Suspect in 1970 British Toddler Abduction Case Could Finally Be Named
The man accused of abducting missing British three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer in Australia in 1970 could finally be publicly identified and photographed, but only if a new legal motion in an Australian parliament is approved. This development comes after 56 years of the family's relentless fight for justice, with the suspect previously known only by the codename “Mercury”.
Decades-Long Mystery and Legal Battles
Cheryl Grimmer disappeared after being abducted from Fairy Meadow Beach, located approximately 60 miles from Sydney, in 1970. Her family had recently emigrated from Bristol, England, in pursuit of a dream new life in Australia. Months later, a Manchester-born man, who was a teenager at the time, confessed to the killing. However, he has never been publicly named due to legal protections.
Now, New South Wales Legislative Council MP Jeremy Buckingham is raising a motion in parliament on Wednesday, February 11th, to have a suppression order lifted. Buckingham stated, "We want the name published as well as his photos; there is no reason for the public not to know who he is. The evidence against him is unassailable, and he should be charged and convicted."
Parliamentary Inquiry and Justice System Failures
Buckingham has initiated a full parliamentary inquiry into missing persons and unsolved crimes, which will run throughout 2026. He explained, "We want to interrogate the evidence and reveal that the criminal justice system has failed the victims and their families. We also want to fully ventilate the issues about how the police were unable to charge 'Mercury' in 1971 and were unable to prosecute him in 2019 for the abduction and murder of Cheryl Grimmer."
The legislation pertaining to someone under 18 not being charged without an adult present was retrospectively applied, complicating the case. According to a signed police record of an interview dated April 29, 1971, the then 17-year-old confessed to abducting Cheryl, stating that he strangled her and concealed her body beneath bushes and dirt at an area known as Bulli Pass.
Family's Enduring Struggle for Truth
Cheryl’s parents, Carole and Vince Grimmer, who had emigrated from England with their four children, both died without knowing what happened to their little girl. Vince later became a soldier in the Australian army. Cheryl’s body was never found, and her family has maintained a 56-year hunt for the truth.
“Mercury” was initially charged, but the case was dismissed after a judge ruled the confession inadmissible because he was a minor at the time and had been interviewed without a parent, guardian, or legal adviser present. Since then, “Mercury” has consistently denied responsibility.
Cheryl’s brother, Paul Grimmer, told the Mirror, "We are going to keep fighting, and we will never give up the fight for justice for Cheryl. The failure of the justice system can be attributed to a cover-up, incompetence, and a ridiculous law. It's mind-boggling that the law was applied retrospectively to the man known as 'Mercury' when he has already confessed to murdering Cheryl. When he was rearrested and charged with Cheryl's murder in 2017, his confession was thrown out of the court, and he was let go, despite signing every page of his confession."
Memorial and Ongoing Legacy
In 2020, on the 50th anniversary of Cheryl’s disappearance, the Mirror visited Fairy Meadow Beach as a new memorial was unveiled. The case remains a poignant symbol of unsolved crimes and the enduring quest for closure, with the potential naming of the suspect marking a significant step toward accountability.
