Video: Melbourne man Jackson Stacker’s family fighting for answers at Lismore and Byron inquest into his death
A man who says he accompanied a thief who raided the van of a Melbourne man found dead in a nearby Tweed paddock complained he was “getting grilled” at a Byron Bay death inquest.
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A rough sleeper who says he accompanied a thief who raided the van of a Melbourne man found dead in a nearby paddock complained he was “getting grilled” at a death inquest.
Victorian man Jackson Stacker’s skeletal remains were found face down under a tree at Pottsville in the Tweed on August 25, 2021 – an 18cm knife in his chest.
The inquest is probing whether the 26-year-old took his life, or if foul play was at hand.
The case, which has even resulted in questions of possible “cults” and “human sacrifices”, follows the 2020 death of Thea Liddle in Byron bushland and 2019 disappearance of Theo Hayez, a Belgian backpacker.
Mr Stacker had been travelling in his Toyota van since 2020 and spending time in the Byron Shire.
Family reported Mr Stacker missing on August 23, 2021 and he last spoke to his mum Sandey MacFarlane by phone on July 22, 2021.
The van was left at the Sleepy Hollow rest area on the highway about 30km north of Byron.
Rough sleeper Francis Stanek told the inquest he noticed the van at Sleepy Hollow and approached it when he spotted Victorian number plates.
He said: “When I first pulled up I called out thinking someone was in there. I said: ‘How you going mate? You from Victoria?’
“There was no answer. I looked in the window and it looked abandoned,” he said.
Mr Stanek said he met another rough sleeper named “Matty” who did not have a car.
The pair then checked the van out, the inquest at Byron Bay Local Court heard.
Mr Stanek told the court ‘Matty’ was “streetwise” and “shifty”. He claimed ”Matty” was addicted to alcohol and marijuana and they spent time together for a couple of days before going their separate ways.
“I don’t drink alcohol. When he drank he started getting quirky and niggly … kinda’ like he wanted to pick an argument,” Mr Stanek said.
He claimed “Matty” ransacked the van and stole a camera and other electrical items to sell.
The van was unlocked, keys were inside and he spotted Mr Stacker’s ID, he said.
Mr Stanek told the inquest he found it odd and became suspicious.
He called a number in the vehicle and Mr Stacker’s friend Mia Kidis answered. She told him Mr Stacker’s parents were concerned.
While being questioned by Senior Counsel Assisting the Coroner Kirsten Edwards, Mr Stanek became irritated.
“Because you have little leads on this case it seems like I’m getting grilled when I was just a passer-by, like I had something to do with it,” he said.
“I’m the only one being honest it seems like.
“You’re putting a lot of pressure on me.
“Whatever happened, happened long before I turned up.”
Mr Stanek said he started the van, confirmed a mechanical issue and the pair left the area.
Police were not able to locate “Matty” -described as skinny with light hair, aged in his mid-30s.
Truckie David Dasler also gave evidence about seeing Mr Stacker in the weeks leading up to his disappearance.
He overtook an “old style camper van” he said was driving erratically with blue (Victorian) number plates on the highway.
“The driver appeared to be in his 20s with a big mop of hair … he looked like he had a smile on his face, but I didn’t notice anyone else in the car,” he said.
He later spotted the van at the rest stop about 30 minutes later and said he noticed a man – who may have been Mr Stacker – with an “attractive woman” in her late 20s and a small brown dog.
Police are not sure if that was Mr Stacker.
State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan is still accepting submissions.
The courts were not able to say when further hearings will be undertaken, or when a date will be set for findings – and it could take weeks.
No one has ever been charged in relation to Mr Stacker’s death.
‘Love you Jackie boy’: Family fight for answers at NSW inquest
Earlier: The heartbroken mum of Victorian man Jackson Stacker has spoken about her family’s fight for answers almost two-and-a-half years after the beloved young traveller’s body was found in a northern NSW paddock.
It’s believed he may have been there a month. Authorities initially deemed the death as non-suspicious.
The inquest at Lismore and Byron which began Monday, has been probing the manner of death after questions were raised.
In Byron Bay Local Court on Wednesday, a video was played on screen of Mr Stacker as a young boy and a statement was made by family.
He was pictured patting animals, playing in the ocean and grinning with loved ones.
Mother Sandey MacFarlane said she spoke to her deceased son when his body was brought to Melbourne.
“Our world is poorer for your passing … I love you Jackie boy,” she said.
“My first born scallywag … you will be forever young. You were funny, complicated, deep and hurting.”
Outside court, Ms MacFarlane thanked everyone involved in the inquest and the push for answers.
“Jackson would be actually pretty grumpy with me that I was not somewhere else but here because he was so selfless,” she said.
“He would say ‘get on with it Mum, get over it Mum’. But I’ll have a chat with him occasionally and say ‘I’m still Mum, so I’m still the boss’.
“We’ll get answers one day and we’ll certainly advocate for him forever. We want his death not to be in vain.
“We love you Jackson. We love Byron and we are very grateful to everyone in the community who has helped support us through this journey.”
Mr Stacker’s family are not totally convinced he took his own life and want more information.
His scalp and dreadlocks were not attached to his head at the scene, some teeth were missing and his boots were metres away. But the inquest has indicated animal predation could also be to blame for the state of the scene.
The 26-year-old had been on the move in his trusty Toyota Hiace van since 2020.
Family reported him missing August 23, 2021 and he last spoke to his mum by phone on July 22, 2021. Mr Stacker “briefly mentioned he lost his job”, his mum said.
Family were at one stage contacted by a person wanting to buy the van left at the Sleepy Hollow rest area on the Pacific Highway about 30km north of Byron Bay, near where Mr Stacker was found
Earlier, forensics expert Professor Noel Woodford told the inquest at Lismore it was “possible” Mr Stacker’s scalp was cut from his head by force.
He told the inquest the chest wound was “most likely self-inflicted”, though other possibilities could not be ruled out.
Friend Callan Whitehead said the last time he saw Mr Stacker was at the Main Beach car park at Byron on July 24, 2021, when he seemed distressed.
Mr Whitehead told the inquest Mr Stacker returned from working on a farm and someone had told him “to go knife himself”.
“Jackson was crying so much. He had his head down and was pulling his hair out being angry, screaming and then crying again. Something wasn’t right,” he said.
“He seemed scared and told me he was tired of everything and couldn’t do it anymore.”
Mr Whitehead said he went to grab his friend a beer so they could talk, but noticed Mr Stacker driving away with a red face.
“He was just lost in tears,” he said.
“When I saw the missing poster my stomach dropped because I assumed he killed himself because he was so upset.”
On July 21, 2021 a nearby resident noticed a campfire at the tree the body was found under.
Mr Whitehead said he believed sitting in a paddock and lighting a campfire seemed like something Mr Stacker would do.
He said Mr Stacker carried a knife in his van in a leather case.
State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan is due to deliver findings at a later date.
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Originally published as Video: Melbourne man Jackson Stacker’s family fighting for answers at Lismore and Byron inquest into his death
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