Cold case playing cards to be rolled out in NSW prisons

The faces of unsolved homicide victims will be featured on playing cards and handed out to inmates in a pilot program.

The faces of unsolved homicide victims will be printed on playing cards and handed out to inmates in a bold bid to generate fresh leads.

For the past several years, Sydney man Paul White has been advocating for the cold case playing card initiative.

Mr White’s wife, Lynette White, was stabbed to death inside their Coogee apartment in June 1973.

The couple’s three-month-old son was asleep in his cot in the next room.

Mrs White’s murder remains unsolved, with a $1 million reward announced in 2018 for crucial information that leads to a conviction.

Paul White, the husband of murdered woman Lynette White, has campaigned for cold case playing cards for several years.

It is understood that earlier this year NSW Police and Corrective Services signed off on the cold case cards initiative, which will feature some of the state’s 600-odd unsolved homicides.

The departments are currently designing a pilot program, which is due to start in September or October this year.

“The idea is that inmates play a game of cards and may see a description or photograph that triggers a memory about a crime they recognise, which they can then report,” a Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said.

The cards will be trialled at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in Silverwater.

“The concept has been utilised by law enforcement agencies both nationally and internationally in an effort to prompt new information relating to unsolved homicide investigations,” Homicide Squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said.

“The NSW Police Force is supportive of the initiative, and together with our partner agencies, are in the process of formulating a pilot program that is expected to be trialled later this year.

Young mother Lynette White was murdered in Coogee in 1973. Pic: News Corp

“Detectives from the Homicide Squad and the Unsolved Homicide Team are strong advocates for families of homicide victims and are open to all opportunities that may help provide much-needed answers.”

The playing cards, which feature a different unsolved case on each card, were rolled out in South Australia in 2015 when the current NSW Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin held the same position in that state.

Over the following four years, investigators received more than 80 calls from prisoners about cases featured on the 52 cards, including information that led to two convictions and other arrests.

Mr White said he contacted Homicide Victims’ Support Group director Martha Jabour after seeing a news story about the cards in SA.

“I strongly believe this should be national,” he said.

“It should be in every state and territory, the reason for that being these people move around and could end up in a prison in Darwin or somewhere else.”

The cold case playing cards are already circulated in Queensland and South Australian prisons. Picture: Jono Searle

In light of the success in South Australia, Mr White hopes the playing cards will provide answers to the families of victims in NSW.

“I am a bit envious of cases that been solved,” he said.

“They have got closure knowing the person or persons who have committed the murder.

“Where as the unsolved murders, the families don’t know. You never really close that book because you’re always wondering who did the murder and why.”

NSW Police Minister David Elliott said the playing cards would be presented in a way that was respectful and effective.

“If this is able to solve even one case, and bring answers to even one family who have lost a loved one, then it will be a worthy effort,” he said.