A New South Wales inquiry into potential gay hate-related deaths resumed on Tuesday to focus on the killing of the long-term manager of the legendary Australian rock band.

A 1995 inquest failed to shed light on the case and a $100,000 reward also led nowhere.

But the 2023 inquiry has previously found that Dye’s blood-stained jeans and denim shirt were never sent for forensic analysis. Information written on two pieces of paper found in his shirt pocket were also undetected in an evidence box for almost 30 years.

At the direction of the inquiry, five items of clothing – including Dye’s jeans and shirt – were submitted for forensic analysis for the first time. Blood on the back pocket of the jeans was in July found to contain DNA from an unknown male that matched a profile obtained from another crime scene, the inquiry heard.

Documents produced by NSW police revealed that crime scene was a house in Glenwood where there had been a reported break-in in 2002.

The DNA match resulted in a previously unknown male being identified as a person of interest in relation to Dye’s death.

“The existence of [the male’s] DNA within a blood stain on Mr Dye’s jeans is consistent with his having made physical contact with Mr Dye on the night he was assaulted,” counsel assisting the inquiry, Meg O’Brien, said.

However, the inquiry was unable to draw any conclusions about what, if any, role the person played in Dye’s death, based on publicly available information.

The person of interest died in late 2002.