Police missed multiple opportunities to gather potentially crucial evidence when a Sydney man vanished without a trace almost 20 years ago, a coroner has found.
Richard Sajko was last seen sitting in his red Holden Commodore with at least one other man in the car park of his workplace, Avis Car Rentals at Mascot, about midnight on May 13, 1995.
The then 21-year-old has not since been seen and his bank accounts have not been touched.
Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes on Monday referred the case to the unsolved homicide team after finding Mr Sajko died on or about the day he went missing.
Just over six months before he disappeared, she said, Sam Testalamuta Jr and Mr Sajko were caught in a tow truck carrying the shell of a stolen car.
Both were charged with stealing.
In May 1995 Mr Sajko told his mother he received a threat from Mr Testalamuta to "kill him or blow up his car", Ms Forbes stated in her findings.
The inquest heard this was due to Mr Sajko's statement to police in relation to the stealing charge contradicting Mr Testalamuta's.
However, it might also have been related to an outstanding debt.
Mr Sajko later told his father Mr Testalamuta apologised for threatening him.
Ms Forbes stated there was also evidence that after Mr Sajko went missing, one of Mr Testalamuta's associates, John Tuiletufuga, told his parents he had shot and buried a man he met in custody.
Ms Forbes noted, though, that Mr Sajko had never been in custody.
The way police handled Mr Tuiletufuga was one of the "deficiencies" in the investigation, the coroner highlighted.
Mr Tuiletufuga's father initially took him to Ashfield police station but was told to come back the next day for an interview, Ms Forbes stated.
This, she stated, allowed "for an opportunity for a change of heart as what he wanted to tell police".
Mr Tuiletufuga also used Mr Sajko's phone the day after he disappeared.
When police interviewed him, Mr Tuiletufuga said he made up his "confession" to stir up his parents.
Ms Forbes also highlighted that Mr Testalamuta's alibi was not explored by police.
In another deficiency, one of the last people to see Mr Sajko alive, colleague Sonia Ferrara, did not have her statement taken until 2008.
Since Mr Sajko's disappearance changes have been made to how police deal with missing person cases and Ms Forbes did not make any recommendations about their investigation.
She found while they did take some important steps, a "number of opportunities to gather potentially crucial evidence were missed".
Outside court Mr Sajko's mother, Rozi, said she was glad the case had finally been referred to the unsolved homicide team.
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