Raymond Keam murder: $1 million reward in gay hate death

The son of a man killed more than 30 years ago in what is understood to have been a hate crime has made an emotional plea to help find those responsible.

The son of a man killed in what is thought to be a hate bashing has pleaded with the public to help find his dad’s murderer.

In an emotional press conference, Raymond Keam’s son Dane spoke of the pain of knowing his dad’s killer was free.

“I grew up without a father figure and have missed out on sharing great life experiences with him while the person responsible is out there,” he said.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him and that also means there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about the coward who brutally attacked and murdered him.”

He was speaking on the day police offered a $1 million reward for information that leads to those responsible.

Raymond Keam, 43, was brutally bashed to death, with his body found at Alison Park in Randwick in the early hours of January 1987.

The NSW Police Force will announce a $1 million reward for information into the murder of Raymond Keam more than 34 years ago. Picture: NSW Police

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Keam, who held a black belt in karate, died from severe head injuries.

More than 34 years after his death, no one has been charged.

The public toilets at Alison Park were a known gay beat, with men believed to be gay often assaulted and robbed at the location.

A year after his death, a Coronial Inquest determined that Mr Keam had died from being struck by one or more people.

The body of Raymond Keam – then aged 43 – was located by a member of the public in grass at the northern end of Alison Park at Randwick, about 6.15am on Tuesday 13 January 1987. Picture: NSW Police

Raymond Keam, 43, a martial arts expert, was savagely bashed in Alison Park. Picture: Supplied

In 2019, NSW Police reviewed the case, with detectives under Strike Force Augenaut subsequently reopening investigations into the unsolved murder.

Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said the case had developed since 2019 and officers are now following a number of lines of inquiry.

“Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have been a victim of an assault or who may have witnessed assaults at Alison Park, Randwick, in the years prior to and after Raymond’s death,” he said.

“After more than three decades, investigators hope to be able to provide Raymond’s family – including his four children – with some answers.”

Dane told how he was just three at the time of his father’s killing and how he had to learn about him through the memory of others.

Raymond Keam's son Dane speaks at the press conference.

“Some of my family members were so scared they shut down at the mention of his name,” he said of the violent nature of his death.

He added: “As a teen I would go to very dark places and do very stupid things as a way of dealing with what happened to my father.

“This was only exacerbated by reading media report about how his death was linked to the Sydney gay bashings which swept through Sydney in the 1980s and 1990s.

“As a gay man myself this was heartbreaking.”

He added: “My grandparents passed away not knowing what happened to their only son so I hope my family can finally have some closure from this horrible chapter in our lives - although it will never bring him back.”

Dane’s sister Stephanie was just 15 when her father was killed.

She remembered him as an intelligent and witty man.

She added: “A lot has been lost since this happened ... I urge anyone who knows anything to please come forward and just put this to rest.”

Police Minister David Elliott said Mr Keam’s death came at a “dark and violent period” when people were dismissive of suspected hate crimes.

He added: “NSW Police have been working tirelessly to ensure every possible resource available is utilised when reviewing and reinvestigating these cases.

“It is my hope that the NSW government’s $1 million reward will encourage any member of the public that may have information about Raymond’s murder – no matter how big or small – will come forward.”