NSW Police hope facial reconstruction technology will help identify an unknown man found dead in Sydney’s south-west 35 years ago.
Key points:
- The man was found dead near Guildford railway station in 1987
- New technology has allowed investigators to recreate his face
- He has never been formally identified
The digitally-constructed image of the unknown man has been released as part of Missing Persons Week 2022.
Detective Chief Inspector Glen Browne manages the state’s Missing Persons Register and said it was the first time the unit has used forensic facial reconstruction tools to try and identify a deceased person.
“These types of images are produced only when all other means of identification have failed,” he said.
“Yet it’s margin of error for much of the face is relatively small and the end result is quite lifelike.”
The man’s body was found on the railway line at Guildford on March 31, 1987, about 200 meters south of the Hawkesbury Street overpass.
Investigations at the time determined the man’s death was not suspicious but he has never been identified.
Detective Chief Inspector Browne said he hoped the reconstructed image would generate new leads in the case.
“Unfortunately, the man sustained serious facial injuries when he died,” he said.
“This reconstruction was created by examining two monochrome post mortem images taken at the morgue in 1987.
“We believe this is the most accurate depiction of what the man may have looked like prior to his death and hope its release will prompt someone to come forward with information.”
The man was of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean appearance and aged between 50 and 55 years.
He was about 170 centimeters tall, had a medium build and graying brown hair.
He was wearing black trousers, a short sleeve white shirt with red and black squares and brown shoes.
The man also had a silver “Zenith” watch and a silver upper front tooth.
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