Detective calls for final piece of murder jigsaw

Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Mick Hughes is confident police will crack the case.

Detective Inspector Mick Hughes told today’s press conference that police were one phone call away from making an arrest.

By ANEEKA SIMONIS

MURDER detectives will zero in on Pakenham drivers who owned the type of car used by Kylie Blackwood’s killer to flee her home.
New CCTV evidence shows a late model white Nissan Tiida sedan with a rear spoiler driving only metres away from the slain mother’s home around the time she was murdered.
Police are confident the “breakthrough” footage will lead them to the mum’s killer, putting to rest the murder mystery which remains unsolved after two and a half years.
Homicide detectives investigating the murder told a press conference at noon today (Thursday) that there were 30 people in Pakenham who were registered owners of this type of vehicle at the time of Kylie’s murder.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Mick Hughes said investigators will begin contacting each of the Pakenham owners in their hunt for the killer.
“In 2013, there were 30 of these cars in the immediate Pakenham area. That is our first priority.
“Then we will work our way through the other 900 (cars registered statewide),” he said in a press conference at Victoria Police Centre in Docklands on Thursday 7 April.
The CCTV footage, captured on Balmoral Way, which runs off McCaffrey Rise, was provided to police detectives some time ago.
However, it has only recently become more “significant”.
Insp Hughes turned the investigation back to the public.
“The answer is in the community. Somebody out there knows this person. Somebody out there knows this car and the connection to this person,” he said.

Video shows the car travelling past at the time of the murder.

His message to the killer: “We know we will get to you.”
More than 200 community tips offs have been provided to police since Kylie’s murder.
The 42-year-old’s body was discovered in her McCaffery Rise home by her twin daughters as they arrived home from school about 3.40pm on 1 August 2013.
Insp Hughes said investigators believe Kylie was killed “spontaneously”, suggesting it was the result of a botched burglary attempt at her home.
The footage provided to police from a resident first shows the car driving toward her home then leaving soon after she was thought to have been murdered.
The footage appears to show a single person in the car, according to Insp Hughes.
“I believe this is the offender,” he said.
Police believe the vehicle was in the area from around noon to early that afternoon.
A FACE image of the suspected murder was developed with the help of a witness who saw a man run off at the time.

A police image of the man suspected of murdering Kylie Blackwood.

The man is described as being about 177 centimetres tall, of a medium build with a muscular upper body.
He was wearing loose-fitting black pants and a striped, hooded top.
Insp Hughes urged anyone who is able to draw a connection between that image of the unknown man and anyone who may have owned or had access to the late model white Nissan Tiida sedan at the time to come forward.
“I know as sure as I stand here that someone knows this person.
“They may not think they are the offender but if they look at the image and the jacket and they match that with the car, I think we will have our offender,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.