Centennial Park
Please assist Police with their investigations
If you’ve seen or heard anything…
Contact police at Maroubra on 9349 9299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Murder sparks beat concern
SSO – September 29, 2009
The body of 37-year-old Anthony Cawsey of Redfern was found by joggers early on Saturday morning close to Busby Pond.
Maroubra Police were initially investigating the possibility the death was a sex-based crime, and raised concerns about gay beats operating in the park. They have since extended their inquiry and the Homicide Squad has been brought in to investigate.
After speaking to friends of the man, Sydney Star Observer has been led to believe that Cawsey was neither gay nor likely to have been seeking sex in the park, but in fact worked near the area where he was found and may have been taking a short cut home.
Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Maroubra Police on 9349 9299.
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Beat users urged to come forward
SX – September 30, 2009
Police are appealing to beat users in Centennial Park for information after a man was found murdered in the park early on Saturday morning.
37-year-old Anthony Cawsey from Redfern was found dead by two joggers on a track between Busby’s Pond and the McKay sports field at approximately 6am on Saturday, September 26.
While there is no suggestion that Cawsey was gay and police are yet to determine whether the slaying was sexuality related, the location is within close proximity to a beat and police have urged any beat users with information to come forward.
Supt Shane Woolbank, Acting Commander of the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command (LAC), told SX that beat users need not fear approaching police.
“Police understand the various sensitivities that may face beat users and can assure any person who provides information that their provision of information to police will be treated in confidence,” he said.
“We need to remember that a person has died and every piece of information adds to the jigsaw puzzle we are currently facing.”
Woolbank confirmed that police were investigating the possibility of the murder being beat related, but stressed that other avenues were also being explored.
“At this stage we are looking at a number of lines of inquiry,” he said. “Obviously, the location of the death is near a beat so we are certainly looking into that issue, along with a number of other potential scenarios.”
Woolbank encouraged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact Eastern Beaches LAC on (02) 9349 9799 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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NSW Police Force – Media Release
Man’s name and image released — Centennial Park
Monday, September 28, 2009 04:00pm
Police from the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command who are investigating the discovery of a man’s body in Centennial Park on the weekend have released his name and image.
Anthony Cawsey a 37-year-old Redfern resident was found shortly before 6am on Saturday.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos from the Eastern Beaches LAC has confirmed police are following a number of lines of inquiry.
“I am renewing the appeal for public information into the circumstances surrounding the death of Anthony Cawsey,” Detective Inspector Pisanos said.
“We believe there may have been people in the park or around the park at the time his body was discovered who have not yet spoken with police.
“Investigators are following a number of lines of inquiry but we need assistance from the community.
“I urge anyone with information about the incident or anyone that might have seen any unusual or suspicious behaviour in the park prior to that time to come forward.
“Anyone with information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem should contact the police at Maroubra on 9349 9299 or Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000.
“All callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and all information is treated in the strictest confidence,” Detective Inspector Pisanos said.
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Man found dead at park named as police widen murder hunt
SMH – September 28, 2009
A man found dead in the middle of Centennial Park in eastern Sydney at the weekend has been named as 37-year-old Anthony Cawsey.
Police named Mr Cawsey this afternoon after contacting his family to inform them of his death.
He was found about 6am on Saturday by two joggers who were running past Busbys Pond in the park.
Police have since established he died in the three hours prior. He was found clothed, but not wearing any type of sports gear, Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said.
“We believe there may have been people in the park or around the park at the time his body was discovered who have not yet spoken with police,” Inspector Pisanos said.
“At this stage we’re pursuing all avenues of inquiry, not exclusive to it being a sex-related homicide,” Inspector Pisanos said yesterday.
He said police had not ruled out robbery or a random attack. The park contains a number of gay beats.
Yesterday police divers searched Busbys Pond – near where the prostitute and whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp was found murdered in 1986 – and other officers searched nearby banks.
Inspector Pisanos said: “In the days to come, members of the community may hear things. We’d certainly be very, very interested in anyone [who] may have seen anything or heard anything.”
Anybody with information can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Maroubra police on 9349 9299.
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Anthony Cawsey murdered in Sydney’s Centennial Park
news.com.au – September 28, 2009
POLICE have released the name of a man found brutally murdered in a Sydney park.
Two joggers discovered Anthony Cawsey, 37, face down on a track in Centennial Park early on Saturday morning.
The Redfern resident was killed between 3am and 6am that day and it is believed his injuries included wounds to the arms and legs.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said at the weekend Mr Cawsey had “died a violent death” and the police were treating it as a homicide.
A post-mortem examination is expected to establish a cause of death later this week.
Mr Cawsey was found between Busbys Pond and McKay Park, reportedly a gay beat.
Police have confirmed they are investigating whether Mr Cawsey was visiting the beat.
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Police probe man’s murder in park
Brisbane Times – September 28, 2009
Police have released the name of a man found brutally murdered in a Sydney park.
Two joggers discovered Anthony Cawsey, 37, face down on a track in Centennial Park early on Saturday morning.
The Redfern resident was killed between 3am (AEST) and 6am (AEST) that day and it is believed his injuries included wounds to the arms and legs.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said at the weekend Mr Cawsey had “died a violent death” and the police were treating it as a homicide.
A post-mortem examination is expected to establish a cause of death later this week.
Mr Cawsey was found between Busbys Pond and McKay Park, reportedly a gay beat.
It is understood Mr Cawsey was found with his trousers pulled down.
Police have confirmed they are investigating whether Mr Cawsey was visiting the beat.
Anti-discrimination campaigner Gary Burns on Monday denied that the area where the body was found was a gay beat, and said such speculation created “unnecessary panic” in the gay community.
“It is also unfair to the family of this man to suggest he was trawling for male sex in a dark and dimly lit park late at night,” Mr Burns said in a statement on Monday.
Centennial Park management said there were 24-hour security patrols of the entire park which was closed to vehicles overnight.
Investigators are certain more people were in the park at the time Mr Cawsey’s body was discovered, who have not yet come forward.
“Investigators are following a number of lines of inquiry but we need assistance from the community,” Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said in a statement.
“I urge anyone with information about the incident or anyone that might have seen any unusual or suspicious behaviour in the park prior to that time to come forward.” View Article
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Centennial Park murder victim identified
SX – September 28, 2009
Police have revealed the identity of a man found murdered in Centennial Park on Saturday morning in the vicinity of a gay beat.
The victim has been identified as Anthony Cawsey, a 37-year-old man from Redfern.
While Cawsey’s body was found in the vicinity of a gay beat, there is no suggestion that the man was gay and police have not yet established whether Cawsey was the victim of a gay hate crime.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos from the Eastern Beaches Local Area Command said police were following a number of lines of inquiry, and called on the public for assistance.
“I am renewing the appeal for public information into the circumstances surrounding the death of Anthony Cawsey,” Pisanos said.
“We believe there may have been people in the park or around the park at the time his body was discovered who have not yet spoken with police.
“Investigators are following a number of lines of inquiry but we need assistance from the community.
“I urge anyone with information about the incident or anyone that might have seen any unusual or suspicious behaviour in the park prior to that time to come forward.”
Pisanos urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the Maroubra Police Station on (02) 9349 9299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
“All callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and all information is treated in the strictest confidence,” said Pisanos. View article and comment
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Murder Gay Beat Related?
SameSame – 28th September, 2009
Police say the body of a man found Saturday morning in Centennial Park could be ‘gay beat’ related, but authorities remain open to other possibilities. SameSame.com Online Forum
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Police seek witnesses to Sydney park murder
ABC – September 27, 2009
Video: Body found in Sydney park (7pm TV News NSW)
Sydney police say they are still open minded about the motive for the murder of a man whose body was found in Centennial Park in south Sydney.
The bloodied body of the 37-year-old Redfern man was found by two joggers on a track yesterday morning.
Centennial park is known as a gay beat and police say while it is a valid line of inquiry, they are also exploring whether it was a robbery or just a random attack.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos says officers have narrowed down the time the man was killed.
“The time frame that we’re looking at at the moment, we’ve narrowed it down to a time frame of between 3:00 am (AEDT) and 6:00 am, 6:00 am being the time that the deceased fas found,” he said.
“So that three hour window, we’d like to hear from anyone that may have seen anything either surrounding the park or within the park.” View article
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Gay hate murder talk ‘not helpful’
The Australian – September 28, 2009
SPECULATION that a man whose body was found in a Sydney park was the victim of a gay hate crime creates unnecessary panic, a gay rights activist says.
The 37-year old Redfern man’s body was found lying face down on a jogging track in Centennial Park early on Saturday morning.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos today said police were looking into the possibility the death was the result of a gay bashing, as the park is known as a gay beat.
But it was only one of several lines of inquiry, he said.
Anti-discrimination campaigner Gary Burns says the area where the man’s body was found is not a known gay beat.
He says the speculation is creating “unnecessary panic” in the lead-up to a large event in the Sydney gay community this weekend.
“It is also unfair to the family of this man to suggest he was trawling for male sex in a dark and dimly lit park late at night,” Mr Burns said today.
Police should be allowed to get on with their investigation, he said. View article
Thin blue line widens in park murder hunt
SMH – September 28, 2009
A MAN killed in Centennial Park at the weekend may have been the victim of a gay hate attack, police say.
Two joggers found the man face down just past the western bank of Busbys Pond, near McKay oval. Police said the 37-year-old man from Redfern was not dressed in sports clothes, but his clothing was intact.
The man is believed to have died violently between 3am and 6am on Saturday.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said there were only a few people in the area at that time, and that, compounded with limited lighting, was making the investigation difficult.
“At this stage we’re pursuing all avenues of inquiry, not exclusive to it being a sex-related homicide,” Inspector Pisanos said.
He said police had not ruled out robbery or a random attack. The park contains a number of gay beats.
Yesterday police divers searched Busbys Pond – near where the prostitute and whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp was found murdered in 1986 – and other officers searched nearby banks.
Inspector Pisanos said: “In the days to come, members of the community may hear things. We’d certainly be very, very interested in anyone [who] may have seen anything or heard anything.” View article
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Bashing death at known gay beat at Centennial Park
The Daily Telegraph – September 28, 2009
HOMELESS people who sleep in Centennial Park may hold the key to solving the brutal murder of a 37-year-old man at a well known gay beat.
The victim was found early on Saturday morning in bushes near Busbys Pond, 250m from the park’s western entrance, the Showground Gates on Robertson Rd.
Inspector Paul Pisanos said it appeared the man, from Redfern, was the victim of a gay bashing murder.
“We’re certainly treating that as a valid line of inquiry,” Insp Pisanos said.
Police believe the murder happened in the three hours leading-up to the body’s discovery by a jogger at 6am.
“Police will be canvassing local residents as well as people who occupy the park,” Insp. Pisanos said, referring to the group of more than 20 men who sleep rough in the park most nights.
He said the lack of lighting limited the potential for witnesses to come forward, and made for “a challenging crime scene”.
Police spent yesterday searching a 10,000sq m area between the pond’s southern shore and the Mckay Sportsground toilet block – a well known haunt for men seeking anonymous homosexual sex.
Divers also searched the pond for evidence, including any possible weapons that may have been used.
It is expected a post mortem examination will today confirm how the man died in what detectives described as “a violent death”.
Police assured any witnesses who may have been seeking anonymous sex in the early hours of Saturday that they would be treated “with sensitivity and in the strictest confidence” .
“We’re extremely interested in hearing from people – the more the better,” Insp Pisanos said.
“We’re pursuing all avenues of enquiry, not exclusive to it being a sex-related homicide.
“There are a number of different scenarios that may present themselves and we’re open to all of them.
“We’re also looking at robbery and if it was a completely random incident.”
Police were waiting to contact relatives before releasing the victim’s name.
Insp. Pisanos said the dangers of walking alone in the park in the dark were obvious.
“Lighting is limited in the park and common sense would dictate that after hours in Centennial Park one has to exercise caution and be aware of one’s environment, whether you’re walking, running or otherwise,” he said. View article
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NSW Police Force – Media Release
Police investigate suspicious death – Centennial Park
Sunday, 27 Sep 2009 05:20am
Police have identified a man whose body was found in suspicious circumstances in Centennial Park yesterday morning.
About 6am (Saturday 26 September), joggers discovered the body on an elevated track in Centennial Parklands. The track is situated with Busby Pond on one side and the McKay Sportsground on the other.
Police from Eastern Beachers Local Area Command attended and established a crime scene.
The man has been identified as a 37-year-old Redfern man. His death is being treated as suspicious.
A post mortem will be conducted early this week to determine an exact cause of death.
Police are appealing for any members of the public who were in the vicinity of Centennial Park around sunrise on Saturday morning and may have seen anything unusual, or a person or persons acting in an unusual manner within the park or leaving the park, to contact investigators.
Any information, as insignificant as it may seem, might be of great interest to investigators.
The investigation is being handled by police from Eastern Beaches Local Area Command and State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad with the establishment of Strike Force Annand.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Callers can remain anonymous.
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Police identify dead man in Sydney park
Sky News – September 27, 2009
Police say they are yet to establish why a man was apparently murdered in Sydney’s Centennial Park.
The 37-year-old Redfern man was found lying face down on a jogging track early on Saturday morning.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said the man had died a violent death between 3am and 6am on Saturday, and that police were treating it as a homicide. Read more and view Online News Story
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Man died a ‘violent death’
SMH – Sepember 27, 2009
Police say they are yet to establish why a man was apparently murdered in Sydney’s Centennial Park.
The 37-year-old Redfern man was found lying face down on a jogging track early on Saturday morning.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said the man had died a violent death between 3am and 6am on Saturday, and that police were treating it as a homicide.
He said few people were around at that time of the night, and the area was poorly lit, making the investigation difficult.
He appealed for any witnesses to contact police.
“In the days to come, members of the community may hear things,” Det Insp Pisanos told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.
“We’d certainly be very, very interested in anyone that may have seen anything or heard anything.”
He said police would release the man’s name tomorrow, once his relatives were informed of his death.
Det Insp Pisanos said that police were looking into the possibility that the death was a gay bashing, as the park is known as a gay beat.
“We’re certainly treating that as a valid line of inquiry,” he said.
“It’s one of several lines of inquiry that we’re looking into at the moment.”
The body of the man, who was not dressed in sports clothes, was found by two joggers on a track between Busbys Pond and McKay sports field.
A post-mortem examination will be held this week to determine the exact cause of death, Det Insp Pisanos said. View article
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Centennial Park body identified
AAP – news.com.au – September 27, 2009
A MAN found dead in Sydney’s Centennial Park has been identified as a 37-year-old from Redfern.
The man’s body was found by two joggers on a track between Busbys Pond and McKay sports field about 6am (AEST) yesterday.
His death is being treated as suspicious and a post mortem examination will be conducted in the coming days to determine an exact cause of death, police said today. Read more
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Centennial Park body identified
The Australian – September 27, 2009
A MAN found dead in Sydney’s Centennial Park has been identified as a 37-year-old from Redfern.
The man’s body was found by two joggers on a track between Busbys Pond and McKay sports field about 6am (AEST) yesterday.
His death is being treated as suspicious and a post mortem examination will be conducted in the coming days to determine an exact cause of death, police said today.
The man, whose name has not been released, was not dressed in sports clothes and there was blood on his body, Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said.
Members of the public who were in or around the park early yesterday and saw anything unusual or anyone acting suspiciously are urged to contact police.
“Any information, as insignificant as it may seem, might be of great interest to investigators,” police said.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Callers can remain anonymous. Read more
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Murder in the park: gay bashing feared
Brisbane Times – September 27, 2009
TWO joggers on an early morning run found the brutally battered and bleeding body of a man in Centennial Park yesterday.
The man, in his 30s, was face down on a track next to Busbys Pond and had his trousers down.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos, of Maroubra police, said police were considering whether there might have been a homosexual link to the attack. Read more
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Police probe body finds
ABC – September 27, 2009
Police are investigating the deaths of two people whose bodies were found in separate parts of Sydney yesterday.
Officers will return to North Head on the Northern Beaches this morning after a bushwalker found skeletal remains at the site.
In a separate case, two joggers found a man’s bloodied body on a track at Centennial Park.
Police have identified the victim as a 37-year-old man from Redfern.
Officers believe he was killed in the park early yesterday morning. View article
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Man’s body found in Centennial Park pond
The Daily Telegraph – September 26, 2009
THE body of a man has been found in a Centennial Park pond in Sydney’s east.
Police say a man walking his dog discovered the body at 6am (AEST) today, with police now treating the death as suspicious.
Police have established a crime scene in the popular parkland.
No further information was immediately available. View Article
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Man’s body found in Sydney’s Centennial Park
The Daily Telegraph – September 26, 2009
A MAN’S body has been found lying face down on a jogging track in Sydney’s Centennial Park.
The body was found by two joggers on the track between Busbys Pond and McKay Oval about 6am this morning.
Police have yet to identify the man, believed to have been aged in his 30s.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said a forensic pathologist has begun examining the body and it is too early to determine a cause of death. Read more
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Man’s body found in Sydney’s Centennial Park
news.com.au – September 26, 2009
A MAN’S body has been found lying face down on a jogging track in Sydney’s Centennial Park.
The body was found by two joggers on the track between Busbys Pond and McKay Oval about 6am this morning.
Police have yet to identify the man, believed to have been aged in his 30s.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said a forensic pathologist has begun examining the body and it is too early to determine a cause of death. Read more
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Man found dead at gay beat
SX – September 26, 2009
Police in Sydney are investigating after the body of a man was found in the vicinity of a known gay beat in Centennial Park this morning.
The body of an unidentified man, believed to be in his 30s, was found by two people jogging on the track between Busbys Pond and McKay Oval at about 6am today, AAP reported.
Detective Inspector Paul Pisanos said that a forensic pathologist has begun examining the body, which had blood on it.
It was too early to determine a cause of death, he said. Read more and Comment
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