Family’s anger over police decision not to contact witnesses

The family of a small child who has disappeared from an Australian beach more than 50 years ago criticized the police for not conducting an interview with potential eyewitnesses officially while reviewing the case.

Officers are suspected of kidnapping Sherrill Grimmer, three -year -old from Fairy Meadow Beach, which is about 50 miles (80 km) south of Sydney in New South Wales (New South Wales), when It was lost on January 12, 1970. The Grimmer family only immigrated from the United Kingdom.

They were now informed of the review, which lasted four years to complete, no new evidence could lead to condemnation.

They are angry that three potential witnesses spoke to the BBC had no interview with the officers, although the details of the contact were transferred to the police.

Sherrill’s brother, Ricky Nash, said he felt “fully frustrated” about the way the review was dealt with, which he understood, “It was supposed to be a detailed and complete review of the case.

“There are no words, nothing.” “Our family cannot move forward without the help of the police.”

The three potential eyewitnesses advanced after broadcasting the BBC Fairy Meadow True Crime Podcast In 2022, which has since been downloaded five million times.

One of the men, who asked to keep his own identity, said that he saw a teenage boy carrying a young child changing room next to the beach on the day that Sherrill disappeared.

The man said he had a short conversation on the phone with the New South Wales police after telling the BBC what he saw, but he did not hear of strength again.

Damyan Leon, a retired investigator who worked in the Sherrill case, said, It is believed that the testimony of a man was “very credible”.

In 2017, a man of his 1960s was accused of kidnapping and killing Sherrill after the officers discovered a recognition by the police by a teenager in 1971.

The judge later spent that recognition could not be made as evidence of the trial.

The defendant – known only by the “mercury” police name was released because he was minor at the time of the alleged crimes – in 2019 and All the charges, which I denied, were dropped.

In a new episode of Fair Meadow, the former Det Sgt Loone said that “he could not understand” why the police did not meet the man who spoke to the BBC, something he would have done if he was still responsible for the investigation into the disappearance of Sherrill.

“I think this is a dirty police work,” he added. “This is what they should have done and I could not believe that it didn’t happen.”

He said he believed that the man is the “only independent witness” who was in the Fairi Meadow beach who saw a 16 or 17 -year -old teenager – with Sherrill the day it was lost.

“We know that mercury is suspected [of] That age group at that time, “added.

Kay Taton, another possible eyewitness, BBC, called that she saw a man taking a little girl away from the beach on the day Sherrill disappeared.

“I am just [remember] This beautiful little girl was very upset. This man was tightly in his hand and said, “Come on.” Obviously, she doesn’t want to go. “

Kay went to a police station shortly after seeing a news report on Sherrill’s disappearance in 1970, but the officers did not talk to her again after she told them what she saw.

The BBC provided them with updated contact details after we sent Kai, 82, via email on the podcast – but she did not hear from the officers.

Another woman, who also asked to keep her own identity, told us that she was approaching a man on a beach near Fairy Meadow a few days before Sherrill’s disappearance. She says she has not been contacted by the New South Wales police as well.

She told us: “I have this information that I can provide them while they are not interested, as you know? I am only disappointed.” “It can lead to something.”

Sherrill Ricky’s 62 -year -old brother, seven -year -old when she disappeared. The couple was together in the changing rooms next to the Fair Meadow Beach, but after its removal for a few seconds, it was gone.

He wrote an open speech that highlights what is believed to be errors in an investigation into the police that dates back to the day when it was lost.

A petition asking the Parliament of the State attracted an investigation into the investigations of the missing persons supervised by the New South Wales police, such as Sherrill, more than 10,000 signatures this summer.

It was discussed in Parliament, but in a message that responds to the providers of petitions, the Minister of Police and Combating Terrorism did not commit to investigation.

The New South Wales police said that all the information he received, including the accounts of possible eyewitnesses from the BBC, were properly evaluated. They said that it was not like that, an interview was made with everyone who called them.

“Each submission is evaluated on its advantages, and decisions related to subsequent measures are taken in accordance with the investigation standards and the importance of information to the specified facts.”

They added that they met members of the Sherrill family last September to conduct a three -hour discussion about the police review that “all known facts were identified and clearly verified.”

In 2020, 50 years after Sherrill disappeared, New South Wales Police offered a $ 1 million reward (529,000 pounds) for anyone who has information that led to a successful condemnation.

Ricky told us: “Are you offering a $ 1 million bonus, people are advancing, you don’t talk to them. Why is the bonus?

“Was it only to satisfy our family, or satisfy the audience, just to make yourselves look good – look like you are doing something? Actually, you do nothing.”