A man accused of murdering a three-year-old British girl more than five decades ago could soon have his identity and photograph made public, following a parliamentary motion in New South Wales. Cheryl Grimmer disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong on January 12, 1970, shortly after her family emigrated from Bristol to Australia under the Ten Pound Poms scheme.
Decades-Long Legal Battle
In 1971, a Manchester-born individual who was fifteen years old at the time of Cheryl's disappearance confessed to killing the toddler, whose body has never been recovered. Police at the time could not verify the confession sufficiently to press charges. The suspect, referred to legally as 'Mercury', was eventually charged with murder in 2017 after his 1971 confession resurfaced during a renewed investigation.
The 2019 trial collapsed when a judge ruled that the teenage confession was inadmissible as evidence. Mercury has consistently denied any involvement in Cheryl's disappearance. Now, New South Wales Legislative Council MP Jeremy Buckingham is preparing to file a motion on February 11 to lift the identity suppression order that has protected Mercury's name and image.
Parliamentary Push for Transparency
Jeremy Buckingham told The Mirror: 'We want the name published as well as his photos, there is no reason for the public not to know who he is. The evidence against him is unassailable and he should be charged and convicted.' Buckingham has already used parliamentary privilege to identify Mercury in October, acting on the wishes of Cheryl's family, who gave the alleged killer a deadline to come forward.
Despite this, media outlets like the Daily Mail remain unable to publish the identity of the now 71-year-old man due to legal restrictions stemming from his status as a minor when charged. Buckingham has also initiated a full parliamentary inquiry into missing persons and unsolved crimes, set to run throughout 2026, aiming to examine evidence and highlight failures in the criminal justice system.
The Disappearance and Investigation
Cheryl Grimmer was last seen running laughing into the women's changing rooms at Fairy Meadow beach while her family prepared to leave. Her older brother Ricki went to fetch their mother, but upon returning just 90 seconds later, Cheryl had vanished. Days after her disappearance, a ransom note demanding $10,000 for her return was sent to Bulli police station, a move that Cheryl's siblings believe ruined any chance of finding her alive.
In his 1971 confession, Mercury provided a detailed account, stating he had abducted Cheryl with intent to sexually assault her, panicked when she screamed, and strangled her before hiding her body. He described where he left her remains, disposed of her swimwear, and dumped her beach towel. A coronial inquest in 2011 concluded Cheryl had died, but the cause remained undetermined, prompting further police inquiries.
Renewed Efforts and Legal Hurdles
A re-investigation began in 2016, leading to the discovery of Mercury's typed and signed confession. Wollongong detectives Damian Loone and Frank Sanvitale gathered additional evidence, resulting in Mercury's arrest in Victoria in March 2017 and extradition to New South Wales. He pleaded not guilty in September 2018, challenging the admissibility of his 1971 interview, which the Crown acknowledged was essential for the trial.
The case highlights ongoing issues with historical crimes and legal protections for minors, as legislation retrospectively applied prevented charges without an adult present during the original confession. As Buckingham's motion approaches, the push for transparency continues, with Cheryl's family and supporters seeking closure after 56 years of uncertainty and heartache.
