The lack of AFP action over Winchester’s murder is arresting

IT may be one of the highest profile unsolved murders in Australia but in the hallowed halls of the Australian Federal Police there is little interest in looking into the 1989 assassination of assistant commissioner Colin Winchester.

When Mr Winchester was executed with two shots at close range to the back of the head, it was the commonwealth arm of the then fledgling force that first looked into mafia links for prime suspects.

As revealed by News Corp, it is the names of suspects initially identified at the time of Mr Winchester’s murder that have emerged again as the AFP’s now national arm looks into the entrenchment of the ’Ndrangheta mafia in this country.

Even revelations on Sunday of an alleged mafia mole working in the top echelons of law enforcement in this country for decades having been involved in the Winchester investigation – and still niente (nothing) from the AFP.

And you have to wonder why. At the very least you would think the AFP would take a “case never closed” attitude over the murder of one of their own but no, not even in light of revelations over the past three days by News Corp will they reopen a case file.

The slaying strikes at the very heart of Australia’s rule of law, a cop pursuing organised crime only to be executed on a driveway outside his home.

It makes no sense and needs a higher authority such as a national integrity body Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government has pledged to create this year, to ask why.

The AFP, led by Commissioner Reece Kershaw, said it was no longer a matter for them but rather the ACT Police, largely tasked with keeping civil order in the capital.

“As this is a matter for ACT Police we will have to refer you to them,” a spokesman said.

For its part, ACT AFP said it too was no longer actively pursuing the case, despite their headquarters, the Winchester Police Centre, being named after their slain boss.

A senior police officer on Sunday said no one should be too surprised.

“No one will want to open the cupboard, they are not too sure what it will be they will find.”