THE unsolved 1996 murder of Taree woman Margaret Christina Cox is likely to be one of the cases given a fresh investigation by a new team of 37 NSW police.

The Unsolved Homicide Team has been assembled to investigate some of the State’s most puzzling homicide cases, police minister David Campbell announced this week.

It will have headquarters in Parramatta and will consist also of three smaller groups to be based in Newcastle, Tamworth and Wollongong.

The Times understands the northern region squad based in Newcastle will take a close look at up to 25 murder cases stretching from the Hawkesbury River to the Queensland border when it begins its duties in the next few weeks.

The murder of Mrs Cox is one of three unsolved in the Manning Great Lakes region in recent years.

Another is that of Taree teenager Cherylee Masters, formally identified just last week after her remains were found in Yarratt State Forest in September 2006 (see separate story).

The third involves the shooting/ burning death of Peter Gordon Edwards, 40, whose badly burnt body was found in a dam on a property on the Wallamba River near Nabiac on January 10, 1995.

Mr Edwards’ death was at first thought to have been suicide, however later investigations and a coroner’s inquest indicated he had met with foul play.

Like the investigation into Mrs Cox’s death, investigations have continued on and off for more than 10 years.

Mrs Cox was last seen alive late on the night of December 19, 1996 as she walked between Cundletown and Chatham.

Her body was found by fishermen, floating in the river near Cowans Lane, not far from Mud Bishops Reserve at Old Bar. She had been sexually assaulted and battered around the head.

Her case was aired on the TV program ‘Australia’s Most Wanted’, with investigations centering around the sighting of a white four wheel drive vehicle seen near Mud Bishop’s Reserve about the time of her disappearance.

Police minister David Campbell said this week he had met with some of the families of the victims now having their cases reviewed by the new Unsolved Homicide Team.

“A large number of resources have been out into this unit in the hope that police can close the book on some notorious cases, giving families closure and seeing justice done,” he said.