Criminologist Dr Michael Kennedy says Tyrrell case is a ‘major stuff-up’

There has been a “major stuff-up” in the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrrell, a former police officer and criminologist says.

There has been a “major stuff-up” in the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrrell, where police have been under pressure to get outcomes not possible without “eroding due process”, a former police officer and criminologist says.

Dr Michael Kennedy, now Associate Professor at the University of New England, said the eight-year investigation into the disappearance of the boy was “a classic example of chaos in a matter where the end doesn’t justify the means”.

Dr Kennedy was speaking after a Sydney magistrate found William’s foster mother not guilty of knowingly giving false or misleading evidence during a secret hearing of the NSW Crime Commission.

The 57-year-old woman held back tears outside court after being acquitted, saying she hoped the police would now “focus on finding William and what happened to him”.

The woman, who cannot be identified, was hauled before the NSW Crime Commission to answer questions about the disappearance of William from Kendall on September 12, 2014.

William Tyrrell was just three years old when he went missing seven years ago. Picture: Police Media

In November 2021, then-NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told 2GB: “There is one person in particular we are looking closely at.”

In court this week, a senior detective revealed police believed William’s foster mother knew where he was buried.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Lonergan told the court that he believed William had been buried in an area on the corner of Batar Creek Rd and Cobb and Co Rd on the outskirts of Kendall.

The area was searched by police and volunteers last year but they found no evidence.

Police this week would not comment on what this meant to their investigation — given they claimed they knew where the body was. The search has been suspended.

There has been no evidence made public that implicates William’s foster mother and she strenuously denies any involvement or wrongdoing. She has never been charged in relation to William’s disappearance.

William’s foster parents leaving Downing Centre Courts last week, after the mother was found not guilty of lying to the Crime Commission. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Dr Kennedy said NSW had “gone down the path of eroding due process for the sake of getting an outcome”.

“There’s been a major stuff up and police have been expected to get outcomes that aren’t possible,” he said.

“We need to revert back to a time where police were able to be in control of their own investigations and you couldn’t put pressure on them to get outcomes because it worked politically.

“If that means a case remains unsolved then so be it, the end doesn’t justify the means.

“This is not just about protecting a victim, it’s about protecting everybody. And everybody deserves the presumption of innocence.”

Dr Kennedy said it was “wrong” to say there was one suspect. Everyone should be considered a suspect until a case is solved, he said.

He also called on the NSW Crime Commission to explain its role in the matter.

“It needs to explain itself and who agreed to this course of action but it never will,” he said.

“Rather than attack an individual copper involved, why don’t we attack the system and say this is prevalent across the board, this eroding due process.”

Police investigating the disappearance declined to comment on this week’s revelations in court or the status of the investigation.

“As there are ongoing criminal proceedings and the matter also remains subject to a coronial inquest, we will not be providing further comment,” a police spokeswoman said, referring The Telegraph to the statement issued by Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty in September.

“Every effort is — and should be — channelled toward finding William Tyrrell.

“The Homicide Squad’s Strike Force Rosann is continuing to prepare a brief for the information of the Coroner for the purpose of determining what happened to William eight years ago.

“Our investigation is very much active and ongoing, and while I won’t go into specifics, I can assure the community that various activities, including those under Coronial Orders, are being undertaken every day.”

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]