Murder case appeal, 10 years on

The naked body of childcare worker Kathryn Grosvenor was found by a canoeist in Yarralumla Bay on March 9, 2002.

Ms Grosvenor, who was last seen at her Nicholls’ home on March 3, 2002, died after being stabbed more than 60 times.

Her naked body was dumped in Lake Burley Griffin, weighed down by a concrete bollard taken from Anthony Rolfe Drive in Gungahlin, 5km from where she was last seen alive.

Despite a lengthy police investigation, and some suspects early in the case, no one has been charged with Ms Grosvenor’s murder.

Detective Senior Constable Sarah Casey, a member of the ACT Policing homicide investigations team, said police believed there was someone in Canberra who could help with the investigation.

‘‘Whether that is someone in Nicholls at the time on that Sunday night the third of March or around the lake in the days past that, we’re urging people to think back,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s 10 years ago today.

‘‘If there’s a birthday, if there’s an anniversary, something that you’re celebrating today, think back to 10 years ago to where you were, what you were doing and come forward with that information.’’

Ms Grosvenor was last known to be alive about 7.50 pm on Sunday March 3, 2002, when she spoke to her mother on the phone.

There were two unconfirmed sightings of Ms Grosvenor later that night, one on Curran Drive, and another at the George Harcourt Inn in Nicholls, where she is believed to have bought cigarettes between 9.05pm and 9.15pm.

Detective Senior Constable Casey said police were in regular contact with Ms Grosvenor’s family in Albury.

‘‘It certainly is a big day for them,’’ she said.

‘‘Their grief is as real today as what it was 10 years ago.’’

Ms Grosvenor was last seen wearing a pair of electric-blue platform boots, which, along with the rest of her clothing, have never been found.

Police had hoped for a breakthrough in the case last year when, after a plea for help, they obtained three similar pairs of boots from Wagga Wagga and Bookham.

But relatives later told police that the boots were not Ms Grosvenor's.

Kathryn was last seen wearing dark-coloured hipster pants and electric blue platform shoes and was thought to be carrying a green vinyl backpack. She was 178cm tall with a slim build and long brown/red hair.

Police are still offering a $250,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to an arrest and subsequent conviction.

Police said an appropriate indemnity from prosecution would be considered for any accomplice who first comes forward with information.

‘‘We want to emphasise that this is real,’’ Detective Senior Constable Casey said.

‘‘This isn’t murder as it appears on television crime shows that we watch every night.

‘‘This is a real 23-year-old woman who’s been murdered in Canberra.’’

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Information can be provided anonymously.