Family criticises police as Australian inquiry into cold case murders begins

A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry has begun public hearings into cold case murders and missing persons. On the first day, relatives criticised police handling of their loved ones' cases.

Ricki Nash, brother of Cheryl Grimmer, said the family has suffered from police failures for over 50 years. Three-year-old Cheryl disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong in January 1970. A suspect was charged in 2017 but the case collapsed after his teenage confession was ruled inadmissible. The man, known as "Mercury", denies wrongdoing.

Cheryl had emigrated from Bristol to Australia two years earlier. "Cheryl was not a case file, she was an amazing funny little girl," Nash told the inquiry.

Kevin Docherty, whose sister Kay Docherty went missing at age 15 in 1979, also criticised police. He said police dismissed her as a runaway, leading to insufficient search efforts. Their parents died without answers.

Some cases examined may be linked to notorious serial killer Ivan Milat, who murdered at least seven hitchhikers between 1989 and 1992, including two Britons.

The family of Keren Rowland believes she may have been Milat's first victim. Rowland, 20 and five months pregnant, disappeared in February 1971 in Canberra. Her cousin Dr Andrea Hughes cited "ignorance, poor leadership, parochialism and arrogance" in the investigation.

Forensic criminologist Dr Xanthe Weston testified that Milat was egocentric and lost control after his sister's death, compensating by killing.

Further hearings will be held over the coming months. NSW Police have been contacted for comment.