Australian Prosecutors May Reopen British Girl Cheryl Grimmer Cold Case

Published: 23 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Australian legal authorities are weighing up whether to reopen a decades‑old cold case involving a British girl’s disappearance after prosecutors in New South Wales (NSW) agreed to consider a fresh review of the matter. The long‑standing mystery of Cheryl Grimmer, who vanished from a beach more than 55 years ago, has drawn renewed attention as her family pushes for accountability and justice.

Three‑year‑old Cheryl disappeared on 12 January 1970 from Fairy Meadow Beach near Wollongong, south of Sydney, while on a family outing. Despite extensive searches at the time, no trace of her was ever found, and the case became one of Australia’s most haunting unsolved child abductions.

In 2017, NSW detectives rediscovered archived evidence and charged a man, known only by the pseudonym “Mercury,” who at the time of Cheryl’s disappearance was a teenager. He subsequently denied involvement, and the prosecution collapsed in 2019 after his original 1971 confession was ruled inadmissible because it was made without a parent or legal guardian present.

Under sustained pressure from Cheryl’s relatives, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Sally Dowling SC, has written to the family indicating she is prepared to review the earlier decision to drop charges — even though the usual time limit for such a review has long passed. Dowling said she could reassess the case based on the evidence available when it was discontinued in 2019, or consider it after detectives have examined “fresh” information the family claims to have uncovered.

Cheryl’s brother, Ricki Nash, welcomed the move, saying the family hopes a renewed examination will bring clarity and justice after more than half a century of uncertainty. He and other relatives have urged NSW Police to reopen their investigation so that new evidence can be properly assessed.

The renewed focus also comes as the NSW parliament prepares a broader inquiry into long‑unsolved missing person cases, with Cheryl’s disappearance expected to feature in discussions. Campaigners and relatives of other victims say increased transparency and formal case reviews could help resolve cold cases that have remained dormant due to procedural or legal hurdles.

Cheryl Grimmer’s disappearance captivated the public imagination in Australia and the UK in the 1970s, and the possibility of reopening the file has reignited hopes among those who have campaigned tirelessly for justice. Though more than five decades have passed, investigators and the family alike say they remain committed to uncovering answers.

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