Police have released a COMFIT image and a photo of tattoos of a man who died in Sydney’s Inner West 42 years ago, as they seek public assistance to help identify him.
About 4.50pm on Tuesday 14 April 1981 emergency services responded to reports of a man being fatally struck by a train in the rail corridor between Stanmore and Newtown Railway Stations. There were no suspicious circumstances relating to the death.
Despite extensive inquiries at the time the man was unable to be identified.
Following a review of cold cases in 2021 a fingerprint analyst identified the man as possibly Osvaldo Perez with a date of birth of 16 May 1955 residing in a boarding house on Normanby Street, Fairfield East, and at the time was believed to be employed as either a labourer or boiler maker.
However, detailed investigations both here in Australia and – with the assistance of INTERPOL – abroad have failed to find any existence of this person and it is believed that this may have been an alias used by the man.
Detectives from Inner West Police Area Command have established that the man was arrested by Cabramatta Police on New Year’s Day in 1981 for exceeding the prescribed concentration of alcohol, driving an unregistered/uninsured vehicle and unlicensed driving.
As part of the investigation detectives have reached out to the two arresting officers from Cabramatta Police Station – who are no longer members of the NSWPF – as well as the original investigator into the man’s death – Retired Inspector George Georgiou – to seek additional assistance.
The man was described as being of South American appearance, 176cm tall, aged between 25 – 30 years of age, medium build, olive complexion, black curly collar length hair, a black moustache and spoke with an accent.
On his left thigh were tattoos of a woman wearing a bikini and holding a bunch of flowers, an eye and the words ‘Eulrlia’ and ‘Stevios.’ There was also a tattoo of a rose on his left shoulder blade.
The origin of these words could possibly be either Greek or Spanish.
At the time he was wearing a yellow and brown patterned shirt, blue denim straight leg jeans and brown boots.
Located in the man’s possession was a $20 note, an ‘Aseikon’ brand gold coloured wristwatch and a weekly train ticket allowing travel between Stanmore and Canley Vale.
It is believed the man may have had links to Fairfield’s Romanian community.
Assistance is also being sought from tattoo artists of this era to advise of the possible origin of the tattoos.
Detective Inspector Ben Kennis, Crime Manager of Inner West Police Area Command, said police were desperate to identify who the man is.
“It is terribly sad that after more than four decades we cannot confirm the true identity of this man. His family and loved ones need to be notified on what has happened,” Detective Inspector Kennis said.
“Despite the passage of time detectives have been able to locate old police records from the early 1980’s that identified two officers who had dealings with the man along with the officer who investigated the circumstances of his death at the time.”
“To say these former officers were shocked when we contacted them would be an understatement.”
“Surprisingly, one of the officers who had dealings with the man actually remembered him and was able to supply beneficial information to detectives,” said Detective Inspector Kennis.
Retired Inspector George Georgiou who investigated the man’s death in 1981 said he had always been troubled that he could not work out who the man was.
“I couldn’t believe it when Newtown Detectives contacted me about the matter. Whilst I may have retired from the police over 20 years ago, I am still more than happy to assist where I can,” said Retired Inspector Georgiou.
“Back in those days we did not have the technology that police now have available to them.”
“I think it’s great that after all these years a new generation of police are revisiting the investigation.”
“I sincerely hope that this man can finally be identified, and I would urge anyone who may know anything about this case to contact police.”
Anyone with information about this matter is urged to contact Newtown Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
