‘Our dear brother was murdered’:$500,000 reward for answers into death of opal miner

The only thing known for certain about Paul Murray’s final hours is that they would have been painful. The body of the 40-year-old opal miner,known to be generous with loans,was found naked and decomposing in scrub two kilometres from his camp site at Lightning Ridge in northern NSW on April 22,1995. His bare feet were studded with thorny burrs.

A post-mortem examination at the time was unable to find signs of trauma or an obvious cause of death. Further investigations by police,and a 1996 inquest,failed to determine how he died. But his family firmly believe he was murdered,and that money played a part.

Now they are hopeful a reward of $500,000 announced by NSW Police on Thursday – quintupling the amount previously offered in 2012 – will be enough to push those they believe are keeping information secret to come forward.

Paul Murray’s siblings Rosemary Pearse and Simon Murray hope the reward will prompt people to talk.

Paul Murray’s siblings Rosemary Pearse and Simon Murray hope the reward will prompt people to talk.Jenny Noyes

Detective Chief Inspector David Laidlaw of the Unsolved Homicide Unit said police maintain an open mind about the circumstances leading to Murray’s death,but “we believe he met sinister play at the end of the day”.

Murray’s sister Rosemary Pearse,a retired private investigator,was less equivocal,telling reporters “our dear brother was murdered”.

Murray had “some brain damage due to a motorbike accident he had when he was a teenager”,she said,and had received a significant amount of money as a result of that accident. Pearse said he helped people in Lightning Ridge financially,“only asking that they repay him when their situation improved”.

Laidlaw said Murray “didn’t trust banks” and kept records of all his loans in a little black book which was always with him. After his death,it was nowhere to be found. However,his wallet was located at his camp site with some cash inside,and his gun was also found there with a round in the chamber. During their investigations further money totalling into the “tens of thousands” was also found,Laidlaw said.

Apart from the missing black book,Laidlaw said,Murray’s death was suspicious because of the nature of where and how he was found.

“He wouldn’t wander off,one would think,two kilometres away,in a towel,and also to suffer the damage to his feet in relation to quite substantial burrs that were located in the soles of his feet.”

Paul Murray’s body was found naked in scrub two kilometres from his Lightning Ridge camp site.

Paul Murray’s body was found naked in scrub two kilometres from his Lightning Ridge camp site.Supplied

There had been a number of persons of interest interviewed by police over the years,Laidlaw said,and “we still have an open mind in relation to that”.

Simon Murray,Paul’s youngest brother,said,“people knowingly took advantage” of his brother,who “believed and trusted everybody”.

He said his older brother was in the care of an uncle at Lightning Ridge and despite being in regular contact with their mother,“none of us had any indication whatsoever” that he was in trouble.

Pearse said her brother was “a kind and generous man” and that he was loved by “a lot of people” in the area,but many were “scared” of whoever had killed him.

Knowing her brother died with painful burrs in his feet had played on the family’s minds,she said.

He also had a distinctive watch that was missing after he died,a detail Pearse hoped might spark some memories.

Laidlaw said he believes the reward is now “substantial enough” to convince those who are harbouring significant knowledge but had not come forward for the $100,000 reward to do so now.

“It’s been long enough now for them to talk,” Pearse said. “We just want it to happen,someone to speak up.”

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contactCrime Stoppers:1800 333 000.

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Jenny Noyes is a journalist at the Sydney Morning Herald.

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