a day ago
Father ‘rapt' investigation to reopen
Lachie Jones' father feels his six-year campaign against police findings was "justified" after a coroner has directed further investigation into his son's death.
Yesterday, Coroner Alexander Ho delivered his long-awaited findings regarding the death of the 3-year-old Gore boy, and directed the police to undertake further inquiries.
"The police's early conclusion in the first investigation that this was an explained accidental drowning meant that they did not approach the witness evidence phase with the rigour that I would have expected, and now require, to determine the issues before me," the coroner said.
He said the cause of death was "inconclusive" and was keeping his coronial inquiry open.
Lachie's father, Paul Jones, never subscribed to the idea that his son ran 1.2km away from his home, barefoot and wearing a soiled nappy.
Speaking outside court yesterday, he said he was "rapt" with the coroner's direction for the police to re-investigate.
"It's hard to take it all in. We've been justified in what we were doing," he said.
Police who completed the initial investigation had "no respect for a 3-year-old wee boy and any of his family", he said.
He felt police spent the five weeks at the inquest trying to "cover [up] their own shambles" and had little faith they would complete the new investigation thoroughly.
Mr Jones called for out-of-town police to carry out the work directed by the coroner.
"For the police to move forward in this country and have credibility, they've got to have accountability," he said.
He still believed someone else was involved in Lachie's death, despite the coroner finding that was unlikely.
"It should've been a homicide investigation from day one, but the police didn't even consider that," he said.
"It's important now that my son's never forgotten in this country. I've fought for him and I'm proud to be here today for him."
Paul Jones is still waiting for answers about the death of his son Lachie. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Yesterday, Mr Jones sat in the same room he was in more than a year ago when the inquest into his son's death began.
He was wearing the same "#Justice4Lachie" hoodie and was surrounded by a full public gallery of supporters, many wearing matching tops.
Lachie's mother, Michelle Officer, and his two half-brothers were not present yesterday, and most lawyers attended by video link.
The coroner explained he made the somewhat unusual choice to deliver his findings in person because he felt it "does right by Lachie".
Yesterday was three weeks after what would have been Lachie's 10th birthday.
"I acknowledge again the loss that each of you who knew and loved Lachie have suffered," the coroner said.
Supporters in the public gallery were visibly excited to learn there was going to be a new investigation into the death.
Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson said police "acknowledge" the coroner's findings and would now consider his direction for a third investigation.
"We will work diligently on all aspects we need to undertake to progress that with the appropriate resources and urgency to complete this direction as is required," he said.
"Police want to acknowledge Lachie's family and the impact his death and the subsequent processes have had on them."
He reiterated the initial action following Lachie's death "fell short of the high expectations" police had for themselves.
The coroner berated police for their failings in the first two investigations and said if he had the power to, he would direct the re-investigation be led by an experienced officer from outside Southland.
While many rumours and theories about Lachie's death were shut down by the coroner, he was still left with lingering questions.
He considered it was "both necessary and appropriate for further investigations to take place so that any outstanding matters can be resolved or narrowed to the extent possible".
Those matters included bombshell information revealed for the first time at the inquest by council worker David McKewen.
Coroner Alexander Ho. Photo: file
The witness claimed he saw three people, including a small child in a hi-vis vest, near the ponds on February 29, 2019.
Mr McKewen never told police about the sighting, but the coroner did not believe he had made it up five years later.
The identity of the trio could not be determined, but would be a matter of further investigation.
The coroner identified an apparent inconsistency about when Lachie's half-brother Jonathan last saw the boy.
"This leaves open a range of possibilities about the care and supervision of Lachie that evening," the coroner said.
He thought further exploration of that point would be beneficial.
The coroner urged anyone with any further information to contact police.
Applause from the public gallery ended the hearing.
Key findings
• The coroner found there was no evidence of anyone directly causing harm to Lachie Jones.
• There were numerous shortcomings in the police investigation into the matter.
• The coroner made no conclusive finding as to Lachie's cause of death because a full postmortem was not conducted.
• It was "the most likely scenario" that the boy ran to the oxidation ponds where he died.
• Lachie's mother did not tell "the whole truth" during the hearing, the coroner believed.
