The Coroner's findings into Lachie Jones' death were due on June 3, brought forward to May 30 and have now been rescheduled for June 12 in the Invercargill District Court.
Photo / NZME
The Coroner's findings into Lachie Jones' death were due on June 3, brought forward to May 30 and have now been rescheduled for June 12 in the Invercargill District Court.
Photo / NZME
The in-person delivery of a coroner’s findings into the death of Lachie Jones has been delayed.
The reason for the delay is related to police announcing further investigative work, key to an allegation against Lachie’s half-brother.
The findings will now be delivered at the Invercargill District Court on June 12. Photo / Ben Tomsett
In a new minute issued on Monday, Coroner Ho said the delay was related to police announcing further investigative work regarding an allegation made against Lachie’s half-brother Jonathan Scott that would finish on May 28 - two days before the findings were due.
“This point was relevant to one witness’s inquest testimony that an acquaintance had told her that Jonathan had said he had thrown Lachie into the pond.
“Jonathan denied both ever making such a statement and the allegation within the statement,” Coroner Ho said.
Scott’s new counsel, Anthony Woodhouse, who was appointed two days before responses were due on May 14, sought extensions, and submitted a ‘draft’ adverse comment response by May 24, citing lack of time and access to materials.
Coroner Ho expressed concern over the police conducting the investigation without formal direction, and the late and incomplete submissions from Scott’s side.
Coroner Ho said he “very reluctantly” vacated the May 30 release date to ensure fairness and preserve natural justice, and set directions that police must submit a new sworn expert statement by May 29.
Final responses from Scott and all parties are due June 5.
Lachlan Jones, 3, was found dead in an oxidation pond in Gore, January 2019. Photo / Supplied
Coroner Ho expressed frustration that the police had “unilaterally undertaken further investigation about only one of several matters” identified as needing further inquiry, despite no formal directions to do so.
He said the draft findings “by nature of their draft status” did not have the effect of making any formal directions to the police.
He also criticised the late and incomplete response from Woodhouse, representing Scott, and that proceeding on a “draft” response would be “highly unorthodox”.
The inquest into Lachie’s death heard from dozens of witnesses over its two phases, including Lachie’s mother, father and half-brothers, as well as forensic and psychological experts.
Ben Tomsett is a Multimedia Journalist for the New Zealand Herald, based in Dunedin.