Police and cadaver dog target timber yard in search for William

Police search teams yesterday converged on a timber yard and saw mill near where William ­Tyrrell disappeared.

Police with dogs investigate a sawmill on Herons Creek Road during the search for William Tyrrell. Picture: AAP.

Police search teams converged yesterday on a timber yard and saw mill near where William ­Tyrrell disappeared, taking apart a large wood pile and sending a ­cadaver dog through the log piles.

The search of the yard, near Herons Creek Road and Logan’s Crossing, took place as the inquest into William’s disappearance was under way about 40 minutes away, at Taree courthouse.

A dozen police were assisted by State Emergency Service operators, who arrived with chainsaws.

A large excavator was also brought on to the site.

The dog ran over the woodpiles before they were taken apart.

Logan’s Crossing is just north of Kendall, the township William was visiting when he went missing.

Nowhere Child: Where is William Tyrrell?

The inquest into the disappearance of the three-year-old foster child has moved to Taree to enable evidence to be taken from witnesses who live near Kendall.

There were dramatic scenes in the closed courtroom during one of many breaks in testimony, with former NSW homicide detective Gary Jubelin arguing forcefully for his right to defend his three-year investigation.

A member of the NSW State Emergency Service investigates a sawmill on Herons Creek Road during the search for William Tyrrell. Picture: AAP.

Mr Jubelin, whose 30-year ­career with NSW homicide imploded over his handling of the Tyrrell case, became infuriated after sitting through an hour’s evidence about the investigation he once led, in particular his repeated interrogation of an elderly man who lives on the street from which William disappeared. Paul Joseph Savage, 74, willingly took part in interviews, telling police he’d done no more on the morning of William’s disappearance than have tea and toast for breakfast; speak to his brother, who was in Casino hospital, by phone; and help his wife, Heather, clean up the ­kitchen.

He agreed during questioning at the inquest yesterday that he was outside his house about 10.38am on the day, waving off Heather as she headed to bingo.

That would place him on the street about the time William was out of his foster mother’s sight.

He had previously been pursued as a possible person of interest by Mr Jubelin, who stands accused of recording interviews with him without a warrant.

There is no suggestion Mr Savage remains a person of interest to the Tyrrell investigation.

He was quizzed about his movements during that period yesterday as he came face to face with Mr Jubelin in the courtroom.

Police are not precisely sure when William went missing from outside 48 Benaroon Drive, which is across the road from Mr Savage’s house.

They think it was after 10.15am and before 10.57am, which is the time stamp on a triple-0 call made by his foster mother.

Mr Jubelin is fighting charges against him, saying he had an ­“operational reason” to record a conversation with Mr Savage.

He has resigned from the police force but is keen to give evidence to the coronial inquiry.

Efforts to have his name added to the witness list have not been successful.

His frustration became apparent during a break in proceedings when he was seen having an argument with counsel assisting the coroner, Gerard Craddock.

The five-minute quarrel ended with Mr Jubelin striding from the court, fists clenched by his sides. The inquest opened yesterday with Detective Sergeant Laura Beacroft conceding that William’s foster mother had initially told police she could not remember seeing any suspicious cars in the street on the day William went missing.

She later changed her mind.

The court was shown a ­transcript of the foster mother’s ­triple-0 call, in which she was asked: “There wasn’t anyone ­suspicious in the area, any ­vehicles?”

She replied: “No, no, no. Well not that I’m aware of.”

The court was told her first formal, written statement made no mention of suspicious cars.

The foster mother has said the memory of the cars came back to her after a few days.