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The NSW Government together with the NSW Police Force have announced a $500,000 reward for information into the 1988 murder of William Anthony Rogers in Ashfield.

Just after 1.15am on Tuesday 4 October 1988, police were called to Park Lane, near Alma Street, in Ashfield after a taxi driver was found deceased in his car.

Police were told William Anthony Rogers, then aged 36, was on shift as a taxi driver on Monday 3 October between 3pm and 3am.

He had dropped his wife to a health clinic at about 11.15pm, and home again in Rhodes around 12.20am before recommencing work.

William’s safety button on the taxi’s radio was activated about 1.15am.

On arrival at the scene, police observed the taxi’s motor was off and it had appeared to have rolled backwards, colliding with a fence.

The driver’s side window was down and the sign on the roof was off, indicating the cab was engaged.

The pay meter inside the car was showing an amount of $10.70 and the automatic gear stick was in first gear with the parking brake off.

While waiting for police, witnesses described seeing an unknown man shake and kick the driver who quickly fled the scene.

The unknown man was described as being aged in his 20s, between 180cm – 185cm tall, of slim build, with dark collar-length hair, and wearing light coloured jeans, a matching jacket and a western-style long sleeve shirt.

A postmortem examination confirmed William had died as a result of a gunshot wound to his torso and local police with the Homicide Squad commenced an investigation.

In March 1991, the matter went to inquest where the Coroner concluded the wounds were inflicted by a person or persons unknown.

Despite extensive inquiries – and a review in 2021 – no one has ever been charged with the murder.

In March 2023, Unsolved Homicide Squad commenced Strike Force Crag to re-investigate the matter.

Commander of the Homicide Squad, Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty, said William Anthony Rogers was simply doing his job when he was murdered in cold blood.

“The Homicide Squad are committed to finding justice for William Anthony Rogers, who was tragically killed while working hard to support his loved ones. His murder was a callous and cowardly act,” Det Supt Doherty said.

“William deserved to come home safely after his shift, and today his family deserve the answers we hope this $500,000 can help us achieve.

“Anyone with information, no matter how small, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.