William Tyrrell’s foster mother pleads not guilty to misleading NSW Crime Commission

The foster mum of missing toddler William Tyrrell has pleaded not guilty to misleading the NSW Crime Commission, with her lawyer today calling for a hearing date to be set.

The foster mother of William Tyrrell is pleading not guilty to a charge of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence during a hearing about the boy’s disappearance, her lawyer says.

On Tuesday the 56-year-old’s legal representative Rylie Hahn-Hamilton told registrar James Wiseman at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court that a hearing date needed to be set so the foster mother could fight the charge.

The court was told the hearing would be expected to last two days, with the prosecution to call a “police informant” as a witness.

Tyrrell’s foster mother plead not guilty to the charge, alleging she gave false or misleading information to the NSW Crime Commission, in May and was absent as the court heard that pleas of not guilty had been entered.

An interim suppression order is in place, meaning the woman’s identity can’t be revealed.

William Tyrrell’s foster mother, who cannot be identified. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

William Tyrrell has been missing since September, 2014. Picture: NSW Police

William Tyrrell was three years old when he vanished from his foster grandmother’s home at Kendall on the north coast in 2014.

In April police released a statement saying detectives from Strike Force Rosann had issued a Future Court Attendance Notice to a 56-year-old woman “for knowingly give false or misleading evidence at a hearing”.

Strike Force Rosann was set up to investigate the disappearance and probable murder of William Tyrrell.

Detectives spent more than a month late last year digging through thick bushland near the Kendall home Tyrrell disappeared from, with little to show for it.

William’s foster father was charged earlier this year with a similar charge relating to giving false or misleading information to the NSW Crime Commission.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Both of Tyrrell’s foster parents have pleaded not guilty to charges in November last year in relation to the alleged assault of another child that isn’t William.

William’s disappearance

William Tyrrell was three years old when he went missing from his grandmother’s home in Benaroon Drive, Kendall on September 12, 2014.

One of the most recognised pictures of William Tyrrell, dressed in his Spider-Man outfit. Picture: NSW Police

Since that time, police have searched the area a number of times, the latest being in late 2021, but they have found no trace of the little boy.

In 2016, police offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the discovery of William, which still remains in place.

A coronial inquest into William’s disappearance was launched in March 2019 and over the course of the hearing, evidence was heard from William’s biological parents, as well as his foster parents.

In June 2021, the findings of the inquest were delayed and no date has been set for the coronial inquest to resume — although it was originally slated for March this year.

In November 2021, police launched a new search of the area around William’s grandmother’s house after receiving new information. It was understood police were looking for his remains but once again, no trace of William was found in the Kendall area.

When police wrapped up their latest search, they left behind a memorial that reads: “We will never give up.”

Tyrrell’s foster parents have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing over William’s disappearance and have never been charged in relation to it.

Originally published as William Tyrrell’s foster mother pleads not guilty to misleading NSW Crime Commission