Stacey Klimovitch murder: Police identify Holden Commodore used in Stockton murder
Stacey Klimovitch was killed with a single shotgun blast when she answered her door in a targeted hit. Investigators hunting her assassin have now made a major breakthrough.
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Detectives investigating the shotgun assassination of Stockton grandmother Stacey Klimovitch have made a major breakthrough in the hunt for her killer, identifying the car used by the shooter to escape from the peninsula after the cold-blooded murder.
Strike Force Backhouse investigators are certain a dark coloured 2013-2017 Holden Commodore VF SSV V8 sedan is closely linked to the killer and, possibly, any accomplices.
They have also confirmed they had been unable to find any similar registered models in question that had been stolen at the time or remained outstanding, suggesting the owner of the car either knows the killer or has a connection.
Ms Klimovitch, 61, was killed with a single shotgun blast as she answered the door to her Queen St residence just after 8pm on June 9 – the night of the first State of Origin.
The popular grandmother and swimming teacher was at home with her daughter, Alex, and young grandchild when she was assassinated in the targeted hit.
Both Alex and the child were not injured.
Some 20 weeks after the slaying, and after painstaking work by Strike Force Backhouse investigators, the news of the car is the first major revelation regarding the murder since it occurred.
Detectives have also released an image of a car similar to that used “in the commission of the offence’’.
“Strike force detectives believe the vehicle is linked to persons involved in the shooting, either directly or through a third party,’’ a police statement said.
“Investigators are appealing to anyone who may have noticed a vehicle matching this description in and around the area at the time of the homicide to contact Newcastle police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.’’
A motive for the murder has not been made public, however senior police have repeatedly confirmed their suspicions that it was a targeted attack.
Detectives spent weeks performing a detailed “victimology” analysis to help paint a picture of Ms Klimovitch in the hope it could also uncover who may have wanted her dead.
And Newcastle City commander Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey told media in the days following the death that police had found some footage of the suspected killer as they scanned CCTV video of home security cameras located at residences near the crime scene.
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