An Australian MP has publicly named a man known as “Mercury” accused of murdering a three-year-old British girl who vanished in 1970 after her family emigrated
The person suspected of snatching a little British girl on an Australian beach more than 50 years ago has been publicly named for the first time.
A member of New South Wales Legislative Council used parliamentary privilege to name the man known only by the codename ‘Mercury.’ He is suspected of abducting and murdering three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in 1970. The man made a confession to the crime but it was not used.
In the Australian parliament Jeremy Buckingham read out ‘Mercury’s’ real name – still legally protected because he was a minor at the time – and his teenage confession, calling for a new investigation into Cheryl’s murder.
“The family of Cheryl Grimmer have been through so much anguish over such a long period of time,” he said.
“[Mercury] is a free man living with his identity suppressed from his neighbours and no one has been punished for Cheryl Grimmer’s abduction and murder.”
Cheryl’s family – some of whom were in the public gallery on as ‘Mercury’ was named – has been pushing for a fresh inquiry since the trial fell over six years ago.
Cheryl’s mum Carole and husband Vince and their four children had only recently emigrated from Bristol. Dad Vince became a soldier in the Australian Army. Both died not knowing what happened to their little girl.
Last week the family gave Mercury an ultimatum, urging him to explain to the family how he knew information contained in his confession or be publicly identified.
“He has been given the opportunity to declare his innocence or guilt, yet he has chosen to remain silent,” Linda Grimmer, wife of Cheryl’s brother Paul.
She said the family was not “seeking to harm Mercury or his family” with this move.
“What we want is now the truth. We hope that by speaking out today, members of the public who may hold information will come forward so that Mercury can be questioned in a court of law and justice for Cheryl can finally be served.”
‘Mercury’ was the pseudonym given to the man, from Victoria, when he was charged with murder and extradited to New South Wales in March 2017. The arrest came after cold case detectives Frank Sanvitale and Damien Loone discovered a confession made to police by a teenage boy a year after three-year-old Cheryl vanished.
Justice Robert Allan Hulme however ruled the interview from April 1971, was inadmissable because there was no parent, adult or lawyer accompanying the then 17-year-old.
The Mirror along with other media outlets has chosen not to name the man.
Cheryl was never seen again after leaving Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong in January 1970, sparking one of Australia’s longest running missing children cases. Five years ago the Mirror visited the beach and reported on the ongoing inquiries as a memorial plaque was unveiled to mark Cheryl’s disappearance.