Mother of Josh Warneke thanks Broome community for support
Witnesses at the Broome part of the coronial inquest into Josh Warneke’s death on Feburary 26, 2010 described his kindness, politeness and friendship on that fateful night.
Ingrid Bishop, Mr Warneke’s mother, who attended every day of the coronial inquest at Broome Magistrates Court, said the positive descriptions of her son filled her with “pride” while also leaving her “devastated”.
Mr Warneke’s body was found on the outskirts of Broome on February 26, 2010, after he spent the night out with friends and decided to walk home to the town’s northern suburb of Roebuck Estate.
Camera IconJosh Warneke was found dead on Old Broome Road in 2010. Credit: Katya Minns
Mr Warneke, 21, was last seen walking near Old Broome and Bagot roads about 2.45am. A taxi driver found him with a severe head injury shortly after.
Two-and-a-half years after Mr Warneke’s death, Indigenous man Gene Gibson was charged with his murder. But the charge was later reduced to manslaughter due to breaches of the Criminal Investigation Act including procedural errors, failure to provide an interpreter and improper cautioning.
After a submission personally made by Ingrid Bishop for a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation, a CCC report criticised the investigation as deeply flawed.
Gibson was sentenced to 7½ years jail in 2014 but was released in 2017 after the Court of Appeal deemed his conviction unsafe.
After his release, cold case detectives reopened the investigation and offered a reward, initially $250,000 and later increased to $1 million, which still stands to this day.
In 2021, WA Police prepared a report for the Coroner based on an investigation which explored the theory that Mr Warneke might have been hit by a vehicle on the night of his death, as opposed to struck by a weapon which was originally suspected.
Coroner Ros Fogliani heard testimony from several witnesses, including close friends and strangers, who described Mr Warneke as a “friendly, polite, easy-going” individual.
A close friend stated “he was outgoing, sometimes shy, but has a really good nature”.
Camera IconJosh Warneke. Credit: Supplied/TheWest
Natasha Duffy — who first met Mr Warneke at the Bungalow bar and walked with him across Male Oval before he separated and went to McDonald’s — testified that he was “friendly and polite” and that she felt comfortable in his presence.
Hearing testimonies such as Ms Duffy’s was agonising for Ms Bishop as she relived the haunting details of her precious son’s final moments.
“When they (witnesses) are describing a situation, all I hear is that it was the last time he walked from the Oasis Bar to the Bungalow bar,” Ms Bishop said.
“That’s the last time he ever went to McDonald’s, so it’s very, very hard to hear those words.”
Ms Bishop said she could recognise her child’s unique characteristics and quirks as witnesses recalled things he had said.
“I found myself smiling during a witness statement when they said Josh has said ‘I can’t believe I can’t get a burger’, because I know how much he loved his cheeseburgers,” she said.
As a grieving parent Ms Bishop has found herself in the inevitable state of contemplating what would have been had her son survived that night.
“I think he probably would’ve been partnered up by now, and have kids, he always wanted to have kids,” Ms Bishop said.
Despite the significant challenges, Ms Bishop’s unwavering fight for justice over the last 14 years for her son reflects a cautious optimism that the coronial inquest will shine light on how Josh died.
“I’m hoping that this process will deliver a new, unbiased approach to the different scenarios and how they would influence and result in the murder of Josh,” Ms Bishop said.
“I am guided by my legal team led by Tom Percy KC. Tom and his team, backed by Allens Law Firm, are formidable and I am extremely grateful for their pro bono support, expertise and commitment to the inquest and the case”.
Camera IconTom Percy KC and Ingrid Bishop outside the Broome Courthouse. Credit: Katya Minns
It had been nearly a decade since Ms Bishop had been in Broome before she attended the coronial inquest.
Though returning was confronting, she came back determined to express gratitude to the Broome community for their continued support in her search for answers as to what happened to her son.
“I can’t express my heartfelt thanks enough to those in the community that are supporting me and my family,” she said.
“People in Broome have reached out to me again, and the support has meant so much.
“I know it has been nearly 15 years, but for us it’s like yesterday. The secret is still embedded deep within the Broome community and it will only take one person to share the facts to allow the truth to be known.
“People are clearly very scared to come forward but it can be done anonymously.”
Ms Bishop thanks all those who have already reached out to her over the past week.
She is making a plea to the people of Broome that if they have any information on her son’s death to reach out to her directly at [email protected].
Camera IconJosh Warneke’s body was found on the outskirts of Broome on February 26, 2010. Credit: supplied
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