For the past four years the family of Jordan Barac have been searching for answers after the 18-year-old was killed at the Weston Creek skatepark in September 2020.
Nobody has ever been found guilty of Jordan's murder. A person was acquitted in a jury trial and the family has since been searching for answers in other places.
Jordan's father, Michael, has spent so much time over the past four years writing to agency after agency in a desperate attempt to seek some sort of justice following the failed trial.
"Someone took our son's life and they are walking on the street," he said.
"We deserve a response from someone. Why are we here? How did we end up here and who is accountable?"
The family has spoken to The Canberra Times in their first media interview since Jordan's death. Before now, his identity was never revealed.
"I made a promise to my son. We will get justice one way or another," Jordan's mother, Sandra, said.
"However long it takes we will get it."
Jordan died after driving some kids he knew to the Weston Creek skatepark following a fight on social media. He had no involvement in the fight and was unaware a large group would be waiting for them on the night.
A dozen people were on the scene when Jordan was stabbed multiple times by a complete stranger. While no one was charged with murder, some have been convicted of related offences against Jordan. They received good behaviour orders of 12 months or less.
None of the people involved with the incident can be named for legal reasons. A number of people were underage at the time.
This is a second story in a two-part series from The Canberra Times into Jordan's death.
'There is something'
Last year the family made the extraordinary decision to put up a substantial reward, from their own funds, for any fresh evidence in the case. They were hopeful this would bring someone forward.
"My point for the reward was if there was something else ... if fresh evidence that hasn't been brought to the court yet in the trial then we can have another trial," Jordan's mother, Sandra, said.
"I feel in my bones and I say this all the time, even after four years, that there is something."
The family met with Crime Stoppers and the police to discuss the reward. They also asked the court to remove a suppression order on Jordan's name so they could issue the public appeal.
But the family's request for the reward was dismissed. Sandra said they were told this was because this had never been done before and they thought it could set a precedent.
An ACT Policing spokesman said they did not accept the request as they were confident all people involved in the incident were identified.
"The establishment of a monetary reward to assist in unsolved investigations occurs from time to time. In this matter, ACT Policing is confident that all persons involved in the incident were identified," the spokesman said.
The reward was one of many avenues pursued by the family after the criminal and judicial process did not bring about any answers.
'We are seeking answers'
The ACT Coroner considered holding a hearing into the death of Jordan but ultimately decided against this as they believed the matters raised by Sandra and Michael, Jordan's father, did not fall under its jurisdiction.
The family said they have been continuously advised by the AFP and the DPP they have no doubt who is responsible for taking their child's life.
In the trial the person charged with Jordan's murder was also charged with grievous bodily harm on another person after stabbing them. They were found guilty of this charge.
The family have expressed concerns about the investigation into Jordan's death.
The Canberra Times has obtained multiple letters from agencies involved in investigating Jordan's death and correspondence from the Barac family to these agencies.
Following the trial, Michael wrote to victims of crime commissioner Heidi Yates asking for Victim Support ACT to act on behalf of the family in a referral to the now-defunct Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
"We had many concerns throughout the whole investigation and trial and we voiced these concerns at every opportunity," Michael said in the letter.
"I want to be very clear and up front that we are not forming the view that the AFP or DPP has acted in a manner consistent with misconduct or corruption.
"We are seeking answers and an independent review which may draw upon a conclusion that indicates the investigation was handled poorly or inappropriately. Either way, we are entitled to answers."
Some of the concerns put forward by Michael include there being no examination of a dent on Jordan's car, a forensic expert not being asked to examine blood splatter on the car and fibres found under Jordan's fingernails.
The actions of police were defended in a letter sent to the Coroner by former chief police officer Neil Gaughan.
"The forensic investigation into the matter was exhaustive. 656 forensic items and samples were collected for examination," Mr Gaughan said in the letter.
"Police carefully considered each of the pieces of evidence mentioned above by the Barac family during the course of the investigation."
There was a witness on the scene who gave evidence to police identifying a person who allegedly stabbed another person. This person's evidence was dismissed by police and was not used by the prosecutor.
"The witness was credible and accurate with a number of things including the make, models and colour of vehicle. He described the person holding the knife and what he was wearing and, importantly, described the action used by the person with the knife which was consistent with the wound," Michael alleged in his letter to the victims of crime commissioner.
But former deputy commissioner Gaughan defended the actions of police in a letter to the coroner.
"Police obtained 11 different versions of the event, including three versions provided by the eye witness described by the family. This person's account was contradicted by the accounts of other witnesses," Gaughan's letter said.
"Police investigated all utterances, seeking corroboration, and all statements and evidence relevant to the credibility of those statements was made available to the court."
Another of Michael's concerns is one of the people on the scene was the family member of an Australian Federal Police officer.
Mr Gaughan could not comment on the allegation of a family member being involved as it was the subject of a then referral to the now-defunct Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity. A spokesman did not provide further comment on this when asked by The Canberra Times.
ACLEI chose not to proceed with an investigation, saying it did not have jurisdiction to review or investigate outcomes of a court where no findings of possible corrupt conduct have been made.
"Additionally, the information available does not indicate undue influence by an AFP member over the investigation or its outcomes," ACLEI said in their determination.
There is a referral under way with the National Anti-Corruption Commission, which replaced ACLEI.
Police say there are no active investigations under way into Jordan's death.
The ACT Policing spokesman said they acknowledged the hurt and distress felt by Jordan's family.
"Homicide investigators conducted a thorough and diligent investigation that considered all aspects of the altercation that led to Jordan's death. This investigation culminated with the laying of charges against 10 people and subsequent court proceedings," the spokesman said.
'I've been hurt more times than I can count'
But four years after the death of Jordan and hundreds of hours of court proceedings later, the fight for justice continues for the Barac family.
"We have lost our child and not one person was held responsible, how can authorities say they did a thorough job," Michael said.
"I voiced my concerns several times to the very authorities that are paid to protect our community. I feared we would end up without an outcome. I was told to trust the process, my instincts were telling me all along something was not right."
Michael, who said he was "mentally exhausted", said his countless letters and his fight were not just for his son but for the next family.
"Everything we do here on in is for the next family," he said.
"We've lost our child, we've lost our faith in the AFP, the DPP, the whole judicial system.
"I've been hurt more times than I can count. It's about the next family, so they don't go through the same experience we've had."
