William Tyrrell inquest: stranger abduction ‘rare, possible’

William Tyrrell may be one of the tiny percentage of children murdered by a complete stranger.

William Tyrrell could have been abducted by a stranger, an inquest has heard.

William Tyrrell may well be one of the tiny percentage of children abducted and murdered by a complete stranger, according to evidence given at the coronial inquest into his disappearance, which reopened this morning.

The fact that there were no witnesses made the case one of the “most difficult to solve.”

Counsel assisting the coroner, Mr Gerard Craddock SC, in his opening address said William may have been spotted by a stranger on Benaroon Drive in the village of Kendall on the morning of 12 September 2014, and swiftly removed from the scene by car.

In this case, no trace of him would have been found.

Mr Craddock said kidnaps by strangers were incredibly rare, but NSW police believed that it was possible in this case. They have no witnesses and no forensic evidence.

He cited research which showed that when children are murdered, it is most often by a person known to them, or related to them.

He said police initially thought that William was lost, perhaps in the bush, but a ground search for William continued long past the point that he could have survived without water or food.

A proper forensic search wasn’t done until May 2018, four years after William went missing.

Nothing was found, and nothing has been found since.

The court was shown video of searchers combing fire trails, at attempting to get through “impassable lantana” — a weed that covers the canopy near Kendall.

Police were present on horseback. Searchers also used motorbikes, quad bikes, 4WD vehicles, and went out on foot.

Mr Craddock said the inquest would this week and next hear from people described as “persons of interest” but this did not mean they were suspects.

He referred to the media “naming and shaming” people who had been linked to the case, saying nobody had ever been charged, and some people had been “vilified.”

He said offenders in such cases came “in all shapes and sizes, colours and genders. It could be the most inconspicuous person. It could be a father, a mother, an uncle, a friend, a person of trust, a stranger.

“The person may be known, or unknown.”

He said the case was ongoing, with detectives still actively seeking witnesses, and evidence.

The former head of the investigation, former NSW detective Gary Jubelin, who was sensationally removed from his post earlier this year, arrived to sit in the public gallery shortly before the inquest reopened.

Former NSW Detective Gary Jubelin, right, has attended the William Tyrrell coronial inquest. Picture: AAP

Mr Jubelin is facing four charges related to his handling of the case, specifically recording conversations without a warrant. He has pleaded not guilty, and says he had an “operational” reason to record the calls.

William’s biological mother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, came to court, but left shortly after the opening, visibly distressed.

William’s father has secured legal representation from NSW Legal Aid, and he is represented by a lawyer.

Both parents previously testified without the benefit of counsel.

William was three years old when he disappeared from the village of Kendall, on the NSW Mid-North coast in 12 September 2014. He was dressed in a Spider-Man suit. He was in the care of foster parents at the time. They cannot be named.

William’s foster mum has previously told the inquest that he was out of sight for just a few moments when he disappeared.