Key question for investigators after body found in shallow grave on Glenorie property

After the body of John “Fingers” Birch was found in a shallow grave in Sydney’s north west, police are investigating whether he was hit by a car. But a bigger question remains.

The body of a man, John Birch, suspected to have died after been hit by a car was found in a shallow grave at Glenorie.

Skid marks on the road and a damaged car found on the property he had visited are leading police to investigate whether a man buried in a shallow grave in Sydney’s north west, was killed after being hit by a car.

The bigger question however, is if John “Fingers” Birch’s death was deliberate or accidental.

Birch had travelled almost an hour from St Marys to a home on Gleness Pl, in Glenorie, in the middle of last week to visit people he knew.

But when he had not returned by 9pm on Thursday, his girlfriend raised the alarm, filing a missing persons report with NSW Police, and in doing so informed them where he had been heading when he was last heard from.

Police sources said suspicions were raised by local investigators from the Hills District Police Area Command after they arrived at the property the next day.

Johnny Birch, identified as a man found dead in shallow grave at Glenorie.

Investigations soon led them to discover a car with damage to its front, before skid marks were spotted on the road outside on Gleness Pl.

Not long later, Birch’s body was found buried in a shallow grave on another property a few hundred metres way on Cattai Ridge Rd, covered not only by dirt but other objects.

Police block traffic near the scene where the body was found last week. Picture: NewsWire/ Sam Ruttyn

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore told a press conference on Friday that police believed Birch may have been missing “for a couple of days” before his girlfriend notified police.

A 24-year-old man and a man and woman, aged 34 and 35 – who are understood to have been in a relationship – were arrested by police on Friday.

“We believe they were known (to Birch) and do have some further information that they can offer to our investigation,” Det Supt Moore said.

But more than 12 hours later, after being questioned by investigators, all three were released without charge.

Three people were arrested on Friday but were later released without charge. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I know the people who lived in the property were renters, there’s never really been any trouble with them,” a neighbouring resident of Gleness Pl said.

Birch had a long criminal history and is understood to have served prison time over drug related offences.

While he was known within criminal circles as “fingers”, friends described him as a “family man” who had “made a couple of mistakes”.

John Birch was known by the nickname ‘Fingers’ within criminal circles.

Birch had a two-year-old daughter, with friends setting up a GoFundMe page to support her and his current partner.

Police have formed Strike Force Halderen to investigate the 39-year-old’s death, with local detectives now joined by specialists from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad to answer the many remaining questions.

One of those – how Birch died – will hopefully be answered early this week, when they receive the results of a post-mortem examination.

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