![\"Carole](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2e3bfc249e61f74cbb6311c7aa009852ecaef458.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nMercury was expected to face trial for the murder, but in 2019 his confession was declared \u201cinadmissible\u201d by a NSW Supreme Court judge.<\/p>\n
The ruling meant the case against Mercury was doomed, prosecutors concluded, and Mercury walked free.<\/p>\n
Mercury moved to Melbourne in the 1970s, where he is believed still to live.<\/p>\n
Buckingham read out the boy\u2019s name and his confession to the police.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was down the beach that day and I saw a man drive past me in a car with a little girl,\u201d Mercury told police.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walked along the beach to Wollongong and I saw the man driving back on his own.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am worried, I did that to the little girl, I didn\u2019t mean to do it,\u201d Mercury said seconds later.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you mean that you had something to do with the disappearance of the child, Cheryl Gene Grimmer?\u201d police asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Mercury said.<\/p>\n
Mercury went on to describe the girl being lifted up to drink from a water fountain before other children left her alone.<\/p>\n
Mercury said he knew a man was nearby, so he put his hand over the girl\u2019s mouth as he grabbed her to keep her quiet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took her by the hand and put one hand around her mouth and carried her around to the sand hills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI then continued up to Bulli Pass, where I took the little girl.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Carole Grimmer with her three sons, Stephen, Ricki and Paul, the day after Cheryl disappeared.Credit: John Elliott<\/p>\n
\u201cShe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Buckingham became emotional while reading details from the confession \u2013 pausing and breathing deeply to regain composure.<\/p>\n
Cheryl\u2019s brother, Paul Grimmer, later fronted media in parliament and broke down in tears after uttering his sister\u2019s name.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s murder.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Mercury] has been given the opportunity to declare his innocence or guilt, yet he has chosen to remain silent,\u201d the Grimmers said.<\/p>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8995ad690bf4c641ad872a12808df4ab29f5c6a7.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Paul Grimmer breaks down reading a prepared statement about the decision to name his sister\u2019s alleged killer.Credit: Sam Mooy<\/p>\n
\u201cThe details of Mercury\u2019s confession have caused our family immense heartache; however, we are not seeking to harm Mercury or his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we want is now the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Grimmers hope that by speaking out and identifying Mercury, fresh and compelling evidence may come from members of the public.<\/p>\n
New evidence is the only chance that could see Mercury charged and committed to trial again, both the Grimmers and police believe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n
![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/056d0b10990f12d690bbe97a96ee05064628de7e.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Paul Grimmer, Jeremy Buckingham and Grimmer family members embraced and comforted each other outside following their statement in Parliament on Thursday.Credit: Sam Mooy<\/p>\n
Buckingham told the gathered media that Cheryl was a victim of a \u201cheinous crime, a victim of an inexplicable failure of police and ultimately denied justice\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the family would not remain victims forever.<\/p>\n
\u201cI and the Grimmers believe a known murderer is free in the community. Today is about putting Cheryl, the Grimmers, justice and community safety first,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n