Karen Ristevski’s mechanic contradicts faulty fuel gauge claim
A MECHANIC who serviced murdered mother Karen Ristevski’s car has made a startling revelation about the case. And the new clue contradicts husband Borce’s claims.
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A MECHANIC who serviced murdered mum Karen Ristevski’s car has contradicted her husband Borce’s claim that it had a faulty fuel gauge on the day she disappeared.
The Herald Sun can reveal police quizzed the Keilor East mechanic last Friday about the Mercedes-Benz which belongs to the Ristevskis.
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The mechanic told the Herald Sun he had worked on Ms Ristevski’s car for a number of years and neither Mr Ristevski nor his wife had ever said there were any problems with the gauge.
“I told the detective, in the last three years I haven’t touched that car and he’s (Borce) never asked me to fix any faulty fuel gauge,” he said.
“In all my time working on Mercedes-Benz cars, I’ve never come across this type of problem before.”
Investigators are placing huge significance on the distinctive Mercedes coupe as a clue.
Last year, shortly after his wife disappeared, Mr Ristevski told detectives he had driven the car on June 29 — the day his wife vanished — to test a faulty fuel gauge.
He told police that earlier that day his wife had left the family home in Avondale Heights after an argument over money.
Mr Ristevski said he drove the Mercedes as far as the Calder Park Raceway before hitting a bump in the road, which caused the fault to correct itself. He U-turned and returned home to Avondale Heights.
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Detectives have staged a re-enactment of the route they believe Mrs Ristevski’s murderer may have taken to Mt Macedon, where the 47-year-old’s body was found in bushland on February 20.
Police did tests on a black Mercedes identical to the one owned by Mrs Ristevski on August 30. Extensive forensic testing has also been done on the Ristevski Mercedes.
The mechanic, who asked not to be named, confirmed to the Herald Sun that he specialises in Mercedes.
He said detectives visited him last Friday.
“I don’t want to get too much involved in this ... but the police asked me about the car,” he said.
The mechanic said he last saw Mr Ristevski a few weeks ago, and he had seemed fine.
“He came in with a Volkswagen and asked me to top up the engine and fix a numberplate light. He told me the police still have the Merc.
“Borce said he had started working for a road crew as a traffic controller just to get himself out the house,” the mechanic said.
In June, the Herald Sun revealed that CCTV had caught a black Mercedes-Benz SLK coupe being driven through Diggers Rest, towards Mt Macedon, on June 29 last year.
Detectives have been unable to verify who was driving it.
Also in late June last year, a black Mercedes was seen in the vicinity of Childers Rd and Mt Macedon Rd, near where Mrs Ristevski’s body was found.
On Saturday, the Herald Sun revealed that Mrs Ristevski’s family was seeking closure, almost 15 months after she vanished.
Relatives said that in the weeks leading up to her disappearance she had appeared happily married and was dedicated to her daughter Sarah and her work.
Mrs Ristevski’s aunt, Marguerite, said: “We just want closure and we want answers.
“What happened?
“I can’t thank the police enough for what they have been doing,” she said.
“There will come a day when we get a phone call from the police to say they are at the next level. That’s what is giving us a lot strength at the moment — knowing that will happen.
“They are not going to let it go. It will not become a cold case. That’s what keeps us going ...
“Hopefully it will not be too much longer.”
A Victoria Police spokesman, Acting Senior Sergeant Anita Brens, said: “Missing Persons Squad detectives continue to investigate.”
Anyone with any information about the Karen Ristevski murder should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersvic.com.au