William Tyrrell inquest hears Paul Savage was on the phone when toddler disappeared

THE lead detective investigating the suspected abduction of William Tyrrell “deliberately misled” a person of interest during a “deeply troubling” police ­interview, an inquest heard.

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THE lead detective investigating the suspected abduction of William Tyrrell “deliberately misled” a person of interest during a “deeply troubling” police ­interview, an inquest heard.

Paul Savage lived across the road from the Kendall house where William vanished while playing in his foster grandmother’s garden on September 12, 2014.

Mr Savage was questioned a number of times by police, including retired homicide detective Gary Jubelin­, who was stood down from the case before being charged in June with four counts of illegally ­recording someone during the investigation.

Former NSW Detective Gary Jubelin. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Paul Savage arrives at the inquest into the disappearance of William Tyrrell. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Mr Savage’s barrister Chris McGorey said it was “deeply troubling” that Mr Jubelin had told his client that William was last seen heading “right towards where you were sitting on the balcony, having your toast … (when) someone’s taken him”.

“There are assertions in there that are damaging for my client,” Mr McGorey told the NSW Coroners Court yesterday.

“You simply can’t assert that positively, can you?” he asked Detective Sergeant Laura Beacroft, who joined the investigation in 2015.

“Not positively,” Sgt Beacroft replied.

Mr McGorey argued it was also wrong for Mr ­Jubelin to suggest Mr Savage had a good view of where William was last seen.

A photo Sgt Beacroft took from Mr Savage’s patio was shown to the inquest. “He wouldn’t have had a clear line of sight,” Mr McGorey said. “Yes, I agree,” Sgt Beacroft said.

Mr McGorey said it was “improper for an officer to deliberately mislead Mr Savage”, adding: “Perhaps Mr Jubelin’s been careless.”

Mr Jubelin has not been asked to give evidence at the inquest but outside court he said: “I’m sure I’ll get an ­opportunity at some stage to explain my actions.

William Tyrrell was aged three at the time of his disappearance. Picture: Police Media

“It is difficult hearing people speculating about what’s operating on your mind and your decisions.

“But let’s have faith in the coronial process.”

Mr Savage told the inquest he’d been for a bushwalk nearby and returned home to have tea and toast on his patio about 8.50am the day William went missing. “While I was sitting out the front I could hear the sound of children playing,” Mr Savage wrote in his police statement.

Sgt Beacroft earlier said she ­believes William disappeared between 10.05am and 10.20am.

A photo taken by police from Paul Savage’s balcony.

Phone records show Mr Savage spoke to his brother in hospital for eight minutes to 10.07am. The now-widower said he then helped his wife tidy the kitchen before she left at 10.38am for bingo.

William’s foster mother called triple-0 just before 11am, saying he’d been missing for 15-20 minutes.

The inquest continues, as police are searching bushland near Kendall for new clues.