31-03-2025
Mark Haines coronial inquiry: best friend tells court he has ‘no idea' what caused teenager's death
The best friend of an Aboriginal teenager whose body was found on the railway outside Tamworth in 1988 has told a court he has 'no idea' what happened to his mate.
Glenn Mannion was asked to address relatives of Mark Haines at a coronial inquest in Sydney on Monday into the 17-year-old's death.
'I have no idea what happened to Mark or how he ended up out there,' he said.
'100%, absolutely, [I] was not there.'
A second inquest began last year, retracing the events surrounding Haines' mysterious death after an ABC investigation unearthed new evidence and led to police reopening the cold case in 2018.
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The Gomeroi teenager was found on the train tracks with a makeshift pillow under his head, about one kilometre from a crashed Holden Torana.
The initial police investigation found Haines was responsible for his own death, and a subsequent coronial inquest returned an open finding.
The court has heard the teenager was partying with friends the night before his body was found, leaving a local nightclub with his girlfriend around 2am and parting ways near her home soon after. No witnesses have given direct evidence about Haines' movements between then and when he was found on the railway at about 6am.
The court also heard from Mannion's ex-girlfriend, who alleged he had drunkenly told her he was involved in Haines' death.
Questioned about the allegations on Monday, Mannion said he 'had no such conversation'.
He told the coroner he said goodbye to Haines at the nightclub before catching a cab home, learning about the death of his 'best friend' later via a phone call.
When asked how he felt in that moment, he replied: 'I can't recall. I imagine I would've been pretty upset.'
The court heard Mannion applied to join the army about a fortnight after Haines died and left town a few months later.
Jalal Razi, the barrister acting for Haines' uncle, Don Craigie, asked whether his decision to leave Tamworth 'might give the impression to the family that you were trying to run away?'
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Mannion replied: 'If that's what they believe, that's what they believe.'
Razi also questioned Mannion about his lack of communication with Haines' family after the death and accused him of giving 'fairly short' responses to the court.
'Your answers have given the impression that you have not really wanted to volunteer much information. What do you say to that?' asked Razi.
'I've answered the questions as truthfully as I can,' Mannion replied.
The witness told the court he suffered PTSD from his time in the army, which affected his memory.
The inquest continues.
For information and support in Australia call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for a crisis support line for Indigenous Australians; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
