Startling twist in one of Sydney underworld’s biggest mysteries

Former cop reveals twist in one of Sydney underworld's biggest mysteries

Words: Tom Gilling Producer: Louise Starkey

The grisly murder of Brian Alexander — a legal clerk, known for providing legal representation for drug couriers and others who had been arrested — remains one of the biggest mysteries of Sydney's underworld.

Forty years on from his disappearance, an ever-changing story of the then 42-year-old’s death has been told countless times, including in ABC mini series Blue Murder. Blue Murder Two-part Australian TV series Video: YouTube | Plain Sight Productions

Arthur Stanley "Neddy" Smith's "autobiography", Neddy: the Life and Crimes of Arthur Stanley Smith , divulged details of Alexander's final moments, where he was taken out through Sydney Heads, strapped to a stove and pushed over the side.

It was alleged the criminal had nothing to do with it and that he was on a fishing trip with "a few detectives". However, former Melbourne constable Laurie remembered things differently.

Speaking to The Australian while using a pseudonym, he revealed never-before-heard details of the fateful day, where he boarded with eskies loaded with ice and beer, and a captain that looked like they had just come out of the Brighton Yacht Club. Laurie was on-board the same boat after a detective invited him on a fishing trip with his police mates in Port Phillip Bay. He only realised the twist in the tale 14 years after Alexander's disappearance while reading Smith's autobiography. Video: Blue Murder

Laurie remembered the man being ushered to the front of the boat, and as the boat headed out into Port Phillip Bay, two groups were on board: a bunch of junior police laughing and drinking beer down the back and a smaller group of older detectives and others up front. Laurie recalled a "scrawny-looking man, dishevelled and wearing a suit without the jacket", was escorted onto the boat by two men — one being Neddy Smith — while the group were enjoying themselves. Video: Blue Murder

"After a while I wandered to the front of the boat and saw strapped to a chair in the captain's cabin this poor man who seemed to be getting left out of the fun. He looked at me and smiled in a pleading way, 'Can you help me?' But it was obvious that the man was not on our side and I didn't want to interfere. Neddy Smith and the boys were drinking and raving on about I don’t know what, so I went back and joined my mates for another beer." Laurie Former Melbourne constable

Laurie recalled the trapped man being prodded accusingly by Neddy Smith and had his back to the water. He was trying to explain something to Smith, pleading with him that there had been a misunderstanding: "It's not what you think, Neddy." Video: Blue Murder

At this point Laurie was told to go back and join his friends. The boat had stopped and was rocking gently in the swell. A ­couple of Laurie's mates seemed to have a better sense of what was going on than he did. Laurie remembered them being on edge, as if waiting for something bad to happen. One told the constable to look at him and not towards the front of the boat. As he did so, Laurie heard a splash, followed by a cheer from the group up front. Video: Blue Murder

The story of Alexander and the fishing trip stayed locked away in his memory until ­Laurie read about the death of Neddy Smith in Long Bay prison hospital in September 2021. After 40 years, Laurie feels it is safe to speak about what happened on Port Phillip Bay a few days before Christmas 1981.

"At the time, I knew nothing about Brian Alexander. All I know is that the person leading that poor man onto the boat that morning was Neddy Smith, he looked like Neddy Smith and another copper told me it was Neddy Smith." Laurie Former Melbourne constable

Swipe up to learn more about Laurie and his career after being a witness to Alexander's gruesome murder.