It has been nearly 21 years since former AC/DC manager, Crispin Dye, was severely bashed and left for dead on an inner-Sydney street. But the culprits were never found, making this a horrific case that has never been brought to a close.
Now over two decades later, The New South Wales State Government have made a public call, asking for anyone with information about this terrible incident to step forward, offering a $100,000 reward towards anything that can lead to the conviction and arrest of these brutal attackers, as The Age points out.
The then 41-year-old Dye had been physically beaten, robbed of all his cash, and left for dead on Little Oxford Street in Sydney suburb Darlinghurst at approximately 4:30am on 23rd December, 1993. Despite being rushed to St. George Hospital, the manager passed away 48-hours later, on Christmas Day.
Crispin Dye managed AC/DC for seven years, contributing to the band’s mammoth rise as well as other Aussie greats, Rose Tattoo and The Easybeats. In addition to this, he was a singer-songwriter himself, producing a debut record A Heart Like Mine under the moniker Cris Kemp in 1992, to which he was celebrating the release of the album the night he was vehemently attacked.
Witnesses told NSW Police they claimed they saw three men “of Pacific Islander appearance aged in their late teens or early twenties” standing over Dye with his wallet, however there has been no concrete evidence of this, with a coronial inquest in 1995 bringing forth no conclusions.
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Police files at the time of the atrocity have stated that Dye was a victim of vicious gay-hate crimes, however the late manager’s mother Jean Dye – speaking to Fairfax Media last year – believes the attackers were simply after his money, as his wallet had been stolen.
Mrs. Dye, now 97-years old, is still heart-broken and saddened that it’s taken this long for a new reward to be offered to anyone that may help; “somebody out there knows what happened,” she laments.
Detective Superintendent Mick Willing tells The Age, “there are people out there who know those responsible for Mr Dye’s death and we’re hoping this reward may prompt them to get in touch with police.” Adding that, “by all accounts, Crispin Dye was a fun-loving, friendly and decent man, who was robbed of his life far too soon.”
Determined to bring justice to Dye’s family and friends, Willing concluded, “we are absolutely committed to getting to the bottom of this case and bringing those responsible for an innocent man’s violent death to justice, but we won’t be able to do it without assistance from the public.”
Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
In related AC/DC news, the band are pushing through with the release of a new record, despite the retirement of guitarist Malcolm Young, The band may just tour again, our fingers are crossed.
