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Sydney, NSW

Family 'devastated' as missing girl case stays closed

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  • The family of a British girl who disappeared in Australia more than 55 years ago say they are "devastated and angry" at the decision not to reopen the case.
  • Sally Dowling, the director of public prosecutions in New South Wales, has now decided this decision still stands, despite years of campaigning by Cheryl's family to get the case re-examined.
  • After the three-year-old disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong in January 1970, extensive searches found no leads.
  • The BBC's 2022 Fairy Meadow podcast examined Cheryl's disappearance and since its broadcast at least one new witness has come forward.
  • Dowling said the decision was likely to be "very disappointing" and offered to meet the family.

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The family of a British girl who disappeared in Australia more than 55 years ago say they are "devastated and angry" at the decision not to reopen the case.

Bristol toddler Cheryl Grimmer went missing in 1970 on a beach near Sydney just after her family had emigrated there.

A man in his sixties was charged with her abduction and murder in 2017, but his trial collapsed after his teenage confession was ruled inadmissible.

Sally Dowling, the director of public prosecutions in New South Wales, has now decided this decision still stands, despite years of campaigning by Cheryl's family to get the case re-examined.

Route closed due to 'serious incident'.

Squash player, 80, wins record seventh title.

After the three-year-old disappeared from Fairy Meadow beach in Wollongong in January 1970, extensive searches found no leads.

Cheryl vanished from the beach changing rooms when her brother turned away for a few seconds.

The BBC's 2022 Fairy Meadow podcast examined Cheryl's disappearance and since its broadcast at least one new witness has come forward.

The suspect did not stand trial after a judge ruled in 2019 that his confession could not be used as evidence.

Earlier this year, Dowling agreed to review this decision at the request of Cheryl's family.

Dowling said the decision was likely to be "very disappointing" and offered to meet the family.

Shortened to 1 minute of reading, this version reads 8.4 on the Niral Score.

You are reading our version, not theirs. This is BBC News (Australia)'s report shortened to its most important sentences, in plainer words, with verdicts and loaded words taken out. Plain description stays, and so do adjectives that carry a fact, such as "former" or "federal". The reporting, the facts and the quotations are theirs — quotations are never edited — and the indicators beside it measure this version. Hover or tap Adjectives to see every one left in the text.

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Outlet Niral ScoreAdjectivesSourcingSentimentHappiness
BBC News (Australia)as they published this story 11.1 7 58 -0.3 12.7
Mundane Readneutralized from BBC News (Australia) 10.6 6 58 -0.3 12.7

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