The individual suspected of abducting a young British girl on an Australian beach over five decades ago has been publicly identified for the first time.
A member of New South Wales Legislative Council used parliamentary privilege to reveal the identity of the man previously known only by the alias ‘Mercury.’ Allegedly involved in the abduction and presumed murder of three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in 1970, the man confessed to the crime, although the confession was not used in legal proceedings.
During a session in the Australian parliament, Jeremy Buckingham disclosed ‘Mercury’s’ actual name, which is still protected by law due to his status as a minor at the time of the incident. The revelation of his teenage confession prompted calls for a fresh investigation into Cheryl’s tragic death.
Expressing sympathy for Cheryl Grimmer’s family, Buckingham stated, “The family has endured immense suffering for an extended period.”
“[Mercury] lives freely with his identity undisclosed to the public, while no one has faced consequences for Cheryl Grimmer’s abduction and murder,” Buckingham added.
Cheryl’s family, present in the public gallery when ‘Mercury’ was named, has been advocating for a renewed investigation since the trial collapsed six years ago.
Cheryl’s parents, Carole and Vince, along with their four children, had recently moved from Bristol to Australia, where Vince served in the British Army. Both parents passed away without knowing the fate of their daughter.
Recently, the Grimmer family issued an ultimatum to ‘Mercury,’ urging him to clarify how he possessed information detailed in his confession or face public exposure.
Linda Grimmer, wife of Cheryl’s brother Paul, emphasized that the family’s intent was not to harm ‘Mercury’ or his relatives but to uncover the truth. She expressed hope that by coming forward, individuals holding relevant information would assist in bringing ‘Mercury’ to justice and finding closure for Cheryl.
‘Mercury,’ a resident of Victoria, was apprehended and extradited to New South Wales in 2017 under the pseudonym he was given, following revelations from cold case detectives regarding a confession made by a teenager a year after Cheryl’s disappearance in 1970.
Despite the confession, Justice Robert Allan Hulme deemed the interview inadmissible in court due to the absence of a guardian or legal representation for the 17-year-old at the time.
Various media outlets, including the Mirror, have opted not to disclose the man’s name.
Cheryl vanished after visiting Fairy Meadow Beach in Wollongong in 1970, initiating one of Australia’s enduring missing child cases. The Mirror covered the ongoing investigations five years ago when a commemorative plaque was unveiled at the beach to mark the anniversary of Cheryl’s disappearance.</
