? 724 00:36:18,521 --> 00:36:21,761 Speaker 2: Do they just follow orders? Or can they get a 725 00:36:21,801 --> 00:36:24,521 Speaker 2: new piece of information and run with it? And you know, 726 00:36:24,641 --> 00:36:27,041 Speaker 2: to hell with any criticism they might get from their bosses, 727 00:36:28,321 --> 00:36:29,321 Speaker 2: I'll look for a start. 728 00:36:29,361 --> 00:36:31,601 Speaker 4: I think you normally have a very good relationship with 729 00:36:31,641 --> 00:36:35,161 Speaker 4: your superior it's normally a detective inspector, and you brief 730 00:36:35,201 --> 00:36:37,161 Speaker 4: them on a weekly basis, you know, not only in 731 00:36:37,201 --> 00:36:40,641 Speaker 4: a written form but also verbally, and you'll suggest some 732 00:36:40,721 --> 00:36:42,641 Speaker 4: ideas to them. And you know, obviously it's on a 733 00:36:42,681 --> 00:36:45,041 Speaker 4: budget as well, so we just can't go around, will 734 00:36:45,081 --> 00:36:47,321 Speaker 4: you nearly spending the public coin on trips away, etc. 735 00:36:48,121 --> 00:36:50,121 Speaker 4: But if I've got an avenue of a way that 736 00:36:50,361 --> 00:36:52,521 Speaker 4: I think the investigation should run, this is what I 737 00:36:53,121 --> 00:36:56,201 Speaker 4: would speak with my commander and then normally. 738 00:36:56,001 --> 00:36:57,721 Speaker 1: He would trust me to do what I'd want to do. 739 00:36:58,281 --> 00:37:00,361 Speaker 4: And that was a good thing about the DAWs In case, 740 00:37:00,401 --> 00:37:03,081 Speaker 4: because even though I had a couple of people say 741 00:37:03,081 --> 00:37:04,561 Speaker 4: to me you shouldn't be doing it, you know you've 742 00:37:04,601 --> 00:37:06,241 Speaker 4: moved on out from that area. Is not in our 743 00:37:06,281 --> 00:37:08,761 Speaker 4: patch anymore. Well, I said, well, it doesn't matter. I 744 00:37:08,881 --> 00:37:10,641 Speaker 4: joined the new so Well's plays force, not I didn't 745 00:37:10,721 --> 00:37:12,881 Speaker 4: join for the postcode. So that was sort of my 746 00:37:12,961 --> 00:37:16,001 Speaker 4: answer back that normally have a very good relationship and 747 00:37:16,521 --> 00:37:18,361 Speaker 4: atronic trust issue as well, and. 748 00:37:18,321 --> 00:37:20,241 Speaker 1: Your team as well. You listen to your team. 749 00:37:20,401 --> 00:37:23,121 Speaker 4: When you're running a team, you have a consensus as 750 00:37:23,121 --> 00:37:24,161 Speaker 4: to what's to be done. 751 00:37:25,161 --> 00:37:27,521 Speaker 2: In the case of Sheryl Grimmer, you got I think 752 00:37:27,521 --> 00:37:30,561 Speaker 2: it was thirty phone books worth of evidence and reviewed 753 00:37:30,561 --> 00:37:33,441 Speaker 2: it all and you found new material in there. 754 00:37:34,041 --> 00:37:37,921 Speaker 1: And I fear that without a continual. 755 00:37:37,401 --> 00:37:41,641 Speaker 2: Review process of these high profile cases, they will finally 756 00:37:41,681 --> 00:37:45,121 Speaker 2: get to a stage of being unsolvable. And I look 757 00:37:45,121 --> 00:37:47,961 Speaker 2: at some of the grains of that case. For instance, 758 00:37:48,641 --> 00:37:52,401 Speaker 2: that Mercury goes to mister Lecky who's running the boy's 759 00:37:52,481 --> 00:37:55,321 Speaker 2: home where he's staying, and says, I've got something to 760 00:37:55,361 --> 00:37:58,921 Speaker 2: tell you about this case. He's also with other boys 761 00:37:59,681 --> 00:38:02,641 Speaker 2: in that boy's home. I presume he's told other people. 762 00:38:03,601 --> 00:38:07,721 Speaker 2: Is there a case to go back to whatever records 763 00:38:07,761 --> 00:38:11,041 Speaker 2: might be available back in the day and say maybe 764 00:38:11,041 --> 00:38:15,161 Speaker 2: there was somebody in the room like mister Lecky when 765 00:38:15,721 --> 00:38:20,441 Speaker 2: this interview was done, or indeed other boys who that 766 00:38:20,561 --> 00:38:22,881 Speaker 2: Mercury may have told about the evidence back then. 767 00:38:23,841 --> 00:38:25,721 Speaker 1: Yes, well we did that back in the day. 768 00:38:25,761 --> 00:38:28,201 Speaker 4: We made a public appeal for any inmates or the 769 00:38:28,321 --> 00:38:31,481 Speaker 4: carry On Boys home up there at Gosford where Mercury 770 00:38:31,561 --> 00:38:33,121 Speaker 4: was incarcerated for a short time. 771 00:38:33,681 --> 00:38:35,561 Speaker 1: I tried to mister Lecky had passed away. 772 00:38:35,601 --> 00:38:37,001 Speaker 4: He would have been one hundred and ten I think 773 00:38:37,361 --> 00:38:40,481 Speaker 4: back in twenty sixteen, so he's obviously not around. But 774 00:38:40,561 --> 00:38:43,001 Speaker 4: I tried to find if he had any diaries around 775 00:38:43,481 --> 00:38:45,721 Speaker 4: to go through. And unfortunately, because of lapse of time, 776 00:38:45,801 --> 00:38:49,121 Speaker 4: those diaries don't exist any longer because a statute period 777 00:38:49,121 --> 00:38:51,921 Speaker 4: of gone and they could be destroyed. And also I 778 00:38:51,961 --> 00:38:54,281 Speaker 4: went to a detective Phil Finlay, who was a typist 779 00:38:54,361 --> 00:38:56,521 Speaker 4: on that record of interview with Mercury back in nineteen 780 00:38:56,521 --> 00:38:59,561 Speaker 4: seventy one, and I went through him closely. I said, 781 00:38:59,681 --> 00:39:01,241 Speaker 4: you know, was there anyone else in that room that 782 00:39:01,281 --> 00:39:03,081 Speaker 4: you can think? Obviously there was Danny, Joe and I. 783 00:39:03,241 --> 00:39:06,721 Speaker 4: So it was Joe Parrington and Phil Fiah. So we 784 00:39:06,801 --> 00:39:09,721 Speaker 4: did that groundwork and there was some success in relation 785 00:39:09,841 --> 00:39:13,121 Speaker 4: to the media release about the carry On inmates at 786 00:39:13,121 --> 00:39:15,881 Speaker 4: the time, and we did that for a particular reason. 787 00:39:15,921 --> 00:39:19,401 Speaker 4: We wanted to know some certain things about what media 788 00:39:19,521 --> 00:39:22,641 Speaker 4: articles were allowed into the center in that period that 789 00:39:22,761 --> 00:39:26,001 Speaker 4: Mercury was incarcerated, and that was it came in our 790 00:39:26,041 --> 00:39:28,121 Speaker 4: favor that there was basically nothing allowed in there. 791 00:39:29,161 --> 00:39:31,321 Speaker 1: So you've covered the avenues, then I wonder what else 792 00:39:31,321 --> 00:39:31,641 Speaker 1: has left. 793 00:39:31,681 --> 00:39:33,641 Speaker 2: I guess you don't know what you don't know, And 794 00:39:33,681 --> 00:39:35,561 Speaker 2: as you say, there could be someone out there still 795 00:39:35,801 --> 00:39:39,041 Speaker 2: who for whatever reason, has not revealed what they have 796 00:39:39,121 --> 00:39:39,561 Speaker 2: to offer. 797 00:39:40,481 --> 00:39:41,441 Speaker 1: Yeah, look that. 798 00:39:41,361 --> 00:39:43,361 Speaker 4: We're not talking about the carry on voice home was 799 00:39:43,401 --> 00:39:46,041 Speaker 4: about the fact that I wanted to know if any 800 00:39:46,161 --> 00:39:48,481 Speaker 4: newspapers were delivered there where the inmates could read, and 801 00:39:48,521 --> 00:39:50,881 Speaker 4: they had a story about Cheryl Grimmer, because if it, 802 00:39:51,001 --> 00:39:53,481 Speaker 4: in fact that Mercury made all it up because he'd 803 00:39:53,481 --> 00:39:57,281 Speaker 4: read it in a newspaper some sixteen months later, was 804 00:39:57,281 --> 00:40:00,081 Speaker 4: it still going around? So I did some also some 805 00:40:00,161 --> 00:40:02,361 Speaker 4: checks by the police mediaty in it to see what 806 00:40:02,441 --> 00:40:04,681 Speaker 4: was in the newspaper sixteen months later, and there's nothing 807 00:40:04,681 --> 00:40:08,241 Speaker 4: about Cherold Grim or whatsoever. So I know that from 808 00:40:08,281 --> 00:40:10,921 Speaker 4: these superintendents and some of the inmates that the boys 809 00:40:10,961 --> 00:40:14,000 Speaker 4: saime that they were not allowed to watch TV, only 810 00:40:14,041 --> 00:40:16,161 Speaker 4: one movie on a Sunday night if they were of 811 00:40:16,201 --> 00:40:19,081 Speaker 4: good behavior. So there was no TV in the dorms 812 00:40:19,161 --> 00:40:22,321 Speaker 4: or in the rooms with news. There's certainly nothing being 813 00:40:22,361 --> 00:40:25,281 Speaker 4: shown about Eryl Grimmer's disappearance from. 814 00:40:25,161 --> 00:40:27,361 Speaker 1: Ferry Meadow Beach the year before. 815 00:40:27,761 --> 00:40:30,481 Speaker 4: So I was confident that when Mercury was telling us, 816 00:40:30,641 --> 00:40:33,401 Speaker 4: as told Parrington and Finlay the story back in nineteen 817 00:40:33,441 --> 00:40:35,481 Speaker 4: seventy one, that we had the right person. 818 00:40:36,521 --> 00:40:41,201 Speaker 2: Yes, So I also fear that you can't repair mistakes 819 00:40:41,281 --> 00:40:45,001 Speaker 2: of the past, because the detectives back in the day 820 00:40:45,121 --> 00:40:48,241 Speaker 2: dismissed the confession, didn't they They didn't take it seriously. 821 00:40:48,241 --> 00:40:50,521 Speaker 1: They thought he was an attention seeker. They could have. 822 00:40:50,521 --> 00:40:53,041 Speaker 2: Gone back to him another year or two later, maybe 823 00:40:53,201 --> 00:40:55,521 Speaker 2: done some more work on that confession, but they didn't. 824 00:40:55,761 --> 00:40:59,440 Speaker 2: Is it possible to fix those sort of mistakes decades later? 825 00:41:00,641 --> 00:41:02,960 Speaker 4: Difficult now? But I know that the type of film. 826 00:41:03,001 --> 00:41:06,121 Speaker 4: Finlay was a detective constable first class us. He said 827 00:41:06,201 --> 00:41:08,641 Speaker 4: it was had it been his decision, he would have 828 00:41:08,721 --> 00:41:12,041 Speaker 4: charged him, but it wasn't. Joe was a sergeant, and 829 00:41:12,081 --> 00:41:14,521 Speaker 4: back in the seventies, a sergeant was like God. So 830 00:41:14,601 --> 00:41:17,641 Speaker 4: he either said no, it's either my way or the highway. 831 00:41:17,681 --> 00:41:21,921 Speaker 4: So it wasn't that was missed. But surprisingly enough, also 832 00:41:21,961 --> 00:41:24,801 Speaker 4: when the running sheet attached to that confession, Parrington said 833 00:41:24,801 --> 00:41:28,201 Speaker 4: that Mercury remained a person of interest, but there was 834 00:41:28,201 --> 00:41:29,721 Speaker 4: nothing ever done after that day. 835 00:41:30,801 --> 00:41:32,241 Speaker 2: I wonder when you wake up in the middle of 836 00:41:32,241 --> 00:41:35,801 Speaker 2: the night sometimes and think to yourself, what if, and 837 00:41:36,361 --> 00:41:39,921 Speaker 2: the thought crosses your mind that he gets away with murder, 838 00:41:40,521 --> 00:41:44,761 Speaker 2: then he leaves the state, he leaves a low profile 839 00:41:44,841 --> 00:41:47,681 Speaker 2: guy that he may have been involved in other offenses 840 00:41:48,561 --> 00:41:49,681 Speaker 2: down here in Victoria. 841 00:41:51,081 --> 00:41:52,601 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's always concerning for me. 842 00:41:53,321 --> 00:41:55,281 Speaker 4: And even though I was a cop for a long 843 00:41:55,321 --> 00:41:58,081 Speaker 4: time and I'm not I'm retired now, it's only been 844 00:41:58,121 --> 00:42:00,441 Speaker 4: four years, but I still think about this, you know, 845 00:42:00,521 --> 00:42:03,841 Speaker 4: nearly every second day about did we do the right thing? 846 00:42:03,881 --> 00:42:05,960 Speaker 4: You know, what did we miss etc. And I don't 847 00:42:06,001 --> 00:42:09,201 Speaker 4: think we missed anything. I was confident that the investigation 848 00:42:09,401 --> 00:42:12,281 Speaker 4: was pretty well thorough. Took us over to the United 849 00:42:12,361 --> 00:42:15,201 Speaker 4: Kingdom to seek some manses from some witnesses on the 850 00:42:15,241 --> 00:42:18,721 Speaker 4: beach that day, so you know, we just didn't discard 851 00:42:18,801 --> 00:42:21,041 Speaker 4: some evidents that we found. We actually went and sort 852 00:42:21,081 --> 00:42:23,161 Speaker 4: it out and we found it, went over there and 853 00:42:23,361 --> 00:42:26,481 Speaker 4: got the statements required and it's just one of those 854 00:42:26,521 --> 00:42:28,521 Speaker 4: things that him. You know, there are people in this 855 00:42:28,601 --> 00:42:32,481 Speaker 4: community that have unsolved homicides in this community, and those offenders, 856 00:42:34,401 --> 00:42:36,321 Speaker 4: you know, they walk amongst us unfortunately. 857 00:42:37,001 --> 00:42:38,881 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I think once you've been a detective, you're 858 00:42:38,881 --> 00:42:39,561 Speaker 2: always a detective. 859 00:42:39,601 --> 00:42:41,521 Speaker 1: Friend of mine, dadd here Victoria homicide detective. 860 00:42:41,681 --> 00:42:44,281 Speaker 2: He went to work as an undertaker and he's with 861 00:42:44,401 --> 00:42:47,321 Speaker 2: the family of a deceased person and then chatting about things, 862 00:42:47,321 --> 00:42:49,921 Speaker 2: and he says, I can't help with us. Do you 863 00:42:49,961 --> 00:42:55,041 Speaker 2: think it was natural causes? The family was aghast. He 864 00:42:55,081 --> 00:42:58,001 Speaker 2: didn't last long as a detective. Jemmy, if you're giving 865 00:42:58,001 --> 00:43:00,161 Speaker 2: free advice, and he said, well, you said balls police 866 00:43:00,241 --> 00:43:01,561 Speaker 2: about that case today. 867 00:43:01,321 --> 00:43:01,960 Speaker 1: What would it be? 868 00:43:03,281 --> 00:43:07,241 Speaker 4: Just re examine that record of interview. You go through 869 00:43:07,241 --> 00:43:09,481 Speaker 4: it like a fine tooth came, like I did in Frank, 870 00:43:09,681 --> 00:43:13,001 Speaker 4: and you'll see the glaring similarities of what happened that 871 00:43:13,041 --> 00:43:16,521 Speaker 4: particular day, and it will only lead to one one 872 00:43:16,561 --> 00:43:18,841 Speaker 4: suggestion and one thought that you had to be there 873 00:43:18,881 --> 00:43:21,121 Speaker 4: at the beach on that day to see what had 874 00:43:21,121 --> 00:43:24,401 Speaker 4: happened and for to be told that after forty nine 875 00:43:24,481 --> 00:43:27,641 Speaker 4: years later, that person told me in Frank in the 876 00:43:27,641 --> 00:43:31,321 Speaker 4: record of interview, I conducted with him at Frankston to say, 877 00:43:31,441 --> 00:43:33,401 Speaker 4: I've never been to that beach in my life. 878 00:43:34,281 --> 00:43:35,641 Speaker 1: It's not a bulls hit. 879 00:43:36,361 --> 00:43:38,361 Speaker 2: Good advice. Let's hope they take it. Damian, thanks for 880 00:43:38,361 --> 00:43:40,801 Speaker 2: your time today and thanks for your service. Thank you, 881 00:43:40,841 --> 00:43:47,881 Speaker 2: Adam lovely always to talk to you. Let's Damien Lon, 882 00:43:47,921 --> 00:43:51,841 Speaker 2: retired detective New South Wales Police. The Sheryl rumorcase is one. 883 00:43:51,881 --> 00:43:53,961 Speaker 2: I think that he's not going to go away, but 884 00:43:54,041 --> 00:43:56,041 Speaker 2: you have to keep working on it and never give up. 885 00:43:56,121 --> 00:43:58,441 Speaker 2: That's the motto and this There's always someone out there 886 00:43:58,441 --> 00:44:00,841 Speaker 2: who knows something and maybe you can help on this 887 00:44:00,961 --> 00:44:03,801 Speaker 2: case or others. You can always call Crimes Stopers one 888 00:44:03,801 --> 00:44:06,881 Speaker 2: of under Triple three Trip zero. If you don't trust 889 00:44:06,881 --> 00:44:08,480 Speaker 2: the cops, you can always send me an email Adam 890 00:44:08,481 --> 00:44:10,881 Speaker 2: Shand writer at gmail dot com. But don't sit on 891 00:44:10,921 --> 00:44:14,521 Speaker 2: good information, please say something. Thanks for listening. This has 892 00:44:14,561 --> 00:44:15,681 Speaker 2: been Adam Shan for Real Crime. 893 00:44:25,521 --> 00:44:28,321 Speaker 5: Thanks for listening to this episode and supporting this story. 894 00:44:28,961 --> 00:44:32,121 Speaker 5: Independent storytelling that shapes the world is what Podshape really 895 00:44:32,161 --> 00:44:35,081 Speaker 5: cares about. 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