The family of a young man who was killed eight years ago has made an emotional plea for information about his death, as police offer a $1 million reward for new leads on the case.

The burnt body of 24-year-old James Russouw was discovered in the front seat of his parents' car, at the East Burwood Reserve in Melbourne's east, in March, 2008.

A coronial inquest in 2013 found he was stabbed before the four-wheel drive was set on fire.

Mr Russouw was an audio engineering student and former high school vice captain.

He was also selling marijuana to friends.

Detective Inspector Michael Hughes from the Homicide Squad said two weeks before he died, Mr Russouw parted ways with his marijuana supplier and was trying to find a new contact, which "made him vulnerable".

He said on the day he died he had earlier received a phone call from a man using a public phone at Kmart in East Burwood.

"James was in a service station in Canterbury Road at about 10:54pm when that phone call is made - it's made to James's phone," he said.

"He leaves that location and within about nine minutes was in a park in Burwood."

Detective Inspector Hughes said he believed Mr Russouw either met the caller at Kmart and picked him up, or the caller lured him to the reserve for a meeting.

He said it was known that Mr Russouw left the service station alone, but arrived at the park with a passenger.

"Now all of his associates tell us that you'd have to be a friend or an associate to be in the car with him," he said.

Police have released security vision of the person making the call at Kmart.

Detective Inspector Hughes said police believed at least two people could have been involved in Mr Russouw's death.

"I'm not going to exclude anyone in [his] friendship circle, because his friends knew that he carried a bit of cash and that often puts people at risk - so it could be anyone really," he said.

Police are also interested in the driver of a British racing green Ford Falcon sedan, which was seen leaving the reserve at the same time Mr Russouw's car was alight.

Information of James Russouw's death will 'bring peace'

The parents of Mr Rossauw said they were still struggling to deal with his death and pleaded for anyone who knows anything to come forward.

Lorna and Cecil Russouw have pleaded for information on their son's death. ( ABC News: Jess Longbottom )

"It has been very difficult, the past eight years, quite traumatic at times ... not knowing who this person is, why they did this to James, we've struggled to try to keep ourselves healthy," his mother Lorna Russouw said.

"But we were fortunate we have a strong family unit and we have a good family and friends support system.

"However what would give us some peace would be if there was somebody, anybody out there in the community who knows of the person, or persons who murdered James to please come forward."

She said Mr Rossauw was a very happy boy, who was "laidback, gentle and softly spoken".