Fresh investigation into Mackay gambling boss Antonio Saliba’s death
Investigators have returned to the site where a Qld dad’s horrifically injured body was found. His death was ruled non-suspicious, but his family believe it was murder.
Four decades after Antonio Saliba suffered a gruesome death, investigators have returned to the scene where his family believe he was murdered.
The Mackay father ran an illegal gaming and prostitution hall and allegedly paid off corrupt police to turn a blind eye.
‘Burra’, 45, was found dead at his hobby farm at Cameron’s Pocket, near Calen, in June 1983 having suffered horrific injuries including his head being “smashed to pieces” and massive crush injuries to his chest.
At the time his death was ruled as non-suspicious, the result of a horseriding incident, but his family including Townsville-based nephew Danny Meares have always believed it was murder.
Mr Meares has spearheaded a relentless push for answers that resulted in Attorney-General Deb Frecklington ordering a new investigation by Central Coroner David O’Connell.
A Coroners Court of Queensland spokesman confirmed “investigatory steps are still continuing” in relation to Mr Saliba’s death probe.
“In accordance with the usual coronial practice we are unable to advise of, nor comment on, the details of any specific steps being undertaken,” the CCQ spokesman said.
However it is understood this included visiting the site where Burra’s body was found.
“Not a day goes past without me thinking about Burra,” Mr Meares told this publication.
“For the past 40 years we all felt there was something more.
“I’m feeling hopeful that finally we will get answers … and closure for the family.”
At the time of his death Burra had been running a gambling house, with billiards at the front and gambling at the back.
A newspaper article about the death, published in the mid 1990s, reported that the Fitzgerald Inquiry had heard that for about 20 years Burra “had been paying protection money so that police would turn a blind eye to his gambling and prostitution involvement”.
It also stated two witnesses had claimed two assailants may have beaten him to death with a hammer.
Mr Meares believed his uncle may have been struck by a car and the scene later framed to look like a horse riding incident.
He said there were still family members living in Mackay who were haunted by the death, adding he spoke with them every week.
“He was like a brother. I grew up always around him until I left Mackay when I was about 14,” Mr Meares said about his uncle.
He had been living in Sydney working in the restaurant industry when Burra died. He said “it was just devastating to hear that”.
While Mr Saliba’s final resting place is in the Mackay region, Mr Meares said there had been no rest for his family.
“I visit his grave every now and then … hopefully there will be closure for the family.”
Mr Meares said despite finding success as a restaurateur it would be more to him “to get justice for Burra”.
“I just hope that I can die knowing what happened,” he said.
Mr Meares has urged anyone with information about his uncle’s death to come forward and stated that all information was being treated in complete confidentiality.
