Police hit back at Sarah Ristevski interview over murder probe claims
As Sarah Ristevski gets set to open up in a TV interview about the handling of the investigation into the murder of her mother, Karen Ristevski, police have lashed out in their own defence.
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Police have defended their Karen Ristevski homicide investigation ahead of expected criticism from her daughter in a big-money TV interview.
Sarah Ristevski, 24, is believed to have outlined grievances against detectives involved in the case in the television appearance.
The Herald Sun understands one allegation is that police threatened to implicate her in the killing if she did not help them with evidence against her father, Borce Ristevski. He eventually admitted to killing Karen, whose body was found dumped at Mount Macedon eight months after she disappeared from their Avondale Heights home in June, 2016.
It is believed Sarah — after years of steadfast media silence — is being paid a six-figure sum to talk on TV about her mother’s death and the impact on her family.
A police source said it was unusual Sarah had aired no complaints until fronting for a paid interview on 60 Minutes, and said she could have been more helpful to the inquiry.
“Borce poisoned her against the police,” the source said. “There was no assistance. It put the investigation behind the Eight ball.”
Police recorded a telephone conversation in 2016 in which Sarah questioned her father over what had happened. She asked why his phone was off for two hours as he drove through Diggers Rest towards Mount Macedon the day Karen disappeared.
Ristevski provided no explanation, saying he was being stitched-up by police.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter, as did a spokesman for Channel 9.
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Ristevski pleaded guilty in March last year, as a Supreme Court trial loomed, to the manslaughter of Karen, his wife of 27 years. But Sarah was still willing to provide character evidence in which she said he was a loving, caring and protective father. Ristevski is serving a 13-year prison term with a minimum of 10.