Family and friends of Lewis ‘Buddy’ Kelly, whose death has been a mystery since New Years Eve 1983, marched through Kempsey last week in an attempt to seek justice for the teenager.
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The investigation into the Armidale boy’s death was reopened earlier this year but the demands from the family to have the homicide squad take over the case and a reward proposed for information surrounding Lewis’ death have fallen on deaf ears.
Greens Aboriginal Justice spokesperson David Shoebridge participated in the peaceful protest and claims the local police need to be more transparent.
“The police have commenced their own investigation here but we are met with a wall of silence from the police into whether or not the matter has been referred to the state homicide squad,” Mr Shoebridge told Fairfax Media.
“There are some very real concerns from the family about the police officers tasked with investigating the case, including potential relationships with the broader aboriginal community, the questions just haven’t been answered by the local police.
“I believe the police have an obligation to answer those reasonable requests and demands but the wall of silence continues from the local police and that doesn’t assist in building relations between the family and the police and doesn’t assist the families who are searching for answers and justice for Buddy.”
Lewis’ sister Monica Kelly has pleaded for people with information to come forward and has vowed the family will continue their fight for justice.
“There are people in this town that know what happened, and let me tell you, this is not going away, our family is going until the end to get this sorted and somebody will be held responsible for what has happened,” Ms Kelly said.
“My family is not giving up, our brother did not deserve to die at the age of 16, he had everything going for him.”
Lewis was last seen alive walking up the stairs of the railway bridge which connects West Kempsey with South, after he had attended a party at the skate park in West Kempsey with mates to celebrate the start of a new year.
Lewis’ body was found on train tracks in South Kempsey the next day and despite initial investigations concluding the apprentice glazier was responsible for his own death, his family maintains he was murdered.
The family marched through Kempsey, stopping at the skate park, one of the last places Lewis was seen alive, before continuing outside the police station where a media conference was held.
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