Murder victim Kade Hall may have been killed by ‘mates’, family says

TAMSIN Derix is convinced her brother Kade Hall was killed by people he knew, possibly some he once classed as mates. Will $1m tempt one to come clean?

18/06/2002: Copy picture of murdered Croydon man Kade Hall. Pic. Mark Smith Pic. Mark Smith

TAMSIN Derix is convinced her brother Kade Hall died at the hands of people he knew, possibly some he once classed as mates.

Now, she hopes the kind of flimsy loyalties of those who led him to death may help bring them to justice.

Police have put a $1 million reward on the table for anyone who can help successfully prosecute the killer or killers.

Mrs Derix knows only too well the quality of people she is talking about.

When 24-year-old gardener Kade disappeared in February 2002, the older sister started asking questions around the Croydon area and was met with worse than a wall of silence.

Threats were made to her life, and those who were meant to be close to Kade told her not to look for answers.

“I knew then and there that I was never going to see my brother again,” she said.

Mrs Derix found out she was heartbreakingly right 15 days later.

Kade’s body, a gunshot wound to the head, was found dumped on the side of the Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd at Kalorama.

Kade’s body was dumped over the side of Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Kalorama in 2002.

“I just hope to God he didn’t know it was coming,” Mrs Derix said.

“The people who took his life were acquaintances, people he knew. He would not get in a car unless he knew the people and trusted them.”

Kade, who lived in Croydon, had a background of substance abuse and low-level drug dealing and it was this lifestyle which almost certainly ended his life.

He had collected heroin from a dealer in the Croydon area shortly before disappearing.

Mrs Derix, now a mother-of-three, said they shared a tough upbringing which probably drove him towards drugs.

“He had demons but he had the most gentle heart and the most gentle soul,” she said.

“Everywhere he worked, people raved about him. We were right on the verge of getting him out of that.”

Kade’s parents and sister make a plea for information in 2002. The plea fell on deaf ears. A big reward might now encourage people with information to come forward.

Mrs Derix said the $1 million reward announced for the cold case gave her fresh hope police can exploit some fluid relationships.

“There’s a whole lot of things that might have changed since 2002,” she said.

“The friendships that were there may not exist 13 years later. The mind boggles that people can hide such horrible secrets.”

Detective Sen-Sgt Boris Buick said the force remained committed to solving Mr Hall’s murder.

“Kade’s sister Tamsin and her children deserve the right to know who is responsible for his death,” Sen-Sgt Buick said.

“Tamsin’s children never got the opportunity to meet Kade. We want them and Tamsin to know he has not been forgotten and we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.”

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.gov.au