Cops had CCTV of Audrey Griffin and her alleged killer Adrian Torrens for 3 weeks

Police had crucial CCTV evidence leading them to the alleged murderer of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin for three weeks before they realised they had it.

Crucial CCTV vision showing Audrey Griffin walking a few hundred metres ahead of her alleged killer in the minutes before she died was in the hands of police for three weeks before they launched a murder investigation – but they had no clue they had it.

The extraordinary revelations about the pace of the homicide investigation, which was launched after the CCTV footage was released to the public, come as Premier Chris Minns conceded he understood why many women don’t feel safe on the streets.

The Saturday Telegraph can now reveal Adrian Torrens’ lengthy criminal history – after he took his own life in his prison cell – including at least one jail term for violence.

The 53-year-old had also been spared jail time in January for domestic violence-related offences.

Ms Griffin was killed after leaving a celebration and walking alone at 2am from the Hotel Gosford on March 23.

Audrey Griffins was just 19 when she was murdered. Picture: Facebook

Audrey dancing with her grandfather, who died on Saturday. Picture: Facebook

Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the officers involved in the drawn-out investigation had her “full confidence and support”, noting they released the footage the same day they realised they had it.

That footage of Ms Griffin and Torrens was sourced from East Gosford’s Elanora Hotel on March 24, the day after the teen’s body was found less than 1km away in Erina Creek.

The CCTV image that led police to arrest Adrian Torrens. Torrens was found dead in his jail cell on Thursday. Picture: Supplied

However, investigators did not discover the footage of the pair, which showed them walking in the same direction and within just a few hundred metres of each other, until April 17 – more than three weeks after first sourcing it.

The footage, placed on social media and on a police news website but not sent out as part of a statewide release to news organisations, was uploaded after 6pm on April 17 – the night before the four-day Easter long weekend.

It was that footage that prompted several witnesses to come forward about Torrens and turned the coronial investigation into a homicide probe after revelations were aired that the 53-year-old had confessed.

Police sources claimed the vital footage was among hundreds of hours of footage police trawled through.

“The footage in question was found and released to the public the same day. I am happy with the response, given the volume of material they had to go through,” Ms Webb said.

“The image was released on Thursday and the alleged offender was locked up on Monday morning. That’s good police work.

“The focus should be on the fact this was a horrible, horrible thing to happen to an innocent young woman who was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“The focus should be on the family and friends and their welfare dealing with such an absolutely horrible tragedy.”

Eleanor Owrid attended a memorial for her uni friend Audrey on Terrigal Beach on Thursday night. Picture: Damian Shaw

It can be revealed twin coronial investigations are now expected to be held – one into the circumstances surrounding Ms Griffin’s murder and the police investigation and a second into how Torrens was able to take his life three days after being arrested.

Revelations of his criminal history has sparked outrage, with vigils, planned protests and calls for government to be tougher on violence against women.

Attorney-General Michael Daley revealed he has now requested transcripts of Torrens’ recent court appearance in January, where he was placed on a 18-month good behaviour bond for contravening an AVO and using a carriage service to menace.

Mr Daley condemned the “senseless killing,” promising to “strongly consider” any recommendations made by the Coroner following an expected inquiry into Ms Griffin’s death.

“We understand the pain, anger and frustration being felt by so many right now,” he said.

“The death of Adrian Torrens will make it more challenging to piece together exactly what happened that night. But the NSW Police and the government remain determined to provide whatever answers we can to her family.”

Mr Minns said it was “concerning” a man serving a community corrections order murdered Ms Griffin. “I can understand why many women would be concerned today,” he said.

The Premier vowed the government would do everything it could to deliver justice to Audrey’s family.

Ms Griffin’s family were notified of Torrens’ death after they had attended a vigil on Terrigal Beach on Thursday.

In a sickening blow, Audrey’s mum on Friday revealed her own father had died in recent days.

“Will forever be grateful for the love, support and life journeys you have shown Audrey and I,” she said in a post online.

“I will miss you every day, but will have comfort knowing you and Audrey will be my guardian angels and will be with me every day.”

In relation to the CCTV discovery delay, senior police close to the case said they acted swiftly.

“The minute they had a person of interest they acted swiftly, using technology and on-the-ground investigative techniques to gather evidence,” said one senior officer said.

“It’s damaging to Audrey’s memory to suggest police didn’t do everything they could to find out how she died and bring her killer to justice” and said it was “offensive” to suggest the investigation was anything other than “well-managed, sensitively handled”.

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