The assassination of Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester remains unsolved despite calls to reopen the case.

The 1989 assassination of top cop Colin Winchester remains one of Australia’s most high profile unsolved murders and yet there seems little interest by the AFP in reopening the case.

It may be one of the highest profile unsolved murders in Australia but in the hallowed halls of the Australian Federal Police there is little interest in looking into the 1989 assassination of Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester.

When Mr Winchester was executed with two shots at close range to the back of the head, it was the Commonwealth arm of the then fledgling force that first looked into mafia links for prime suspects.

As revealed by News Corp Australia, it is the names of suspects initially identified at the time of Mr Winchester’s murder that have emerged again as the AFP look into the entrenchment of the ‘Nrandgheta mafia in this country at all levels of society.

Even revelations on Sunday of an alleged mafia mole allegedly working in the top echelons of law enforcement in this country for decades involved in the Winchester investigation – and still niente (nothing) from the AFP.

And you have to wonder why.

At the very least you would think the AFP would take a ‘case-never-closed’ attitude over the murder of one of their own but no, not even in light of revelations over the past three days by News Corp Australia will they reopen a case file.

And in a statement issued on Sunday night, the AFP declared there was no open investigation into the Winchester matter and “no recent” review.

“Our thoughts are always with the Winchester family,” a spokesperson said.

Despite the AFP’s own intelligence and reports on the ‘ndrangheta referencing the Italian Mafia and the Winchester case including reports from Italian counterparts, the spokesperson said there “is no evidence to suggest Italian organised crime was responsible for the death of one of our own”.

The slaying strikes at the very heart of Australia’s rule of law, a cop killed while pursuing organised crime only to be executed on a driveway outside his home.

Former Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester. Picture: Supplied

It makes no sense and needs a higher authority such as a national integrity body Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Government has pledged to create this year, to ask why.

There was an arrest and a conviction of a disgruntled public servant for the Winchester killing before in 2019 the police case was found flawed and encumbered with dubious evidence and testimonies including by AFP officers.

But that should not just close the file.

The AFP national, led by Commissioner Reece Kershaw, said it was no longer a matter for them but rather the ACT police, largely tasked with keeping civil order in the nation’s capital.

“As this is a matter for ACT Police we will have to refer you to them,” a spokesman said, helpfully providing an email address.

For its part, ACT AFP said it too was no longer actively pursuing the case anymore, despite their headquarters, the Winchester Police Centre, named after their slain boss.

“ACT Policing does not have an active investigation into the murder of Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester,” a spokesman said.

“Any new information in relation to this incident would be assessed and acted on if appropriate.”

A senior police officer yesterday said no-one should be too surprised.

“They love to see themselves on the Today Show but that’s about it,” they said.

“No one will want to open the cupboard, they are not too sure what it will be they will find.”

Originally published as The assassination of Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester remains unsolved despite calls to reopen the case.