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At a rough estimate, I have written more than 5 million words on crime in the past 45 years, but there is one story that reminds me that good can, and does, triumph over evil.

It is a story of a serial killer, an innocent victim, her family who would fight for decades for justice, a group of detectives who refused to give up, and a system that chose justice ahead of economic realities.

And it was a man hated by police who helped make their case.

Christina and George Halvagis hold a picture of their murdered daughter, Mersina.Credit: The Age

Mersina Halvagis, 25, knew the drive well along Seventh Avenue at Fawkner Cemetery as she headed to her grandmother’s grave, who had died 18 months earlier aged 86.

As was her habit, she stopped at the florist for flowers and a drink, then walked to the grave of her grandmother, also named Mersina.

It was the Saturday before the 1997 Melbourne Cup. She got to the cemetery around 3.45pm and walked past 32 graves before reaching the dark grey headstone of her grandmother.

As she was about to put water in the matching vase, she was attacked from behind and stabbed to death.

On the first weekend of November, crew one of the homicide squad was on call. They worked full-time on the case for more than three months. The seven investigators, aged from 29 to 40, chased down 400 leads and interviewed 1500 people.

The government offered a $50,000 reward, then $100,000 and finally $1 million, but it wasn’t a member of the public who would provide the breakthrough.

George Halvagis at the Fawkner Cemetery grave where Mersina was murdered. Credit: The........

© The Age