State coroner hands down findings into Daniel Morcombe’s abduction and murder

It’s been 15 years since Daniel Morcombe was kidnapped and killed by a serial sex offender — triggering massive changes in the way police work.

Daniel Morcombe’s family say they will be forever haunted by the chilling description of the kidnap and murder by the “repulsive paedophile” who killed their son.

But they are grateful for the coronial inquest that began in 2010 and ultimately led to Daniel’s body being found, and life in jail for the killer, Brett Peter Cowan.

Speaking outside court today, Daniel’s father Bruce Morcombe said the coroner’s findings were “very powerful”.

Mr Morcombe said the coroner identified “a couple of areas where the Morcombe family had considered that Queensland Police, in hindsight, could’ve done better”.

State coroner Terry Ryan handed down two recommendations today.

There will be a thorough review into Queensland Police cases of missing person and suspected murders at the 12 month mark.

Mr Morcombe said that recommendation was an “excellent decision”.

Secondly, the coroner recommended the state goverment change the law to release remains to grieving families quicker.

“We had to wait for many months after Daniel was found. The coroner wants that changed and to make it a lot quicker,” his mother Denise Morcombe said.

Mr Ryan handed down his findings today, just over 15 years since the 13-year-old disappeared at a bus stop on his way to buy Christmas presents for his family in 2003.

Mr Ryan only made the two recommendations, telling the court there had already been a number of positive changes made in Queensland Police — especially in response to missing children.

Daniel disappeared in 2003.

The police response to the disappearance of Daniel did not pay enough attention to his murderer Brett Peter Cowan as a suspect, Mr Ryan told the court.

Mr Ryan said the immediate police response was adequate but “more could have been done” regarding the investigation into Cowan’s involvement.

The long-running inquest began examining if and when Daniel had died, and the adequacy of the police response.

The first question has been answered for Daniel’s parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe and their family who in a statement recognise the extraordinary efforts of police whose covert operation extracted a confession and re-enactment of events.

“The repulsive paedophile’s callous description of what took place that day and what he did to our much loved Daniel is chilling to say the least,” the family said in the statement.

“His words have scarred us and will haunt us all forever.

“Today, collectively as a family we move on but individually we never forget,” they said ahead of the coroner’s findings.

Denise and Bruce Morcombe fought for an inquest into their son’s death. Picture: Lachie Millard

Cowan, now serving life in jail for Daniel’s murder, was arrested in 2011 after confessing to undercover officers in the elaborate police sting.

The inquest was put on hold while Cowan faced criminal proceedings, was convicted in 2014 and then exhausted his appeals.

It resumed again in 2016, hearing about the police handling of the case.

Former police officer Dennis Martyn told the reopened inquest he concluded Cowan had abducted the 13-year-old soon after interviewing him.

He said he told the then head of the homicide squad Mike Condon it was Cowan but was told to “f*** off”.

Brett Peter Cowan was found guilty of the abduction and murder of Daniel.

His former police partner, Kenneth King, also testified he had considered Cowan a key suspect, but the major incident response team did not immediately pursue their lead.

Mr Condon told the inquest the conversation with Mr Martyn never took place, a claim he reiterated outside court.

The inquest also heard Maroochydore police did not appreciate that Daniel’s disappearance was out of character, treating it as a teenage runaway.

The coroner heard their actions were consistent with police policy at the time.

The inquest also heard Cowan had been incredibly lucky in managing to coax Daniel away without leaving any forensic evidence or being identified in a more definitive manner.

Daniel’s family say that from the “dark place” they have endured, they have managed to generate a momentum of hope and their son’s legacy lives on with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation set up to keep children safe.

Originally published as State coroner hands down findings into Daniel Morcombe’s abduction and murder