Samuel Brown: Inquest into Burleigh Bombers player’s death delayed

Answers to how a young Burleigh Bombers player suffered severe head injuries — and later died — on the side of a major road almost nine years ago are being delayed. Here’s why.

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ANSWERS to how a young Burleigh Bombers Aussie rules player suffered severe head injuries — and later died — on the side of a major road almost nine years ago are being delayed because a key expert cannot be found.

Samuel Brown was found on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach in the early hours of November 25, 2012. He died later in hospital.

It is still not clear how the 20-year-old suffered severe head trauma.

An inquest in the Southport Coroner’s Court in March 2018 was adjourned to gather more clues. None have been forthcoming.

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Samuel Brown’s family are still waiting for answers as to how he died.

A Coroner’s Court spokeswoman said this week: “A delay in the inquest of Mr Samuel Brown has been in relation to sourcing a biomechanical engineer who specialises in head injuries.

“This evidence is required in order for the Coroner to finalise the inquest. A time frame cannot be provided at this stage.”

At the inquest in 2018, one expert said it was likely Mr Brown’s injuries were caused by a car. Another expert contested that theory.

In 2015, a taxi driver was charged with failing to stop, but those charges were later dropped.

Mr Brown, a keen Aussie rules player with the Burleigh Bombers, was found about a kilometre away from where he had attended an “uneventful” birthday party.

The inquest in 2018 was told that Mr Brown left the party with his friend Robert Cosgrove. They decided to head to Broadbeach by foot when they were unable to get a taxi.

The funeral of Samuel Brown at the Dream Centre Church at Carrara .

Mr Cosgrove told the inquest he left Mr Brown on the side of the road alone, drunk, shoeless and without a working mobile phone so he could meet a girl he met on an online dating website.

Mr Brown was found injured about half an hour after Mr Cosgrove left.

Mr Cosgrove had previously told Mr Brown’s family he lost track of where his mate had gone.

Despite Mr Brown not wearing shoes, no injuries were found on his feet, the inquest was told.

Mr Brown’s family in 2018 made a plea for any witnesses to come forward.

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