Daniel Morcombe disappearance and murder: Inquest continues

UPDATE: The father of murdered Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe says the delay in examining evidence of his son’s now-convicted killer was too long.

THE father of slain Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe says the delay in examining evidence of his son’s now-convicted killer was too long.

Bruce Morcombe said his family’s submissions to the Coroner would focus on the process for reviewing evidence.

“Almost a decade has passed before those tape lifts [from Brett Peter Cowan’s car] were eventually examined and, from our perspective, that’s far too long,” he said.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe outside court.

Samples taken from Cowan’s vehicle in 2003 were not examined until 2011, the inquest into the abduction and murder of Daniel Morcombe had heard earlier this morning.

Inspector Darren Pobar, who was tasked with reviewing the forensic examination, gave evidence via phone and was asked about tape lifts that were taken from Cowan’s car on December 24, 2003.

The Morcombe’s lawyer Peter Boyce queried why the samples weren’t examined until 2011.

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

Prison image of Brett Peter Cowan.

Inspector Pobar said they were submitted to Queensland Health and the delay could be due to “a number of reasons”, including exhibits being re-prioritised.

“Queensland Health may be able to assist more,” he said.

“Hair examinations and tape lifts were a low priority back in 2003 ... they were a lower-yield item.

“Most likely more probative exhibits were submitted over that time, which would re-prioritise the hair.

“They were re-prioritised a number of times, and first looked at in 2008.”

The inquest heard a tape lift was taken from each seat in Cowan’s vehicle, with a further one taken from the boot.

He told the inquest that examining hair was a labour-intensive process with the technology developed through the years.

Asked if he knew what police were doing to chase up the samples, Inspector Pobar said he couldn’t comment.

DANIEL ASSUMED TO BE TEEN RUNAWAY CASE

THE initial police response to Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance was “inadequate” and based on the “inappropriate assumption” that it was simply a teenage runaway case, the inquest has heard.

But counsel assisting the coroner Peter Johns told the Brisbane Coroner’s Court, in his submissions, that criticism should be levelled at the practices that were in place in 2003, instead of any individual officer.

“[There’s] no clear indication that you can find they breached any aspect of QPS policy,” he said.

He said more could have been done in terms of investigative strategies directed towards Brett Peter Cowan.

But Mr Johns pointed out there was no evidence suggesting it could have made a difference to the outcome of the case.

Daniel Morcombe went missing from a Sunshine Coast bus stop in 2003.

“We know Daniel was deceased by the time he was [realised] missing,” he said.

“[And Cowan] was familiar with forensic techniques.”

“He was somebody who would not make admissions even with the most overwhelming evidence against him.”

“It took an enormous weight to get to the point where he made admissions.”

He said Cowan was “incredibly lucky” in managing to coax Daniel away without leaving any notable forensic evidence, or being identified.

“In this case he was lucky not only in not being identified, he was lucky for whatever reason a person in a blue car also pulled up at the scene,” he said.

“It created an enormous red herring.”

He described the later “Mr Big” ploy that ensnared Cowan as an “elaborate and clever and well executed police operation”.

Daniel Morcombe in a supplied photo.

He also paid tribute to the tireless advocacy and work of Bruce and Denise Morcombe.

The Morcombes have been given until next Friday to lodge their written submissions, while the Queensland Police Service have until January.

Mr Johns said they have had to “wade through a sea of miscreants”.

He said the case was a triumph for the community.

“Cowan was caught ... in the most unlikely of positions,” he said.

“That happened predominantly thanks to the work of hundreds and hundreds of members of the community, from Daniel’s own family, to the many members of the SES who helped search for Daniel, and ultimately after Cowan pointed out the burial, dug painstakingly through the dirt and mud over many days to find signs of his body, to the hundreds of Queensland police officers who worked over many years ... to the WA police ... and undercover officers ...” he said.

“This is the result of all of that work.”

He also said it was testament to the advocacy of the Morcombes that there is little for the coroner to recommend.

CONDON DEFENDS MORCOMBE INVESTIGATION

QUEENSLAND Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon says it was impossible to ignore the evidence of 84 people who saw a blue car near the site of Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance.

Speaking outside court at the conclusion of an inquest into Daniel’s death, Mr Condon defended the lengthy investigation into the 13-year-old’s disappearance and death.

Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon outside court. Pic: AAP Image/Dan Peled

“This was unique in terms of having 84 good meaning people of the community who saw a blue car during the critical times with one or two suspects of which some witnesses said were trying to get Daniel into the car,” he said.

“You would be foolish not to follow that.”

He again slammed claims he told an officer to “f**k off” for suggesting Brett Cowan was a strong suspect early on in the investigation.

“It was an outrageous lie,” he said.

“That officer committed perjury on oath.

“Cowan was never dismissed, the evidence clearly shows that from 2003 to 2011 ... up to the point of his conviction, he was never dismissed at a suspect.”

Speaking outside the inquest, the Morcombes acknowledged that if Cowan was captured earlier, they might not have recovered their son’s remains.

“While there is potential evidence, or evidence, that could have been gathered further, at the end of the day the incredible covert operation not only found a person guilty — and the right person — but it also led to the findings of Daniel’s remains,” Mr Morcombe said.

“Who was guilty and who was responsible for that crime was always second priority (for us).

“The first priority for us was to find Daniel — and to that end it was achieved.”

“We balance that up by saying that if indeed there was an earlier arrest, we may never have found Daniel.”

He also thanked the Australian community and said they want to push forward with the concept of a publicly-accessible sex offenders register.