Morning all, I'm new here.
If this crime was committed in the exactly the same manner in the 70's or 80's or even 90's is there any part of it that would lead detectives to Rogerson or McNamara's door? Even with Jamie's body being discovered by fishermen off Cronulla. I'm trying to work out if police could have solved it back then.
I'd suggest to you that there's no part of this crime that would normally lead detectives to Rogerson's or McNamara's door even today, other than the proverbial hitting the fan when a high level surveillance target suddenly vanishes into thin air.
"Now where'd that little p**ck go? Has he given us the slip and bolted?"
There is of course, a logical and alternative explanation as to why two crusty and streetwise standover men / debt collectors / loan sharks / well trained and very experienced detectives committed such a comically bungled crime, and I don't believe it's been aired here yet.
It could be because McNamara never took him to the storage unit with the intention of killing him. There are some things that might point to this. For example, they don't appear to have anything already waiting within the unit in which to transport the body. Remember that they had to go and get a surfboard cover from the wagon.
I'm aware of the rumors that the unit was lined with plastic, but I'm not sure of the reliability of the source of that? Assumedly, this plastic had been removed by the time detectives and FSG turn up. And there's no surveillance in the unit. So how do we know it was ever there? Is it perhaps speculation because the scene was so clean? I don't know the answer, I'm just putting it out there.
One more cat among the pigeons for you. A possible reason that Gao allowed the drugs to go to the money; The purpose of his visit wasn't to sell drugs, but to borrow money. McNamara checked to see that Gao had brought the loan security, and once satisfied that he had a bag full of it, took him to get the money. Rogo turns up with the money, something goes wrong and... pop pop.
Also explains why two thugs known for loan sharking, one of whom is loudly anti drugs were having a strange meeting with a meth dealer. Doubly explains why McNamara still had the meth days and days later. He never intended to dispose of it or onsell it, and had no idea what to do with it.
"Ah yes" you say "since when do drug dealers need to borrow money?" Answer; when the drugs they're handling do not belong to them. Don't forget that Gao was excited about seeing McNamara because he was going to get some money. Now, if Gao was dealing for cash everyday, he'd hardly think that was boastworthy, or even remarkable.
