$1M on offer for information on Bulli Tops cold case murder, dating back to 1984
The NSW Government is offering $1 million for new evidence on the case of murdered horse trainer George Brown, found brutally beaten and burnt in his car after a horse he trained ran suspiciously slow.
Illawarra Star
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On the 35th anniversary of horse trainer’s murder, police have announced a $1 million NSW government reward for information.
The body of George Brown, 38, was found in a burnt-out Ford Falcon sedan in bushland at Bulli Tops just before 11pm on April 2, 1984.
Mr Brown died from head injuries inflicted prior to the vehicle fire.
Mr Brown trained a horse named Risley, which was rated a good chance by bookmakers at Doomben in Queensland on March 31, 1984.
Homicide Squad boss detective Superintendent Scott Cook said he thought the fact Risley finished at the back of the pack was “significant” in Mr Brown’s murder.
“The horse underperformed on the day, so much so that it was noticed by quite a number of people, and we can’t explain the background to that,” Supt Cook said today.
He said as witnesses aged, detectives were zeroing in on anyone involved in race-fixing in the mid-1980s.
“We’re particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have been involved in race fixing or the races around that time … we really want to leave no stone unturned,” he said.
Mr Brown left his stable’s at Rosebery just before 8pm on April 2, two days after Risley’s bad run.
He had just spoken to a horse owner on the phone and police believe he was going to make a short visit to someone on the way home. He never made it.
About 11pm that night, Mr Brown’s remains were found with broken legs, a badly injured shoulder and head injuries in his burnt-out Ford sedan in Bulli Tops.
“You could say he was tortured quite severely,” Supt Cook said.
Local and Homicide Squad detectives conducted numerous inquiries at the time and in the years following however, no one has ever been charged for his murder.
In 2009, detectives from the Homicide Squad’s Unsolved Homicide Unit established Strike Force Comboyne to reinvestigate the circumstances surrounding Mr Brown’s murder.
In acknowledgment of today’s 35-year anniversary and to assist with ongoing inquiries, a $1 million NSW Government reward has been announced.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, said detectives would welcome any information from the community which may help provide answers to Mr Brown’s family.
“We know George Brown worked at the horse stables at Rosebery throughout the day and evening where he was last seen 35 years ago, but he did not arrive at his Kensington home as planned,” Det Supt Cook said.
“Investigators are also interested in the movements of Mr Brown’s vehicle, a 1973 green Ford Falcon sedan with NSW registration ‘GMH 498’, so if anyone remembers seeing that car, we would like to speak to you,” Det Supt Cook said.
Mr Brown’s sister, Jean O’Leary, said the family have never given up hope of finding out what happened 35 years ago.
“I had a very close relationship with my brother, George, and helped raise him after our mother died,” Mrs O’Leary said.
“George was a good man and his death has impacted our entire family.
“Every year since he was murdered, I have hoped that someone would come forward because it’s the right thing to do.
“This year, now there is a $1 million reward on the table, I am pleading with anyone who knows something to contact the police,” Mrs O’Leary said.
IN OTHER NEWS
Police have considered links between Mr Brown’s death and the infamous Fine Cotton affair.
Fine Cotton was a brown gelding who was secretly substituted out of a race at Eagle Farm — located across the road from Doomben racecourse — in August 1984, just months after Mr Brown’s death.
The plan came to pieces when the victorious ring-in horse, Bold Personality, was seen to have paint dripping down its leg.
Police hope a $1 million reward for information leading to a conviction over Mr Brown’s death is enough to entice anyone with information about race-fixing or his finals movements to come forward.
The reward can be provided to anyone who has information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for Mr Brown’s death.