POLICE believe a number of Tasmanians hold the key to solving an almost 30-year murder mystery.
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This week Victoria Police announced a $1 million reward for anyone with information that leads to a conviction for the 1986 murder of Albert Pisani.
Police also announced that the Victorian Department of Public Prosecutions will consider granting immunity to anyone with information about the identities of his murderers.
Victoria’s Missing Persons Squad confirmed on Friday that several people who they believe know what happened to Mr Pisani fled Victoria and are now living somewhere in Tasmania.
A number of others fled to Ballarat in Victoria’s south-west.
It is believed that both clusters of people are current and former associates of Mr Pisani’s killers and they lived in the Moe area, 135 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, at the time of the murder.
Mr Pisani, a family man with no links to crime, left his Moe home on foot about 11am on Friday, October 10, 1986.
His body was found in a shallow grave in bushland at Driftfield near Moe on Tuesday, June 9, 1987.
The 27-year-old worked for Victoria’s State Electricity Commission and comes from a family of nine children.
He was well regarded in the community and had no known enemies, police said.
Victoria Police Detective Senior Sergeant David Butler would not confirm how many people of interest were living in Tasmania but said police were in the process of uncovering their location.
‘‘It is confirmed that there are certain individuals with knowledge living in Tasmania,’’ he said.
‘‘We don’t know where they are, but they’re there.’’
Detective Senior Sergeant Butler said police were aware that those people of interest might have changed their names upon arrival in Tasmania, through marriage or otherwise.
He said those residents could end the Pisani family’s 29-year heartache.
‘‘[Mr Pisani] wasn’t associated with drugs, he was a family man ... he was a good man,’’ Detective Senior Sergeant Butler said.
‘‘There was no reason for this to happen to him.
‘‘These people know something about Albert’s death and can help us identify the people involved.
‘‘Albert’s family have been waiting 29 years for answers, and it’s time people stepped up and gave them the resolution they need.’’
Victoria Police announced the reward this week following a review of the cold case earlier this year.
The decision to offer such a large sum of money was not taken lightly, but Detective Senior Sergeant Butler was hopeful that the figure would lead to results.
‘‘This case has been reviewed a couple of times. We have now decided to focus on a new angle,’’ he said.
‘‘We never close the book or seal the box on these sorts of cases.’’
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
cclarke@fairfaxmedia.com.au