Gold Coast man Gofal Baziad charged with 2004 murder of Jason Palmer in southwest Sydney
A Gold Coast man has been arrested in southwest Sydney and charged with the alleged murder of Jason Palmer whose body was found in a river more than 20 years ago.
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A Gold Coast man has been arrested in southwest Sydney and charged with the alleged murder of Jason Palmer whose body was found in a river more than 20 years ago.
Mr Palmer, 34, was reported missing on February 8, 2004, having been last seen leaving his Belfield home two days prior. Three weeks later, Mr Palmer’s body was found weighed down with rocks and submerged in the Nepean River at Menangle.
A post-mortem examination determined Mr Palmer died as a result of multiple stab wounds.
A 2007 inquest found Mr Palmer’s death was caused by stab wounds inflicted by a person at a unit on Barremma Rd, Lakemba, and the case was referred to the Unsolved Homicide Team for reinvestigation.
In 2022, detectives from the Unsolved Homicide Team commenced an assessment of the investigation which led to the reinvestigation under Strike Force Blair.
On Monday, after extensive inquiries, police arrested Gofal Baziad following a vehicle stop on Benson Rd, Ingleburn, just before 2pm on Monday.
The 52-year-old from Mudgeeraba was taken to Campbelltown police station and charged with murder.
Police allege the two men were known to each other and the murder occurred between February 7 and 29 in 2004.
Baziad did not apply for bail when the matter was mentioned in Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday with the magistrate formally denying it.
The matter was adjourned and will be mentioned in Burwood Local Court on August 18.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty, paid tribute to the persistence and focus of detectives in what was a complex investigation.
“It’s been 20 years since Mr Palmer, who was originally from the UK, is alleged to have been murdered. He was a husband and father, and police had always remained hopeful of an arrest,” he said.
“This arrest once again demonstrates that investigators will not rest until there’s a resolution for unsolved matters, and to provide answers to families.”
Originally published as Gold Coast man Gofal Baziad charged with 2004 murder of Jason Palmer in southwest Sydney
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