Net closes on killer in 30-year Whyalla cold case involving businessman Peter Seaford
As major crime detectives close in on the killer of Whyalla businessman Peter Seaford, his partner has revealed she heard his last words before he succumbed to his shocking injuries.
Cold Cases
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Although it has been three decades, Anne Marron can still remember gripping the telephone and listening to the last words her partner Peter Seaford whispered.
The Whyalla businessman knew he was in serious trouble. He was being violently assaulted and in all likelihood, his softly-spoken words were directed at the man who was bashing him.
“You c …, you c…,’’ Peter said before the phone line fell silent.
Peter’s desperate call to Ms Marron lasted just seconds before his voice was silenced. His skull fractured with a blunt instrument, Peter would die from his injuries a few hours later.
“It has been 30 years and a lot of us have just existed in that time, we have not really lived,’’ Ms Marron said.
“They hurt him so much, they did not have to kill him just for the takings of a till, they could have just run away.’’
The murder of 32-year-old Peter Seaford remains one of Whyalla’s saddest mysteries. Speculation within the town has been rife as to who may have been responsible — with Major Crime detectives now closer than ever to a breakthrough in the case.
A review of forensic evidence has resulted in a DNA profile of a male being obtained from an object left at the crime scene and fresh inquiries in the town have advanced the inquiry. Case officer Detective Senior Sergeant John Schneemilch said recent information provided indicates there are still individuals in the local community who can assist the inquiry.
“I am confident we are heading in the right direction. The investigation has some focus,’’ he said.
A well-known local, Peter Seaford was attacked between 4 and 4.45am on March 12, 1989. An hour earlier he had left the unit he shared with Ms Marron in Essington Lewis Ave when an alarm was triggered by a break-in at his service station just 500 metres away.
When he arrived at the business by himself he found a car engine part had been thrown through the front door, smashing it.
Realising he did not have his keys, he rang his partner of five years and asked her to bring the keys to him so he could turn the alarm off.
At that point he became concerned about the cash he had left at his home and returned there for a short time before going back to the service station.
He returned home shortly afterwards after police told him a neighbouring unit had also been broken into. Detectives believe it was when he arrived home again that he disturbed his killers. Despite being attacked, he managed to call the service station, with Ms Marron answering the call.
After listening to his last words, Ms Marron, 58, left the service station and went to her brother’s home, wrongly thinking the caller may have been him. After speaking with him she realised it was Peter and returned to their unit where she found him on the loungeroom floor lying next to the telephone.
“It has been 30 years, but I still carry guilt from that because I did not realise it was Peter straight away,’’ she said.
“His voice was a whisper. It thought it was my brother arguing with his wife. I didn’t even think Peter was in trouble because he was a strong bloke.’’
When police arrived at the scene it was chaotic. His flat had been ransacked and bloody evidence of the violent attack — and Peter’s attempts to defend himself — was evident. He suffered extensive injuries to both arms when defending himself.
Crucially, one of Peter’s attacker’s left a key piece of evidence at the scene — a crude balaclava made from the leg of a pair of tracksuit pants. Detectives believe Peter ripped it from the man’s head during the incident.
And in all likelihood, Peter’s action in ripping it from his attacker’s head during their struggle may have sealed his fate. It is almost certain Peter recognised the man.
“That may have been the catalyst for it being so violent. He has managed to get the disguise off and there is a fair chance he may have known who the attacker was,’’ Det. Snr. Sgt. Schneemilch said.
“It was not a quick attack, the injuries he suffered indicate it was sustained. He has fought back pretty heavily and was being attacked when he managed to make the phone call to the service station.’’ Ms Marron said while Peter was quiet and relatively shy, he was a tough football player and would not hesitate to defend himself.
“I saw his injuries and the state the place was in, he would have fought them off fiercely,’’ she said.
“He has tackled them, he’s has ripped the balaclava off, he knew I was at the service station and that’s why he has rung me.’’
While Mr Seaford’s attackers stole the business takings, between $500 and $1,000, they missed other cash hidden in the unit. Detectives believe more than one person was involved because neighbours heard comments from one man indicating this. Investigations have revealed Mr Seaford’s previous home had been targeted just over 12 months before he was killed, presumably also for the takings from the service station.
“He was in the habit of taking cash from the business home. A limited number of people would have known this,’’ Det. Sen. Sgt. Schneemilch said.
Last August a DNA profile was obtained from an object located within the unit, prompting fresh inquiries. Further forensic tests are underway that should also assist the inquiry.
“It has given a positive direction for the investigation to follow,’’ Det. Sen. Sgt Schneemilch said.
“There is still quite a bit of work to be done to establish the actual connection between any results from forensic material.’’
While the case is 30 years old, police are still receiving information from members of the local community who have knowledge of it.
On February 17 a person emailed crimestoppers anonymously and provided detailed information on the case that closely aligns with current lines of investigation.
“The information provided suggests they have a knowledge of the murder and it directly relates to the direction of the investigation, the group of people we are looking at,’’ Det. Snr Sgt Schneemilch said.
“I would urge that person to contact us again, either directly or through crimestoppers.’’
A reward of up to $200,000 is available for anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction in the case.