I Catch Killers: Peter Forsyth death still haunts Wayne Hayes

Walking home from a Sydney bar nobody could have foreseen the events that left one policeman dead and another fighting for his life. Don’t miss Gary Jubelin’s I Catch Killers podcast.

Walking home from a bar Sydney two decades ago nobody could have foreseen the events that were set to leave one policeman dead and another fighting for his life.

Three off-duty policemen Peter Forsyth, Brian Neville and Jason Semple had just finished a couple of drinks in the inner-city suburb of Ultimo and headed home when they encountered Murray Hearne, who had attempted to sell them a tablet which he claimed was ecstasy.

What was to unfold on this day in 1998 was nothing short of a tragedy.

In the latest episode of Gary Jubelin’s “I Catch Killers” podcast Wayne Hayes who investigated the crime described what happened.

Peter Forsyth was murdered in 1998.

Murray Hearne was convicted of his murder.

“They’re walking back to Peter Forsyth’s home, which was literally a couple hundred metres away from where it happened, almost straight down the road, because they were going back there after the drinks,” Hayes explained.

“And they’re approached by a person, Murray Hearne, and offered to sell what he described as an ‘eccy’ tablet, which in fact it wasn’t, it was basically an aspirin.

“They decided this wasn’t right and sort of got involved. And then when it escalates slightly to them saying, ‘Stop, we want to have a look... a knife is produced and two of them are stabbed - Forsyth is stabbed and Semple is stabbed.

“Forsyth dies basically at the scene although is pronounced dead at the hospital and thank God Jason Semple survived.”

FOR THE FULL STORY LISTEN TO THE PODCAST BELOW

EXCLUSIVE: As a subscriber you have early access to Season 2 of I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin. Immediately below are Parts 1 and 2 of his fascinating interview with Wayne Hayes, who led investigations on some of Australia’s most haunting cases.

Part 1 (above) The tragic case of Peter Forsyth and Jason Semple, off-duty policemen stabbed on their way home from the pub.

Part 2 (above) Hunting down bikies and crims was Wayne Hayes’s life. He reveals some of the secrets to his success as a Detective.

Originally published as I Catch Killers: Peter Forsyth death still haunts Wayne Hayes