Police seek

POLICE say they need to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of Wilhelmina Falls Road at Murrindindi on Black Saturday.
Announcing last week that the Taskforce Phoenix team believed they were closing in on the person or persons responsible for the Murrindindi/Marysville fire, Assistant Commissioner Dannye Moloney said taskforce officers wanted to see whoever was responsible face prosecution.
“We would like to hear from people who were in any of the camping areas, trail bike riding, or who were in the vicinity of Wilhelmina Falls Road on the day,” he said.
He said police had invested more than 40,000 hours investigating the fire which they knew was deliberately lit.
Taskforce Phoenix investigators, he said, had worked tirelessly for almost two months looking at whether the fires were deliberately lit, investigating all fire-related deaths and preparing reports for the State Coroner.
Among the statistics relating to the investigation are 1110 witness statements taken, 3000-plus still to be taken and 1300-plus calls to Crime Stoppers resulting in 436 information reports requiring further inquiry.
With the emergency support phase of the investigation now finished police say they are dedicating a high concentration of resources to capturing evidence and witness accounts before they deteriorate.
“It is important for the community to know that the police have relentlessly worked on the fires from the beginning and will continue to do so,” Mr Moloney said.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au