POLICE are revisiting old suspects and conducting new searches after receiving a new lead in a murder investigation that has been silent for almost three years.
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But Launceston detectives won't say how confident they are that the 2009 murder of Campbell Town man Shane Barker will finally be solved.
Detective Inspector Scott Flude said police were reviewing the whole investigation in relation to new information received recently that confirmed the significance of a white Toyota Hilux ute.
The 1998 to 2005 model ute can be seen in CCTV footage seized from the Campbell Town IGA Supermarket.
On Monday police called for public assistance to identify the ute, which was captured by the CCTV camera as it travelled south on the Midland Highway on the morning before Mr Barker was murdered.
The footage was part of the original investigation.
Police searched properties in the Northern Midlands yesterday, with ``positive results'', and will conduct more searches in the coming days.
They will also talk again to some of the ``hundreds'' who had spoken to or been interviewed by police about the murder in the past.
A detective will be stationed at Campbell Town police station from 10am to 2pm if residents want to drop in and discuss the case.
Detective Inspector Flude would not speculate on why the source of the new information had waited three years before telling police.
He said police had received a number of calls from the public since the footage of the ute was re-released, and would follow up each tip.
Campbell Town IGA owner Rob Thomas said he hoped the CCTV footage taken from his store could help solve the murder.
``I knew Shane Barker very well, and he was a very nice guy,'' Mr Thomas said.
``I'm just happy for the family if any good comes out of this.''
Mr Barker was killed in his East Street home on August 2, 2009.
He was reportedly shot several times with a .22 rifle, but the murder weapon has never been found.
Detective Inspector Flude would not say if police were close to making an arrest.
``We have got a lot of work yet to do... I'm not going to prophesies on that at the moment,'' he said.
``Certainly I'm hopeful of bringing this matter to conclusion; the family has waited three years now.
``It's been a protracted investigation and it's frustrating for us when we don't get an outcome.
``It's been three years now, we're giving it our all.''
Detective Inspector Flude said the investigation had ``gone quiet'' for a few years but always remained an active investigation.
There is a $50,000 reward for information that leads to a conviction.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
