WHEN crime reporter Justine Ford came across the case of the 2009 shooting death of Campbell Town father Shane Barker, she knew it wasn’t your typical murder.

Here was a ‘‘squeaky clean’’ bloke who everyone appeared to get on with gunned down in cold blood.

It’s one of the reasons why the murder features in her new book Unsolved Australia.

‘‘Shane used to be the local postie who delivered the mail with a smile and yet he was gunned down by someone who was there waiting for him,’’  Ford told The Examiner.

‘‘It was calculated.’’

Mr Barker, 36, was shot at close range with a rifle in August 2009.

He was found in the hallway of his Campbell Town home.

The fact that the killer remains at large and justice remains elusive for the victim means his family is desperate for answers.

‘‘They are such sweet people and Shane’s brother, Paul, will not stop looking until the killer is brought to justice,’’ Ford said.

The book also examines the missing person’s case and suspected death of Helen Munnings.

The 20-year-old pregnant Burnie mother has not been seen or heard from since July 23, 2008.

‘‘Helen’s family are desperate for information,’’ Ford said.

She said she realised just how useful a role the media could play in helping solve cold cases when she worked for Australia’s Most Wanted. ‘‘That’s when I realised we could use the media for good, because I saw the good they were doing,’’ she said.

‘‘What I wanted was for my job as a storyteller to put the information out there and have it help the police.’’

Unsolved Australia examines 18 cold cases across Australia and is available in book stores from today.

Tasmania Police are offering a $50,000 reward for information about the disappearance of Helen Munnings and the murder of Shane Barker.

If you know something, please call Tasmania Police on 131444. 

Information can be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.