Police find new evidence in review of 1990 Sarah MacDiarmid cold case murder
EXCLUSIVE: NEW evidence in the 1990 murder of Sarah MacDiarmid has been uncovered during a review of the case by the missing persons squad.
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NEW evidence in the 1990 murder of Sarah MacDiarmid has been uncovered during a review of the case by the missing persons squad.
Squad boss Tim Day on Friday revealed his detectives believe several people saw or heard Ms MacDiarmid being attacked.
Any of those people are eligible for the $1 million reward on offer to solve the MacDiarmid mystery.
Ms MacDiarmid, 23, was abducted from Kananook railway station 27 years ago and her body has not been found.
The potential breakthrough in the cold case came after detectives recently painstakingly sifted through tens of thousands of pieces of old and new information.
“We believe at least one witness has heard the attack on Sarah,” Det-Insp Day told the Herald Sun
READ MORE ON THE MACDIARMID MURDER MYSTERY
“We also believe that as many as three or four people may have seen a related vehicle, the killer and/or the commencement of the attack.
“If you were one of those people who we believe may have seen the offender, or saw the commencement of the attack on Sarah, look inside yourself and find the courage to stand up and be counted — do the right thing.
“You will not be condemned for waiting so long. A grateful family and community will thank you for it.”
Det-Insp Day will on Saturday join Ms MacDiarmid’s parents, Sheila and Peter, at a commemorative plaque unveiling at Kananook station at 11am.
He will use the ceremony to appeal to those with knowledge of Ms MacDiarmid’s disappearance to contact police.
“We know that someone out there has information crucial to this investigation,” Det-Insp Day said.
“Circumstances change in people’s lives. People at times tell the police things that are not quite true — they do so for various reasons.
“People at times pretend not to know anything, they don’t want to get involved. They deny having knowledge of certain events.
“There are many reasons this may occur and I am not here to morally judge anyone for their actions 27 years ago.
“But if you do have information, any information, they we urge you to come forward.”
While there is no evidence linking serial killers Paul Denyer and Bandali Debs to the murder, they are included in the list of possible suspects because of similar crimes they both committed.
Sheila MacDiarmid on Friday told the Herald Sun she tried to visit Denyer in jail to ask him face-to-face if he knows where her daughter’s remains are.
“I suggested to police that if it was possible I would like to speak to Paul Denyer in prison to see what he would say to me, to see if he knew anything about Sarah,” she said.
“But I was told it may not be a very good move so it never happened.
“So instead, while I know there is no firm evidence linking him to Sarah’s disappearance, I still want to make this direct and personal plea to him through the Herald Sun, just in case he does know something.
“Paul, if you know where Sarah’s remains are and can find it within yourself to let us know the location it would mean the world to me and her father Peter, even if you do it anonymously through Crime Stoppers or secretly through one of your visitors,
“There would be no need for anyone to know the information came from you.”
The MacDiarmids made a similar plea in writing to Debs, which he ignored. Denyer has claimed to police that he didn’t murder Ms MacDiarmid.
Det-Insp Day said the MacDiarmid investigation was very much an active one and would remain so until it was solved.
“Investigators, as always, continue to keep an open mind on the potential offender or offenders,” he said.
“Despite what in some peoples’ minds may be an obvious proclivity of Denyer and Debs to commit such crimes, again, investigators remain open minded as to the identity of the offender and will do so until the evidence dictates otherwise.”
Peter MacDiarmid on Friday said he and Sheila continue to hope somebody will come forward one day and reveal what happened to Sarah and where her body is.
“Maybe it will be a deathbed confession,” he said.
“Maybe somebody will feel so guilty about providing a false alibi for a suspect that they will dob in that suspect.”
Mr MacDiarmid said the purpose of Saturday’s Kananook station ceremony was to remove the original plaque from the carpark, which he and his wife will use to create a memorial to their daughter at their home, and replace it with a new one.
The new plaque, which was donated by Frankston council, says: “Sarah MacDiarmid. A dear adored daughter and sister tragically taken from this location on 11th July 1990. Loved always — never forgotten.”
Denyer was originally sentenced to life with no parole in 1993 over the murders of Elizabeth Stevens, 18, Debbie Fream, 22, and Natalie Jayne Russell, 17.
A minimum term of 30 years was later set, making him eligible for release in 2023 at the age of 51.
Four-time killer Debs is serving two life jail terms for the 1988 murders in Moorabbin of policemen Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rod Miller.
Debs was also found guilty of the 1995 murder of Sydney sex worker Donna Hicks, 34, and of killing Melbourne prostitute Kristy Harty, 18, in 1997.
A $1 million reward is available to solve the MacDiarmid case.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersvic.com.au