Daniel Morcombe inquest: Parents reveal wish list for police and justice overhaul

AFTER the extended inquest into their son’s murder, Bruce and Denise Morcombe have devised a wish list based on the lessons learnt.

• Police response ‘inadequate’
• Evil killer hidden in plain sight
• Cops knew Cowan was their man
• Dad planned to confront killer

THE parents of slain teenager Daniel Morcombe want mandatory inquests and independent police reviews for stalled murder investigations and suspicious missing person cases.

The call for a major overhaul of the police and justice system is expected to be included in Bruce and Denise Morcombe’s submission to their son’s inquest.

The inquest into their son’s disappearance helped open up the case against his killer Brett Peter Cowan, but the couple say police missed clues which could have closed the net on the murderer in months, instead of the “painful years’’ it took to convict and jail him.

The final two days of hearings at the inquest this week has shone a spotlight on the police investigation, including claims Daniel’s killer was overlooked in favour of what senior police then thought were more likely suspects.

The extended inquest pushed for by Bruce and Denise Morcombe uncovered shortcomings in the police investigative process. Pic: Lachie Millard

The Morcombes want independent reviews of major police investigations conducted by officers separate from the original investigators and mandatory coroners’ inquests into any suspicious missing person cases, murders or suspected murders.

Mr Morcombe expected there would be some opposition from within the police force.

But they hoped their submission would be welcomed as constructive criticism and said had police acted on witness reports and examined his alibi early in the investigation, Cowan would have been the main suspect within two months of Daniel being reported missing.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said he looked forward to seeing the family’s submissions and discussing the Coroner’s recommendations with Police Commissioner Ian Stewart.

“I have a lot respect for the Morcombe family and their work in the community,” Mr Ryan said.

“They have worked tirelessly for the safety of Queensland’s children and to try to ensure other parents do not have to suffer as they did following Daniel’s tragic death.’’

The Morcombes said their priority was finding Daniel, not the prosecution of his killer, and believe it was only the covert police operation that had Cowan reveal the details of where to find their son.

They said police, including now-Assistant Commissioner Mike Condon, had worked tirelessly on the case but the inquest was looking at how police procedures could improve.

Other families had waited decades for an inquest and deserved answers, they said.

“They want their loved one found, that’s No.1, so they can have a funeral,” Mrs Morcombe said. “Even today we’re not too concerned about Cowan or what’s happening to him.

“The day we had Daniel’s funeral, (Daniel’s brothers) Dean and Brad changed completely. They were more content, I suppose, that Daniel was now safe. They didn’t care about Cowan, the same as me.”

Mr Morcombe said the submission would call for independent teams of officers to be given access to the raw investigation information to bring fresh eyes without any theories already developed by the original investigators.

He said major investigations where the police brief had been finished without an answer for three years should be referred to the coroner.

Daniel Morcombe’s (left) brothers Bradley and Dean found closure when his funeral could finally be held.

“When the police brief is complete ... when there’s no further investigative work can be done and we still don’t have an answer, or three years is elapsed from the original report or incident, at that point it is presented to the coroner and the coroner holds an independent coronial inquest,” Mr Morcombe said.

“That’s completely removed from the police service plus the coroners have additional powers. (Persons of interest) can be compelled to answer questions.”

The Morcombes said yesterday they hoped independent police reviews would flag gaps in any investigations, pointing to the years it took for police to probe Cowan’s alibi and destroy it.

They said the inquest had explored what the police had done “exceptionally well and we acknowledge that” but there needed to be a look at “anything that could be done differently to help the next family”.

A spokeswoman for acting Attorney-General Anthony Lynham said it would be inappropriate to comment while the matter was still before the coroner.

Originally published as Daniel Morcombe inquest: Parents reveal wish list for police and justice overhaul