Retired detective names man as main living suspect in Annette Mason murder

A retired detective who investigated Toowoomba teen Annette Mason’s 1989 murder says he has no doubt about the main living suspect.

Annette Mason was killed in 1989.

One of the original investigators of Toowoomba teenager Annette Mason’s killing has told a court he had no doubt that a now-convicted murderer was involved in her murder.

Retired Toowoomba detective Brian Tighe was asked by barrister Clem van der Weegen, for the Mason family, whether he believed Allan McQueen was still the main suspect.

“Not a doubt in my mind about that,’’ Mr Tighe said, but qualified it by saying he was talking about living suspects.

He named two others who were also suspects, one of whom was dead, and one whom he believed was in prison.

Retired detective Brian Tighe at Brisbane Coroners Court today

Allan McQueen

Annette Mason, 15, was found bludgeoned to death in her bed at a home in Toowoomba on November 19, 1989.

During the second inquest into Annette’s suspected murder, which reopened last month after being adjourned in 2018, Allan McQueen was named as a person of interest.

McQueen was sentenced to life in prison more than 24 years ago for bludgeoning an inmate to death with weights in a prison.

Mr Tighe agreed that his approach to the investigation from 1991 was to leave no stone unturned and that he had dismissed some suspects.

McQueen’s barrister, Damian Walsh, questioned Mr Tighe about other suspects during the murder investigation.

Mr Tighe named another man as possibly a principal offender and a woman who was possibly an accessory.

He said another suspect was deported before he could question him about information that came from two witnesses.

Mr Tighe said when he said that he had no doubt that Allan McQueen was involved in Annette Mason’s murder he said another suspect, now dead, had told his mother that “McQueen did it’’.

State Coroner Terry Ryan said if any person was suggested for referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions as a result of the inquest, they would have an opportunity to respond.

Mr Ryan thanked Annette Mason’s family for attending, saying he recognised it would have been very confronting hearing the evidence more than 30 years after Annette’s death.

Annette Mason’s mother (left) and Annette’s sister Linda Mason outside Brisbane Coroners Court today

Annette’s sister Linda Mason said outside the court that after 33 years the family had got their answers about Annette’s death and they were now awaiting the Coroner’s findings.

“We’re right at the end of getting closure now. We’ve got answers now, we just want that little bit more, we want to get someone charged and then we’ll be there,’’ Ms Mason said.

She said it was so good to know that their part was now finished and it was down to the police and Director of Public Prosecutions to hopefully to do the rest.

“I encourage other families that who may be in the same situation to stand up and fight, because you may get a result at the end of it,’’ Ms Mason said.

“It was worth it. I’d do it again a thousand times, to get what we got this week.’’

Ms Mason said she thought Annette would be very proud that they had pushed for the second inquest.

“I like to remember her as a caring, loving, honest, hard working loyal little girl ... She was my little sister.

Ms Mason said Annette was so young at heart, a girl who loved teddy bears.

The State Coroner will deliver his findings in coming months, after submissions from lawyers.

A younger Allan McQueen