THE aunt of murdered Mount Gambier man Stephen Newton – who was found dead in his home in 2011 – has revealed she is confident in the South Australian Police’s “method of madness” to bring down his killer.
Earlier this week, the Major Crime Investigation Branch revealed a special team – Task Force Resolute – had reviewed evidence and found information connecting a prime suspect to the murder of 55-year-old Mr Newton and two other women killed in Adelaide.
On Wednesday, from a housing trust home in Mildura, 43-year-old Steven Hainsworth sensationally revealed to several media outlets that he was the prime suspect in the case.
Mr Newton’s aunt Jenny Smith told The Border Watch she watched the television news, anxiously waiting to see the face for the first time of the man police believe may be her nephew’s killer.
“I didn’t recognise him, I have never seen his face before,” Jenny said.
“I can’t understand how he hasn’t been arrested – they are putting all this information out there and it makes me wonder – ‘is this man going to do a runner?'”
Despite this, Jenny expressed her faith in the work of detectives in charge of the case and was hopeful for closure for her family.
“It hasn’t just affected our family, but it has had a rippling effect on everybody and I’m sure everyone would like to see it resolved,” she said.
“I firmly believe the police and detectives know what they are doing and that there is a method to their madness with all of this.”
Speaking to the media on Wednesday night, Hainsworth strongly denied any involvement in the murder of Mr Newton or the murder of grandmothers Phyllis Harrison in 1998 at Elizabeth South and Beverley Hanley at Elizabeth North in 2010.
He said he wanted to get the “monkey off his back” and called for the real serial killer to come forward.
“If someone is being accused of murder they are naturally going to deny it,” Jenny said.
“I just hope it is him, because if it isn’t him, someone else is still out there.”
With the new investigation still in its infancy, Jenny shared her own insight by claiming there had to be a connection between Mr Newton and his killer.
“Stephen was a recluse, he only had a handful of friends that I know of and he was the type of person who wouldn’t have answered the door for just anyone,” Jenny said.
“I feel like the person he let in was somebody he knew, because in the first police report they said there was no forced entry.”
For those reasons, Jenny believed someone in Mount Gambier had to know something.
“I don’t know if it’s because they are too scared to come forward or they think it is irrelevant, but anything anyone knows could be helpful to solve the case,” she said.
“We just want to find out what really happened and who it really was – it is not going to change things, but it will certainly give us closure.”
Yesterday, the South Australian Police revealed Crime Stoppers had received reports since revealing the existence of Task Force Resolute earlier this week.
Detective Superintendent Des Bray, the officer in charge of Major Crime, thanked the community for their contribution.
“I would like to thank those people for coming forward and would continue to appeal for anyone with information to speak with police now,” Det Supt Bray said.
“We will further investigate the information that has been provided to us via Crime Stoppers.”
Anyone with information that may be of assistance to police is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au – you can remain anonymous
