Paul Kingsbury inquest: Coroner says ‘absence of answers’ hangs over Geelong man’s death

A convicted killer was possibly involved in the likely murder of a Geelong man who vanished without a trace from a Moolap property, a Victorian coroner has found.

A Victorian coroner has found Leopold father Paul Kingsbury, 27, is dead and that his death likely involved at least one other person.

A convicted killer was possibly involved in the likely murder of a Geelong man who vanished without a trace from a Moolap property, a Victorian coroner has found.

But coroner Leveasque Peterson stopped short of declaring the person responsible for the death of Paul John Kingsbury, who was last seen being walked out of a shed at gunpoint by known criminal John Nelis almost 10 years ago.

Nelis, the prime suspect in the baffling 2014 disappearance, would shoot his friend, Chris “Legzy” Jacobs dead in a Corio caravan years later, pleading guilty to manslaughter over his death in 2021.

Ms Peterson, in handing down her finding after a lengthy inquest, said although she did not have sufficient evidence to name Mr Kingsbury’s killer “there is no evidence that excludes John Nelis as a person who may have been involved in the circumstances that led to his death.”

John Nelis is a prime suspect in the murder Leopold father Paul Kingsbury.

“The temporal proximity of the hostile interactions that John Nelis had with Paul, together with Paul’s subsequent disappearance, are highly suggestive of his involvement,” her report read.

“But this does not exclude the possibility that another or other people may have caused Paul’s death.”

The inquest heard Mr Kingsbury, then 27, was kidnapped and held hostage by Nelis and another alleged associate over an argument involving two stolen guns.

He has not been seen or heard from since being removed from the Larkins Lane shed at 3.15am on the morning of July 6, 2014.

His body has never been found.

Copy photos of Paul Kingsbury as a teenager

Evidence established and presented as part of the inquest found Nelis returned to the shed at approximately 3.30am and said, “It’s done” and “it’s been sorted”.

Nelis was arrested and charged by police in relation to the disappearance weeks later.

The charges were later withdrawn.

The coronial inquest also heard investigators received numerous reports Mr Kingsbury’s disappearance was caused because of an outstanding debt with another well-known Geelong crook, Aaron Burnie.

A witness report stated that on the morning in question, Burnie had a “a fresh wound to the webbing on one of his hands.”

He was interviewed by police on April 3, 2015.

Aaron Burnie.

He said nothing, and the case has been cold since.

Ms Peterson concluded while she was satisfied Mr Kingsbury was dead, the circumstances surrounding his demise remain unknown.

“It is unfortunate that despite an extensive police investigation, the inquest into Paul’s death has not resolved how Paul died and the location of his body,” she said.

“These are fundamental questions where an absence of answers will continue to cause great sadness and distress to Paul’s family.”

Originally published as Paul Kingsbury inquest: Coroner says ‘absence of answers’ hangs over Geelong man’s death