Fifteen year murder mystery of Sydney teenager Nathan Garriock
A NEW groundbreaking podcast series investigates what happened on the night of June 14, 2003 to uncover who is responsible for the death of 17-year old Nathan Garriock. LISTEN TO EPISODE ONE NOW
True Crime
Don't miss out on the headlines from True Crime. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NATHAN Garriock had just turned 17 when he was killed at his best friend’s party in Camden.
Hundreds of people were at the birthday bash, but no one admits seeing what happened to Nathan — and police have never charged anyone over his death.
Everyone was drunk. 15 years have passed. And the bonds of mateship are so powerful that even today, the people who know the truth are scared to talk.
IT was supposed to be the party of the year.
Nathan Garriock’s best mate Jay Kneller was turning eighteen and he planned to celebrate with an epic party at his parents place in Camden, in south western Sydney, on June 14, 2003.
Some teen gatecrashers arrive and are asked to leave, which they do uneventfully. Until just after midnight when seven men aged in their 20s waltz down the driveway, one of them carrying a box of Jim Beam and cola cans.
It’s immediately apparent the men aren’t invited. It’s not only their age, which is at least five years older than the teens at the party, but the car racing and sports-branded clothing they are wearing is in stark contrast to the skater and surfing logos worn by the teens.
The geographical and social-economic divide is palatable. Someone yells out “f**k off Westies”.
The gatecrashers are told to leave and instantly a fight erupts.
Partygoers who had been dancing in the backyard now charge up the side of the house to confront the gatecrashers.
They arm themselves with 4x2 planks of wood taken from the pile being used for the bonfire.
In the confusion people hit each other, unsure who the gatecrashers are, adrenaline blurring their judgment.
The fight spills out of the front yard on to the road and 100 metres down the road.
No one notices the car lights racing towards a crowd standing in a ditch a few houses down from Jay’s place. Bodies bounced off the car.
Dozens of ambulances arrive to take the injured to hospital while the other kids frantically call their parents to come and pick them up.
But Nathan Garriock never made it home.
At 1.37am on June 15, 2003, Nathan is pronounced dead at Camden Hospital.
His death certificate says he was found at the scene of a MVA (motor vehicle accident) vs crowd and the cause of death is head injuries
But evidence comes to light that Nathan died from a closed head injury, suffering blunt force trauma unlikely to be caused by a car.
The family are confused. Was it the driver who killed their son or someone else? They wait for answers. And they are still waiting.
DOWNLOAD AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE INVESTIGATIVE PODCAST
If you know anything about the death of Nathan Garriock, you can make an anonymous phone call to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
or email nicole.hogan@news.com.au