By Perry Duffin
A NSW politician has revealed the name of a man who confessed to abducting and murdering toddler Cheryl Grimmer at a beach south of Sydney in 1970 and shared the details that convinced police he was guilty of the heinous crime.
The lost girl’s family broke down in tears, telling the media the alleged killer could have kept his name and family hidden from public view if he had met their demands for answers.
Cheryl Grimmer, left, and the man known as “Mercury”.Credit: Michael Howard
The man, now in his 60s, has walked the streets under the pseudonym “Mercury” since his murder trial collapsed in 2019.
NSW MP Jeremy Buckingham on Thursday used parliamentary privilege to name Mercury despite the statutory restriction on publishing his name, which has stood since the day he was arrested and charged in 2017.
“That this House notes that: (a) In 1971 a boy… confessed to the abduction and murder of Cheryl Grimmer in a signed record of interview dated 29 April 1971,” Buckingham said.
“[The boy] said that he abducted Cheryl Grimmer, carried her into the bush, with the intention of sexually assaulting her, and that he strangled her and covered her body with bushes.”
Jeremy Buckingham holds back tears as he addresses the NSW Parliament on Thursday.Credit: Sam Mooy
Mercury was aged 15, and therefore a child according to the law, when he allegedly abducted the three-year-old. He was 17 at the time of the confession.
Mercury’s age at the time means he cannot be identified outside of parliament, including by this masthead, without breaching the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987. Punishment for such a breach could include a year in prison for the journalists involved.
Mercury was expected to face trial for the murder, but in 2019 his confession was declared “inadmissible” by a NSW Supreme Court judge.
The ruling meant the case against Mercury was doomed, prosecutors concluded, and Mercury walked free.
Mercury moved to Melbourne in the 1970s, where he is believed still to live.
Buckingham read out the boy’s name and his confession to the police.
“I was down the beach that day and I saw a man drive past me in a car with a little girl,” Mercury told police.
“I walked along the beach to Wollongong and I saw the man driving back on his own.”
“I am worried, I did that to the little girl, I didn’t mean to do it,” Mercury said seconds later.
“Do you mean that you had something to do with the disappearance of the child, Cheryl Gene Grimmer?” police asked.
“Yes,” Mercury said.
Mercury went on to describe the girl being lifted up to drink from a water fountain before other children left her alone.
Mercury said he knew a man was nearby, so he put his hand over the girl’s mouth as he grabbed her to keep her quiet.
“I took her by the hand and put one hand around her mouth and carried her around to the sand hills,” he said.
“I then continued up to Bulli Pass, where I took the little girl.
Carole Grimmer with her three sons, Stephen, Ricki and Paul, the day after Cheryl disappeared.Credit: John Elliott
“She started to scream when I got her up there. She would not be quiet. So I put my arms around her throat and strangled her.
“I left her lying on the ground at the side of a tree. I covered her up with bushes and leaves and threw some dirt on top.”
Buckingham became emotional while reading details from the confession – pausing and breathing deeply to regain composure.
Cheryl’s brother, Paul Grimmer, later fronted media in parliament and broke down in tears after uttering his sister’s name.
His wife Linda put an arm around his shoulders and read his statement. In it, the Grimmers described giving Mercury a deadline to come forward and explain his confession or admit to Cheryl’s murder.
“[Mercury] has been given the opportunity to declare his innocence or guilt, yet he has chosen to remain silent,” the Grimmers said.
Paul Grimmer breaks down reading a prepared statement about the decision to name his sister’s alleged killer.Credit: Sam Mooy
“The details of Mercury’s confession have caused our family immense heartache; however, we are not seeking to harm Mercury or his family.
“What we want is now the truth.”
The Grimmers hope that by speaking out and identifying Mercury, fresh and compelling evidence may come from members of the public.
New evidence is the only chance that could see Mercury charged and committed to trial again, both the Grimmers and police believe.
“We hope that by speaking out today, members of the public who may hold information will come forward so that Mercury can be questioned in a court of law and justice for Cheryl can finally be served,” the statement read.
Paul Grimmer, Jeremy Buckingham and Grimmer family members embraced and comforted each other outside following their statement in Parliament on Thursday.Credit: Sam Mooy
Buckingham told the gathered media that Cheryl was a victim of a “heinous crime, a victim of an inexplicable failure of police and ultimately denied justice”.
He said the family would not remain victims forever.
“I and the Grimmers believe a known murderer is free in the community. Today is about putting Cheryl, the Grimmers, justice and community safety first,” he said.
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