Lachie Jones inquest: Coroner delays releasing findings, asks for more submissions
But mortuary technician William (Bill) Little - who helped to conduct the autopsy - said there were no signs Lachlan had been frozen.
Lachlan appeared to be a well-nourished young boy, he said.
The autopsy team - Little and a pathologist whose name is suppressed - was given no information to suggest anything suspicious had happened, he said.
'The general conversation once we'd both read the Pol 47 (a report the police prepare) was that it is a routine procedure,' Little said.
'There was nothing at all there to indicate to us that there was a suspicious or unexplained cause of death.'
Little also fielded questions about missing photos, which he said were lost when the mortuary computer was disposed of after the mortuary was decommissioned from doing coronial work.
Coroner's counsel Simon Mount KC asked him why the autopsy was not as thorough as the one initially requested, and why the phone call with a duty coroner that led to that change was not recorded.
'That is what the procedure should have been. But in this case I don't there was a redirection issued,' Little said.
'I think he was just on a little adventure'
Preschool teacher Leisa Diamond described Lachlan as a well-behaved boy with a good grasp of right and wrong.
His mother told the inquest earlier that he had run away with a full nappy when she tried to change him on the night he died.
Diamond said that was not the Lachlan she remembered, but in response to questions from police lawyer Robin Bates, she said children could act differently at preschool than they did at home.
When asked if she thought he could climb the wooden fence near the sewage pond, she said it would be very difficult and she did not think he would have any interest to try to do it.
In her statement, she said Lachlan was not one to run away.
She was also asked to explain why she had said she could imagine Lachlan going off an adventure while pretending to be a police officer.
'At that time, I didn't know any other facts.
'How long it was, where he was found, any of those other - what he had to go over so I think in what I had in my head was he was just on a little adventure being a police man,' Diamond said.
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NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Lachie Jones inquest: Coroner delays releasing findings, asks for more submissions
But mortuary technician William (Bill) Little - who helped to conduct the autopsy - said there were no signs Lachlan had been frozen. Lachlan appeared to be a well-nourished young boy, he said. The autopsy team - Little and a pathologist whose name is suppressed - was given no information to suggest anything suspicious had happened, he said. 'The general conversation once we'd both read the Pol 47 (a report the police prepare) was that it is a routine procedure,' Little said. 'There was nothing at all there to indicate to us that there was a suspicious or unexplained cause of death.' Little also fielded questions about missing photos, which he said were lost when the mortuary computer was disposed of after the mortuary was decommissioned from doing coronial work. Coroner's counsel Simon Mount KC asked him why the autopsy was not as thorough as the one initially requested, and why the phone call with a duty coroner that led to that change was not recorded. 'That is what the procedure should have been. But in this case I don't there was a redirection issued,' Little said. 'I think he was just on a little adventure' Preschool teacher Leisa Diamond described Lachlan as a well-behaved boy with a good grasp of right and wrong. His mother told the inquest earlier that he had run away with a full nappy when she tried to change him on the night he died. Diamond said that was not the Lachlan she remembered, but in response to questions from police lawyer Robin Bates, she said children could act differently at preschool than they did at home. When asked if she thought he could climb the wooden fence near the sewage pond, she said it would be very difficult and she did not think he would have any interest to try to do it. In her statement, she said Lachlan was not one to run away. She was also asked to explain why she had said she could imagine Lachlan going off an adventure while pretending to be a police officer. 'At that time, I didn't know any other facts. 'How long it was, where he was found, any of those other - what he had to go over so I think in what I had in my head was he was just on a little adventure being a police man,' Diamond said.
1News
01-05-2025
- 1News
Wairoa residents uneasy after spate of gang crimes
There's a sense of unease in Wairoa after two private properties were shot at by gangs in the past 10 days. Wairoa Business Association chairperson Sue Wilson told RNZ there was a big police presence in town, which was welcomed by business owners. "It gives us a sense of security and outlines the fact crime won't be tolerated here in Wairoa. People have noticed dog handlers driving around town and other police cars, so that's great we are seeing them on the street," she said. The shootings have put people on edge. "It definitely does make people feel uneasy, especially when they're shooting in public area such as the Frasertown Hotel... but we just hope the police can catch these offenders and stomp it out," Wilson said. This was a feeling shared by Wairoa Mayor Craig Little. "There've been two properties with a couple of gunshots, and also a Molotov cocktail chucked at one house." Little said he had talked with police Monday morning, who reassured him there had not been any inter-gang conflicts since Thursday. "Here we are celebrating Anzac Day and where so many sacrificed their lives, and these clowns are out shooting at people - it's just not acceptable. "There's nothing brave about shooting someone's house," he said. Police have invoked the Gang Conflict Warrant 28 times since it was first issued on 24 April. The mayor told RNZ that since the Gangs Act came into force in November 2024, there has been less crime, which makes this latest spate of gang fights all the more frustrating. "It's just disappointing - we are trying to do so many good things in Wairoa and a few clowns really stuff it up for everyone else," said Little. Two men - aged 18 and 35 - were charged with aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons in relation to an incident on Tuesday night when shots were fired at houses in Wairoa. On Thursday night, a 21-year-old man was arrested on drug and driving-related charges. A 21-year-old woman was also arrested for disorderly behaviour, and a 50-year-old man was arrested for breaching bail. On Saturday, police said a 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with prohibited display of gang insignia and 42-year-old Wairoa man has been charged with possession of cannabis. On Sunday, police said a 44-year-old Napier man had been arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and a set of knuckle dusters was seized. By Alexa Cook of
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Locals uneasy after spate of gang crimes in Wairoa
By Alexa Cook of RNZ There's a sense of unease in Wairoa after two private properties were shot at by gangs in the past 10 days. Wairoa Business Association Chair Sue Wilson told RNZ there was a big police presence in the North Island town, which was welcomed by business owners. "It gives us a sense of security and outlines the fact crime won't be tolerated here in Wairoa. "People have noticed dog handlers driving around town and other police cars, so that's great we are seeing them on the street," she said. The shootings have put people on edge. "It definitely does make people feel uneasy, especially when they're shooting in public area such as the Frasertown Hotel... but we just hope the police can catch these offenders and stomp it out," Wilson said. This was a feeling shared by Wairoa Mayor Craig Little. "There've been two properties with a couple of gunshots, and also a molotov cocktail chucked at one house." Little said he had talked with police Monday morning, who reassured him there had not been any inter-gang conflicts since Thursday. "Here we are celebrating Anzac Day and where so many sacrificed their lives, and these clowns are out shooting at people - it's just not acceptable. "There's nothing brave about shooting someone's house," he said. Police have invoked the Gang Conflict Warrant 28 times since it was first issued on April 24. The mayor told RNZ that since the Gangs Act came into force in November 2024, there has been less crime, which makes this latest spate of gang fights all the more frustrating. "It's just disappointing - we are trying to do so many good things in Wairoa and a few clowns really stuff it up for everyone else," said Little. Spate of arrests Two men - aged 18 and 35 - were charged with aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons in relation to an incident on Tuesday night when shots were fired at houses in Wairoa. On Thursday night, a 21-year-old man was arrested on drug and driving-related charges. A 21-year-old woman was also arrested for disorderly behaviour, and a 50-year-old man was arrested for breaching bail. On Saturday, police said a 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with prohibited display of gang insignia and 42a -year-old Wairoa man has been charged with possession of cannabis. On Sunday, police said a 44-year-old Napier man had been arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and a set of knuckle dusters was seized.
