Murder Uncovered to name schoolgirl Leanne Holland's killer
The killer of Queensland schoolgirl Leanne Holland continues to walk free.
In tonight’s Murder Uncovered, Michael Usher will name the man responsible for one of Australia’s most horrific child murders, referring to a Queensland Police review that has been withheld from the public for the last five years.
The review details significant, incriminating evidence that points to Graham Stafford as Leanne’s killer.
Leanne was only 12 when her body was found at Goodna west of Brisbane, brutally bashed to the point where she was unrecognisable.
It’s said Leanne was dying her hair because she wanted to look like Kylie Minogue, in the moments before she disappeared.
Her battered body was found in bushland just 50m from Redbank Plains Road on September 26, 1991 – three days after she went missing.
On September 28 her older sister’s boyfriend, Stafford was arrested, accused of her murder.
Months later he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, he had served almost 15 years behind bars when he was released on parole.
The Court of Appeal heard new evidence presented by Stafford and in 2009 they quashed his conviction and ordered a retrial.
In the years that followed, Stafford argued his innocence, pointing the finger at other persons’ of interest in the case.
Queensland Police reviewed the case and put almost 600 pages in findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The review found that of the 16 persons of interest in the case only one was responsible for Leanne’s murder.
However the DPP decided against a retrial and in 2012 Queensland Police closed the investigation into Leanne’s murder.
At the time it was argued that although a jury could convict, it was not in the public interest because Stafford had already served time for the murder and almost 20 years had passed since the offence occurred.
It’s been argued that justice for Leanne has been ignored.
“I can’t believe in this day and age ... this is not the dark ages and this is a relatively modern crime ... her murder still hasn’t been solved,” Usher said.
“Her revolting murder leaves detectives in knots of emotion. Technically no one has been held accountable for her death and technically her murderer is still out there.
“I hope this gives her family a pretty huge voice.”
Tonight Usher also speaks with the principal detectives on the case, who have never spoken about their involvement prior to now.
Former police detective Ralph Knust was “appalled” by the DPP decision.
“It’s my view that over the years justice for Leanne and the truth has been diluted to the point where it’s almost been forgotten,” Knust said.
“The truth of the matter’s been displaced by what I consider to be a falsely based campaign of innocence."
He wants to speak out due to the possibility it could motivate authorities to give Stafford a retrial.
The DPP never publicly released the findings of the review, not even Stafford was informed of them despite fighting for years to get one.
However 26 years since Leanne’s death, Murder Uncovered has read the review and is able to confidently name her killer.
Usher said he was surprised by the “staggering” findings in the review.
“It’s hard pressed to find a review in Australia of this magnitude, it appears to be ridiculously thorough.”
The findings include damning new evidence: A pattern evident on Leanne Holland’s left buttock and thigh, found to be identical to the boot mat of a Holden Gemini make of vehicle.
The boot mat was unique to that make and model of vehicle.
Graham Stafford had a Holden Gemini vehicle at the time of the murder.
When asked who he wanted to hear from after the show airs, Usher said the DPP.
“I’d love them to answer why this was never released,” he said.
“They just said it was not in the public interest, it was sealed and no one could get their hands on it.”
Tonight Usher will sit face-to-face Graham Stafford and share with him the findings of the never-before-released review.
“I believe he (Stafford) will want a retrial even more, he’s always wanted one and I think this will strengthen that,” Usher said.
What he says in response to the findings will shock Australia.
Murder Uncovered airs tonight at 9pm on Seven.
