By Jessica McSweeney
The family of a young taxi driver shot in the chest and left for dead in Sydney’s inner west are pleading with the public to come forward with information to solve the “callous and cowardly” murder of their “playful” big brother.
Police are offering a $500,000 reward in a bid to help find the person responsible for the death of William Rogers.
William Rogers was allegedly murdered in Ashfield in 1988.Credit: NSW Police
On Tuesday, October 4, 1988, Rogers was working one of his typical driving shifts when at 1.15am, he activated the safety button on his taxi radio.
When police arrived at Park Lane in Ashfield, the 36-year-old was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest.
The car engine was off, and the vehicle appeared to have rolled backwards, smashing into a fence.
Rogers’ window was wound down, and the taxi sign was off, indicating to police that the cab was engaged at the time of the alleged attack. The car was in first gear, the parking brake was off, and the pay meter showed an amount of $10.70.
Witnesses told police that while they waited for officers to arrive, they saw an unknown man appearing to shake and kick Rogers before running away.
Police are offering a $500,000 reward to solve the alleged murder of William Rogers.Credit: NSW Police
Police said the man was described as being aged in his 20s, between 180-185cm tall, and of slim build with dark hair and wearing light jeans with a matching jacket and a western-style long sleeved shirt.
Earlier that day, police were told Rogers had worked a regular shift. He clocked in at 3pm, and at about 11.15pm, he drove his wife to a health clinic and back home to Rhodes before returning to work.
No arrests were made at the time.
“This was a callous and cowardly act,” homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters on Tuesday.
William Rogers’ sisters at an appeal for information into his 1988 murder. Credit: Nine News
“Mr Rogers was going about his normal duties as a cab driver and he was shot down in cold blood.”
Rogers’ sister Madeleine remembered her big brother as living a full but short life.
“He was playful, he was inclusive, we just really enjoyed having him as a brother and it left a really great hole when he was gone,” she said.
“To the family this feels like the last chance we have, despite what the police have already done, and we are relying on the public to come forward.”
In 1991, the crime was referred to an inquest where the coroner confirmed the gunshot wounds were inflicted by an unknown person.
In March last year, the unsolved homicide squad began re-investigating the matter.
While police haven’t been able to gather sufficient evidence to lay any charges, an ongoing line of inquiry is possible links to other crimes.
The Herald previously reported police were investigating links between Rogers’ murder and the killing of Rex Hotel bar manager Mark Rogers earlier in the same year.
The two men are not related.
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