Inquest to probe day what happened in hours after William’s disappearance
The inquest into William Tyrrell’s disappearance is set to hear evidence about what occurred at an intersection on the rural outskirts of Kendall on the day the little boy vanished more than a decade ago.
A coronial inquest is examining what happened to the then three-year-old and a fresh police theory that he died in an accidental fall on September 12, 2014.
The court has heard police have theorised that the boy’s foster mother dumped his body in bushland on the corner of Cobb and Co Rd and Batar Creek Rd because she feared losing custody of another child who was in her care.
The mother has continuously denied the allegation.
The inquest on Wednesday is expected to hear from a truck driver who was on Batar Creek Rd on the day William vanished.
Camera IconWilliam was last seen on September 12, 2014. Supplied. Credit: The Weekend Australian Magazine
Camera IconWilliam’s foster mother and father have denied any wrongdoing. NewsWire/David Swift. Credit: NCA NewsWire
THE POLICE THEORY
The long-running inquest before Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame ran for 18 months before it concluded in October 2020.
Ms Grahame’s findings were due to be handed down in June 2021, however evidence has been reopened because of a fresh police theory that William died when he fell from a second storey balcony.
In late 2021, police also conducted a fresh forensic dig around Cobb and Co Rd and Batar Creek Rd, as well as at the foster grandmother’s house.
According to the theory, the foster mother put William’s body into her mother’s Mazda 3 and drove it 1km to where it was dumped at the crossroads.
The foster grandmother’s car was also seized by police.
And the court has heard there is no forensic evidence that points to William’s fate.
The foster mother has continuously denied all aspects of the police theory or having any knowledge of William’s whereabouts.
Ms Grahame told the court on Monday: “I pause to say there is actually no evidence that anyone has been seen placing a body here or anywhere else.”
The coroner made the comments as she explained her decision not to call evidence from a researcher on invasive species.
The court has heard Professor Jon Olley, who was on site for the fresh forensic dig around Kendall in November 2021, sent an email to a wildlife expert at the Department of Primary Industries asking if any bones could have been taken or disturbed by wild animals.
The expert, Dr Paul Meek, will not be called as a witness, the court heard.
Ms Grahame said she accepted there were wild dogs in the Kendall area.
Camera IconThe police search along Batar Creek Road in December 2021. NewsWire/Peter Lorimer. Credit: News Corp Australia
“HURLING ABUSE”
William Tyrrell’s foster mother was abused by a member of the public as she exited the inquest, the court has heard.
In court on Tuesday, counsel assisting Gerard Craddock SC said that as the foster mother was leaving the inquest on Monday afternoon, a member of the public began “hurling abuse at her”.
The court heard that it’s believed that the person also used the female foster carer’s name.
The woman cannot be named or publicly identified due to a non-publication order and any breach could represent contempt of court.
Deputy State Coroner Grahame then offered a “stern warning” about similar behaviour.
“This sort of behaviour must not occur … I’m just disturbed by this sort of behaviour,” she said.
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