Karen Ristevski murder case: Key witness raised crucial info months ago
A KEY witness in the Karen Ristevski murder investigation was spoken to by detectives only in the past week, despite having raised potentially crucial information months ago.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hubby key suspect in Karen Ristevski murder
- The murder case that has captivated Victoria for over a year
- iPad seized from Ristevski’s home includes suspicious Google searches
A KEY witness in the investigation of the murder of Karen Ristevski was spoken to by detectives only in the past week, despite having raised potentially crucial information months ago.
The witness, who reported seeing a black Mercedes-Benz coupe — similar to one owned by Ms Ristevski — at Mount Macedon in June last year, has been spoken to by investigators in recent days.
Detective Inspector Tim Day, of the missing persons squad, confirmed on Thursday that the witness had been spoken to only recently.
Ms Ristevski, 47, vanished on June 29 last year. Her body was found in a shallow bush grave at Macedon Regional Park on February 20.
Det Insp Day said: “The witness has made the observation in the last week of June (2016). That observation has been articulated prior to the discovery of Karen’s body.
“We have only identified the witness in the last week, or I should say, been able to speak to the witness in the last week or so,” he said.
Victoria Police refused on Thursday night to clarify details around the exact time frame of the witness’s statements.
But the witness’s information led on Thursday to a large-scale line search by dozens of police and State Emergency Service personnel of a number of streets in Mount Macedon close to where Ms Ristevski’s body was found.
WE WILL SOLVE KAREN’S MURDER: POLICE
Last month, police released CCTV footage of a car, similar to a black Mercedes-Benz coupe, being driven through Diggers Rest on the day Ms Ristevski vanished.
The witness has told police of seeing a lone male by a parked Mercedes-Benz coupe in the Mount Macedon area.
Police would not say whether the witness could describe the man. But Det Insp Day said the importance of the sighting, 1.5km from where the body was found, could not be overstated.
“Over the last week we’ve spoken with a witness who’s seen a black Mercedes at this location on Childers Rd, facing the wrong way,” he said.
“I understand the witness has seen the vehicle in the last week of June, so we’re trying to narrow down to what day it was,” Det Insp Day said.
“On that basis it’s of significant importance to us, because the credibility is such that the person who called and the witness could not have known the location of Karen’s body.”
Det Insp Day would not be drawn on the number or identity of any suspects, but said: “I have every confidence we will solve this case.”
Borce Ristevski has denied having anything to do with his wife’s death.
Police are appealing for anybody who had seen anything suspicious in the Mount Macedon area to come forward.
Any witnesses should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to crimestoppers.com.au