Inquest begins into death of Huon Valley man Jari Wise

Tensions have flared on day one of the long-awaited inquest into the death of Huon Valley man Jari Wise, with one witness arrested and another warned by the coroner. Latest from court>>

Jari Wise’s mother Faith Tkalac and her partner outside the inquest on Tuesday. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tensions have flared at an inquest into the death of Huon Valley man Jari Wise, with a young woman forcefully denying she “invented” a scenario to protect her friend from blame.

The two-day Hobart inquest, which began on Tuesday, is being held after years of tireless campaigning by Mr Wise’s mother Faith Tkalac, and following an extraordinary intervention by former Attorney-General Elise Archer.

Held before Coroner Simon Cooper, the inquest aims to uncover whether or not Mr Wise jumped out in front of the car that killed him, which was driven by his on-off girlfriend Melissa Oates.

Oates, who was never charged with causing Mr Wise’s death in the early hours of February 29, 2020, will give evidence on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Oates’ friend, Jessica Hosking, who failed to show at the inquest and was taken into custody for a period by police at Huonville.

Mr Cooper said due to concerns for her welfare, it was unlikely he would compel her to give evidence. Ms Hosking was released without charge.

The same day, Oates’ cousin Amber Lovell cried, swore repeatedly and frequently refused to answer when cross-examined on whether or not she had lied to police about Mr Wise having a history of jumping in front of cars.

“I can’t do this, I’m f…ing sick of it,” she said at one point.

“It’s f…ing bullshit.

“I’d rather be locked up than have to deal with this shit.”

Ultimately, Mr Cooper demanded Ms Lovell be removed from her remote witness room and give evidence before him in the witness stand – warning her to conduct herself properly.

Ms Lovell denied under cross-examination from Ms Tkalac’s lawyer, Fabiano Cangelosi, that she “invented” a story about Mr Wise stepping out in front of her car a week before he died.

She denied she was attempting to protect Oates, and also denied her cousin had told her she was “going with a version” that Mr Wise had stepped in front of her vehicle on the night of his death.

Faith Tkalac and her son Jari Wise, who died when he was struck by a car driven by his on-off girlfriend, Melissa Oates. Picture: Supplied

Another friend who had been socialising with Oates and Wise on the night of his death said a witness statement she gave police in 2020 was incorrect.

Katie Shead said she hadn’t witnessed Mr Wise jumping in front of Oates’ car on a previous occasion, years before his death, but that he in fact “jumped back”.

Tasmania Police crash investigator Kelly Cordwell attended the scene of Mr Wise’s death at 2.44am, with Mr Wise covered with a blanket outside Huonville High School.

She said it appeared Mr Wise had been standing on the roadway in the southbound lane, with his body “almost, if not totally, front-on” to the vehicle.

Senior Constable Cordwell said Mr Wise would have ridden up onto the windscreen on the passenger side of Oates’ car and likely became airborne – his body travelling some 34 metres from the point of impact.

She said there was no evidence of Oates swerving or braking prior to the point of impact – or afterwards.

Melissa Oates at a previous court hearing.

“The debris indicates the vehicle has continued, with the debris continuing to fall off the vehicle,” she said.

Forensic pathologist Donald Ritchie, who performed an autopsy on Mr Wise, said his death would have been “near-instantaneous” when he was struck by Oates’ car.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Emily Bill, said Oates served jail time for dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop and assist in an accident, and was driving at high speeds at the time of the crash.

The inquest continues.

Follow @ambervwilson

Originally published as Inquest begins into death of Huon Valley man Jari Wise