CCTV breakthrough in hit-and-run death haunting Perth family
A CCTV breakthrough has identified a car of interest in the unsolved hit-and-run death of a Rockingham father more than four years after he was left for dead.
Senior detective sergeant Hugh Le Tessier, officer in charge of the major crash investigation section, revealed improved CCTV enhancement technology recently identified a white Nissan Navara D40 utility driving in the area where Matthew Neary was fatally hit by a vehicle on a November morning in 2020.
It is understood Mr Neary, 37, was walking home from his niece's 21st birthday before he was found lying in the northbound lanes of Mandurah Road, north of the Dampier Drive intersection, about 2.45am on November 22.
'Through extensive investigation and enhanced CCTV capability, police have identified a type of vehicle of interest, that being a white Nissan Navara D 40 utility,' Det-Sen. Sgt Le Tessier said.
'Investigators would like to speak to the driver or any occupants of the vehicle — they may have vital information in relation to this incident.'
Det-Sen. Sgt Le Tessier said Mr Neary's family 'were keen to see the matter resolved' as police released reconstructed images of the Nissan.
Police were unable to identify the registration of the Nissan through CCTV enhancements but said it had four distinguishable features; a black decal on the the lower part of the passenger side doors, no decals on the driver's side doors, a faded right rear tail light and an aftermarket bull bar. A reconstructed image of the Nissan police are searching for. Credit: WA Police / WA Police A reconstructed image of the Nissan police are searching for. Credit: WA Police / WA Police
A $250,000 reward for information is available for information that leads to the identity and conviction of the person responsible for his death.
Det-Sen. Sgt Le Tessier said investigators were probing whether the Nissan had any front end damage as a result of a possible collision with Mr Neary.
Police are investigating if the car is still being driven around.
'(Matthew's family) want answers, It's been four years for them . . . I can only imagine that it's been difficult for them,' Det-Sen. Sgt Le Tessier said Matthew Neary (pictured middle) with his family before his death. Credit: Unknown / GoFundMe
'If we can bring answers to them to enable them to understand what happened to Matthew, that's what we intend to do.
'If the driver of the vehicle sees this or hears about it, we urge the driver to come forward, provide us with the information of what happened that night, exactly what happened. I'd be appealing to that person — the family would appeal to that person — to come forward.
'If we get the help of the community that that I say we should get, I think we will identify the vehicle.'
Det-Sen. Sgt Le Tessier said the father's hit and run death was one of two unsolved hit and run crashes in the last decade.
He likened the new CCTV enhancement capabilities to evolved investigative genetic genealogy technology. Matthew Neary's family at a roadside memorial following his hit-and-run death. Credit: WA Police / WA Police
'Since the start of this year, there has been four hit and run fatal crashes, and three have been resolved within 24 hours — this is just one of two that remains unsolved over a period of 10 years,' he said.
'If I can cast my mind back to last Thursday, where we had a hit and run fatal crash in Wembley, within 24 hours, we had a suspect identified and apprehended. Technology is one thing, but the tenacity of investigators is another.'
The other recent unsolved hit and run was from April 9 this year where a 48-year-old man was found lying unconscious on Great Northern Highway in Roebuck, near Broome.
Mr Neary — who had young kids and whose fiance was pregnant at the time of his death — was described as 'the most amazing father'. Matthew's cousin Brody (blue shirt). Credit: WA Police / WA Police
'No matter how bad your day was, he'd walk in and you'd just forget about whatever was happening,' his cousin Brody said at a press conference in 2020.
'He wasn't a rich man money-wise but the love that he gave ... he would always put others first.
'He's got all these kids growing up, not knowing who their father was now. The poor baby is not even going to know him.'
Anyone with information is asked to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
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