Ugly incident mars William Tyrrell inquest

William Tyrrell’s foster mother was abused by a member of the public as she exited the inquest into the search for the missing boy, a court has ben told.

William’s disappearance, from his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast in September, 2014, is the subject of an inquest before the NSW Coroner’s Court.

The long-running inquest, before Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame, has resumed and is due to conclude following a final block of hearings.

The inquest is examining a police theory that William died in an accidental fall and that his foster mother disposed of his body in nearby bushland.

It’s an allegation that has been persistently and vehemently denied by the foster mother.

The inquest on Tuesday is expected to hear from Dr Jennifer Menzies, an expert in skeletal remains, and Senior Constable Jost Preis who will give evidence about the search.

The court is also scheduled to hear from dog handlers Senior Constable Matthew Gates and Senior Constable Adam Aitken, as well as Sergeant Robyn Ross who was part of Strike Force Rosann.

‘JUST DISTURBED’

Before the proceedings began on Tuesday morning, counsel assisting the court Gerard Craddock SC told the court that as the foster mother was leaving court on Monday, “somebody started hurling abuse at her”.

The court was also told 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.

“Obviously, there’s no place for that in suitable society at all,” Mr Craddock said.

“It’s particularly regrettable in the circumstances of this case.”

He asked Ms Grahame to remind those seated in the public gallery that everyone before the court was afforded fairness.

“I’m very, very disappointed, Mr Craddock, to hear that,” Ms Grahame said.

“This sort of behaviour must not occur … I’m just disturbed by this sort of behaviour.”

THE SEARCH

The police theory prompted a renewed forensic search around Kendall, including the crossroads of Batar Creek Rd and Cobb and Co Rd, in late 2021.

“It’s beyond any argument now that William Tyrrell has not been found,” counsel assisting Gerard Craddock told the court on Monday

“It’s beyond argument that no forensic evidence has been located at 48 Benaroon Drive or anywhere else that provides a clue to William’s disappearance.”

Police and volunteers sifted through leaf litter and soil by hand during the search, as well as draining creeks and searched for any signs of William with cadaver dogs.

Water science expert Professor Jon Olley was brought in by NSW Police as a consultant during the dig having also been involved in the search for Daniel Morcombe and other high profile missing person cases.

He told the court that the search was “extremely thorough”.

Professor Olley told the court that a polyester suit similar to the Spider-Man outfit William was wearing on the day he disappeared would have taken centuries to degrade.

“The estimate is hundreds of years,” Professor Olley said.

The court has been told that no traces of William have ever been found, however the search did uncover animal bones including kangaroo limbs.

The court has been told that Professor Olley also sent an email to a wildlife expert at the Department of Primary Industries asking if any bones could have been taken by pigs and wild dogs.

He said that the expert replied “absolutely”.

Professor Olley said if William had been dumped in a creek around the search area, his body would have been caught up in one of the dams.

ACCIDENTAL FALL

The court was told police believed that William died in an accidental fall and his foster mother disposed of his body in nearby bushland at the corner of Batar Creek Rd and Cobb and Co Rd.

Mr Craddock SC told the court that according to the police theory, the foster mother then returned to her mother’s Benaroon Drive home and phoned triple-0.

“Police assert that (the foster mother) must have quickly resolved that if the accidental death of Williams were to be discovered, she might lose (another foster child in her care),” he said.

He said that police further theorised that the foster mother: “drove her mother’s car to Batar Creek Road and placed William’s body somewhere in the undergrowth.”

The foster mother has continuously denied any knowledge of William’s whereabouts or any wrongdoing.

The court was told that the inquest would hear evidence from a truck driver who was driving in the vicinity of Batar Creek Rd and Cobb and Co Rd on September 12, 2014.

The foster mother’s evidence to the NSW Crime Commission will also be played to the court.

Mr Craddock also noted that police theories could be wrong.

“A coroner can’t act on the express belief of a police investigator.”

The hearing continues.