Widow seeks public help to nail killers

The family of a New Zealand man murdered execution-style in Melbourne five years ago have appealed for public help to find his killers.

Mark Douglas Blyth was 27 when he was attacked by at least two men and bundled into his car, which was parked in the driveway of his young girlfriend's home on August 27, 2001.

He was driven to another car, assaulted again and driven 1.5km before being shot in the head, back, groin and leg. His body was found the next day.

Victoria police suspect the father of his girlfriend, Ann Marie Albanese, murdered Mr Blyth but have no proof.

Mr Blyth, a printer, was married with a daughter but was involved in a relationship with Ms Albanese, who was 18 at the time.

She believed his name was Mark James and that he was single.

Despite the deceit, Mr Blyth's wife Denise wants anyone with information about his killing to contact police.

She told the Sunday Herald-Sun newspaper her husband was suffering mental problems in the few months he courted Ms Albanese.

He was "a very, very sick man, trying to take care of Ann Marie who had problems with her father", said Mrs Blyth.

"Someone knows who killed Mark. They go on with their lives, but day after day we will live with the loss."

Coroner Lewis Byrne last week made an open finding into Mr Blyth's death. He found the "fingers of suspicion pointed fairly and squarely" at the Albanese family - the main suspects being Ms Albanese's father Salvatore and his son, Dominic.

Both excused themselves from giving evidence, claiming "privilege against self-incrimination", Mr Byrne said.

But suspicion was "no basis for a firm finding" in a homicide probe.

In statements to police, Ms Albanese said her parents allowed Mr Blyth - her first boyfriend - to visit only from 6pm to 10pm to watch videos with her at the family home.

They allowed her to walk him to the door to say goodbye, but not to the patio out of their sight.

She described her life as "hell" and said the only person she saw, other than her parents, was Mr Blyth.

Mr Albanese said his three daughters, two of whom were married at the time of the murder, knew not to "bring boys to our home unless they have the intention to marry".

Mr Byrne said Ms Albanese had left her family and was living in South Australia or Western Australia.

- NZPA