Police hope $1m reward can solve the 20-year murder mystery of Ricky Balcombe
POLICE are hoping a $1 million reward will bring to justice the person who killed a teenage boy 20 years ago. | Search our Cold Case Files
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POLICE are hoping a $1 million reward will bring to justice the person who killed a teenage boy 20 years ago.
A man in a hoodie stabbed Ricky Balcombe, 16, in the leg and chest in front of his best mate and stunned bystanders.
Ricky’s friend narrowly escaped after being chased through Geelong streets.
Charges against Karl Hague over the May 5, 1995, killing were dropped in 1998, nine days before a Supreme Court trial was to start, after the overdose deaths of two witnesses.
Ricky’s mother, Christine Loader, pleaded with Mr Hague, who is now a father of two, to speak with police.
“He has a family,” she said.
“He needs to take a good hard look at them, hug them and keep them close to his heart, and maybe that will convince him to come forward and do the right thing,” Ms Loader said through tears.
“Even if he says it’s not him, he should clear his name and say what he knows.
“I have to go to heaven because where I am right now is hell, but hopefully not before I get justice for my son.
“This is hell on Earth and I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy,” she said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Boris Buick said an application had been made to increase the reward to $1 million — up from the $50,000 currently on offer.
“It’s our view that the original suspect remains the person of interest,” he said.
“There will be people out there who know what happened to Ricky — probably from the mouth of the killer.”
Sen-Sgt Buick said of the case that “it was close (to being solved) but not quite there”.
He hoped a bigger cash offer would persuade a witness to come forward.
Gang warfare is believed to have led to the slaying.
Police say there had been a hierarchical dispute between a “red bandanna” gang and a “blue bandanna” gang.
Many of those then involved with the gangs had not wanted to inform on others, and some of them had also been involved with illicit drugs.
Also hindering the police investigation was the fact that CCTV cameras in the shopping centre were out of order on the day of the murder.
Ms Loader said those who held the clues to solving the crime should see the 20th anniversary of Ricky’s death as a chance for them to clear their conscience.
“Now is the time to open up your heart and let my son get to rest and for me to get some closure,” she said.
“A beautiful soul was taken.”
Twitter: @AleksDevic
UNSOLVED DATABASE: Find the Ricky Balcombe case in the Cold Case Files