Michael Griffey mysteriously murdered in his home 10 years ago

THE killer of a rich businessman remains a mystery, despite a murder confession and charges laid against his estranged wife.

Katrina Fitzpatrick, sister of Michael Griffey, holds a photo. Police allege Griffey was murdered on New Year's Eve, 2006.

MICHAEL Griffey’s murder has been one of Victoria’s most mysterious unsolved riddles for a decade. It is like a real-life game of Cluedo.

He was a rich businessman, lived in a house with a pool and a tennis court and had his beloved Monaro parked in the garage.

On New Year’s Eve in 2005, he was mysteriously killed in his family’s Pakenham home.

His body, which was bludgeoned to death, lay undiscovered in the garage while his family threw a party at the home to ring in the new year.

Days later, his estranged wife and daughter found him pinned to the cold concrete floor, dried blood beside him.

He was wrapped in a striped sheet and hidden beneath a tarpaulin.

The murderer stole Mr Griffey’s wallet and his mobile phone and oddly tore two pages from a diary.

About $1000 was also stolen from a safe that had a combination only three people knew.

He had two life insurance policies valued at $1.54 million, his estranged wife Diane was the beneficiary.

Cassandra Griffey confessed to killing her father but police did not believe she was credible.

She was charged with his murder in 2007 — she spoke of the body being wrapped in a striped sheet, though there was evidence to suggest it was not visible beneath the tarpaulin and she had not touched the body.

Text messages were also sent to her phone from Mr Griffey the day he died.

The case against her, however, was dropped before it went to trial due to a lack of evidence proving her as the killer.

Suspicion then turned to Mr Griffey’s son Kenny, a race car driver. He denied any involvement and it was never taken further.

Aerial views of the home of murdered Pakenham man Michael Griffey.

The next twist in the story was a shock confession from his daughter Cassandra. But police decided her version of events was not credible and she was never charged.

Mr Griffey owned a transport company and police found it was facing financial hardship in the months leading up to the murder.

In 2008 The Weekend Australian revealed the company owed $1 million to the tax office and more than $100,000 to other creditors.

Mr Griffey also had a mistress of five years, Gillian Gould, and a statement by the victim’s best friend said he had many affairs and complained about his estranged wife’s financial dealings — she had been warned about writing cheques that had been dishonoured.

Despite the marital problems, Mr Griffey and his wife continued to have a sexual relationship until he was killed.

A relieved Diane Griffey leaves the Supreme Court after charges against her and her children were dropped for the murder of her husband Michael Griffey in December 2005.

Speaking to the media this morning from Victoria Police headquarters, Mr Griffey’s sister Katrina Fitzpatrick clutched a chain, the only lasting memento she has of her brother.

She believes she knows who murdered Mr Griffey and is frustrated by a lack of evidence.

“It’s been really hard,” she said. “I hold onto this chain, it’s the last thing my brother gave me, he always told me how much he loved me.”

Ms Fitzpatrick said she got the sense Mr Griffey knew he was in danger when she last saw him the month before he was killed.

“He told me he loved me and started to cry,” she said.

Ms Fitzpatrick said she screamed when she opened the newspapers to find his daughter confessed to the murder. She believes the daughter was protecting the real killer.

Michael Griffey’s sister Katrina Fitzpatrick is calling for his killer to come forward. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Ms Fitzpatrick said her brother never “knocked” his family and would never say a bad word about his estranged wife.

He was a “go-getter” and passionate about helping the Pakenham community and Ms Fitzpatrick said people took advantage of her brother, treating him like a cash cow.

Ten Christmases without Mr Griffey have passed, Ms Fitzpatrick still weeps for him and she said the mystery hung over her every day.

Michael Griffey’s coffin is carried out of his funeral.

She begged her brother’s murderer to come forward and said 10 years was too long to live without closure.

“Don’t just sit there and think you’ve got away with it because you haven’t,” she said.

“At the end of the day you need to come forward, you’ve got to live with this for the rest of your life.

“Guilt is going to get you so please come forward for my family, especially my mum.

“I just can’t get it out of my mind. Whoever it is, you have a meal and have Christmas knowing that you’ve killed my brother.”

Detective Sergeant Martin Robertson said there were several persons of interest and called for anybody with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.