The household of a Gomeroi man whose suspicious dying has by no means been solved have welcomed a doubling of the police reward for info resulting in a breakthrough within the case.
Mark Haines was simply 17-years-old when he was found by a practice conductor within the early hours of January 16, 1988 with solely a spot of blood and a towel discovered underneath his head.
Police investigators recommended that Mr Haines willingly or by accident ended up on the railway, however his household have all the time maintained their perception there was foul play.
Haines’ uncle, Don Craigie, stated he was “hopeful” the reward’s enhance would incentivise anybody with info to return ahead.
“Regardless of how minute it might seem, it could possibly be the essential piece of this puzzle,” he advised NITV.
“I imagine there’s just one piece [remaining], and it is virtually prepared to enter place.”
35 years of calling for justice
Uncle Don Craigie believes he’s getting near discovering the ultimate piece of the puzzle to resolve the heartbreaking thriller of his nephew Mark Haines’ dying. Credit score: Karen Michelmore, NITV
Mr Craigie has tirelessly advocated for an additional inquest into his Mark’s dying for the reason that preliminary investigation in 1989 returned an open discovering.
Yearly since then, Mr Craigie has journeyed to Tamworth Police Station on the anniversary of his nephew’s passing to name for a contemporary inquiry.
“For my total household, we have had ache and struggling all these years. I am very disenchanted within the preliminary investigations that occurred as a result of I daresay a lot proof was misplaced in these preliminary investigations.”
In February, his efforts had been rewarded with , to be held in 2024.
He dismissed options of non-public vindication, saying that he was pushed by guarantees made to his household.
“To Mark’s mother and father and to his grandmother, my mum, I stated to all of the household, ‘You go on along with your lives. I am going to take care of this.’
“I am very a lot inspired that the knowledge that shall be offered within the inquiry shall be … the piece that has been lacking for 35 years.”