The investigation into the violent murder of teenager Uati Faletolu at the Easter Show has escalated with homicide squad detectives taking charge of the case.
The 17-year-old working at the Easter Show carnival was targeted in the brawl that ended in the stabbing and his eventual death en route to the hospital around 8pm on Monday, April 11.
Forensic officers examined the crime scene but have yet to find significant clues leading them in the direction of the killer.
The homicide squad, along with local police, are now turning their attention to video of the incident, calling on witnesses to submit their vision to Crime Stoppers.
Homicide Squad boss Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said investigators were working meticulously through hours of CCTV and other vision to identify those involved in the incident.
“Of the vision we have already reviewed, we know there was a significant amount of people filming the incident, many of whom have not yet supplied the vision to police,” Det Supt Doherty said.
“In our experience, it is likely that someone – or many people – has unknowingly captured a clear shot of something of relevance to the investigation.”
He said investigators were often faced with silence as perpetrators or victims were often “misguided by loyalties or fear of retribution”.
Police are looking into whether the stabbing death is linked to postcode gang violence in Western Sydney.
Mr Faletolu’s friends told police they believed the attackers were from the rival postcode of Mt Druitt (2770).
Uati, 17, has since been linked to the Doonside gang known as 67 for its postcode 2767.
Police have questioned his friends to establish if the he and his killer knew each other or whether it was a spontaneous fight.
Detectives have appealed to anyone who was in the carnival area at the time of the brawl and hasn’t yet spoken to police to come forward.
“If you know something, say something. It only takes a moment to make xjmtzywa confidential call to Crime Stoppers; what you know could make a difference,” Det Supt Doherty said.
Videos and images can be uploaded through Crime Stoppers website or dropped into a local police station.
