I recently emailed FSSA (Forensic Science South Australia) for an update on their forensic investigation into the Somerton Man. They very kindly replied:
SA Police have carriage of the investigation to identify the Somerton Man. We have had a forensic case meeting recently in Adelaide involving Forensic Science SA, National DNA Program for Unidentified Human Remains and Missing People, and Major Crime Investigation Branch. This has identified the sequence of a variety of forensic opportunities that will be implemented over the coming months in an effort to identify him.
This is, of course, excellent news, because it means that FSSA has determined that the Somerton Man’s exhumed remains do present a number of viable forensic opportunities to identify him, which they will be pursuing before very long.
At this point, all I can do is quote Sherlock Holmes in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventure of the Abbey Grange“:
“Come, Watson, come!” he cried. “The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!”
…….”providing we can identify a sequence of opportunies to obtain renewed funding to facilitate a resumption of lately stalled forensic identification efforts. If reliable cash flow arrangements are not forthcoming, it will undoubtedly prevent resumption until a solution can be found”….. may have served just as well Nick.
About 5 months ago SAPOL received a very large injection of funds to increase it’s “Cold Case” workforce and my understanding is that this is/will happen quickly.
However, one of the terms of reference for this task-force is to examine the “Cold Cases” only back as far as 1950.
It is my opinion that only constant work outside the system by the likes of this blog will generate enough evidentiary coincidence or suspicion to cause further action to be taken by authorities.
Alan H….don’t hold your breath mate. So long as the current cold case Super’s fat arse remains in the driver’s seat, his wheels won’t be heading anywhere near West Terrace, nor Somerton Beach for that matter!