Timothy Hunt, Jazmine Shier revealed as alleged co-conspirators in Tony Rowe disappearance

The identity of an alleged co-conspirator in the disappearance of Darwin man Tony Rowe can be revealed for the first time on the eve of the one year anniversary since he went missing.

The identity of a second person charged over the disappearance of missing Darwin man Tony Rowe can be revealed for the first time exactly one year after he vanished without a trace.

The 36-year-old was last seen leaving the Hibiscus Tavern where he had been drinking with a group of people on May 28 last year and was reported missing before the case went cold.

NT Police announced last week they had charged a 21-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with offences relating to his sudden disappearance but had kept the details of their court appearances under wraps as officers concluded their investigations.

The 29-year-old man, Timothy Hunt, was extradited from Queensland charged with committing a violent act that caused Mr Rowe’s death some time after he went missing exactly one year ago on Sunday.

It can now be revealed Western Australian woman Jazmine Shier was also charged in relation to Mr Rowe’s disappearance and faces one count each of destruction of evidence and making a false declaration.

Shier first faced court on May 15 and Hunt appeared in the Darwin Local Court three days later, but the listings were not made public to protect the integrity of the ongoing police probe.

Prosecutors successfully applied for an order banning the publication of their names and any other details but returned to court on Wednesday to retract the application as Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White was preparing to deliver an update on the investigation.

During the brief hearing, Crown prosecutor Damien Jones told Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris the suppression order was no longer required.

“Both the officers in charge had advised me that there was still some lines of inquiry that they wished to pursue,” he said.

“The investigation is still ongoing, however, they didn’t necessarily want it in the public forum about those particular issues and the like.”

Mr Jones said “the sole reason for the application” had been because “there were still some avenues to pursue” and “that’s now been done so there’s really no reason for it to (remain) in place”.

“Surprisingly to the prosecution, the police moved quite swiftly in relation to those lines of inquiry to the point where I was contacted not long after I actually obtained the orders and (the investigator) said ‘We’ve progressed the matter quite swiftly’ and as a result, they didn’t want the (orders) in place any longer,” he said.

Hunt’s lawyer Luke Officer said with prosecutors withdrawing their objection to his client’s name being made public he could not see “any possible basis” for the order to continue.

As court staff were preparing the present the pair for their court appearance via video link from Holtze Prison, Ms Morris asked whether they should be “in the same room” to which Mr Jones replied “No, absolutely not”.

NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said Timothy Hunt and Jazmine Shier ‘may have been with him at the time’ Tony Rowe was last seen. Picture: Jason Walls

Later that day, Mr White said police understood Hunt and Shier “may have been with him at the time” Mr Rowe was seen drinking at the Hibiscus Tavern before “there was some sort of altercation”.

“He was with a group of people at a local establishment drinking and that was the last time he was seen,” he said.

“We knew the persons of interest had travelled interstate so we’ve worked very closely with our colleagues in Queensland and Western Australia.”

Mr White said Mr Rowe’s remains had “not been found at this stage”.

“We’re working very closely with family to ensure ongoing updates as it has obviously caused no end of grief for them,” he said.

“We’ve been working with his mother closely since he was reported missing and we’re doing everything we can to find Tony to give her the final closure she needs to have.”

On Saturday, a spokeswoman for NT Police would not confirm whether Mr Rowe’s remains had been found but said investigations into his disappearance were ongoing.

“Northern Territory Police are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of Tony Rowe,” she said.

“The investigation is complex and involves police specialists, including forensic analysis.

“Further updates will be provided during the course of the investigation.”

Originally published as Timothy Hunt, Jazmine Shier revealed as alleged co-conspirators in Tony Rowe disappearance