Shandee Blackburn murder: Memory failed inquest ‘special witness’

Suspect John Peros was accused of fabricating memory problems when he claimed he couldn’t recall key events at an inquest into Shandee Blackburn’s murder.

Blackburn family lawyer Kristy Bell, watched by Shandee’s mother Vicki and sister Shannah. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Murder suspect John Peros claimed he was suffering memory problems after being ordered to give evidence at an inquest into the slaying of his former girlfriend, Shandee Blackburn.

Mr Peros was accused by lawyers for Blackburn’s family of ­fabricating his inability to recall key events, while facing a potential perjury charge with a hefty prison sentence if he failed to tell the truth.

His evidence at the inquest in 2019 – six years after Blackburn was murdered walking home from work in Mackay – is examined in the latest episodes of the Shandee’s Story investigative podcast series.

Shandee Blackburn with John Peros. He said words to the effect of “I don’t remember” at least 31 times to the counsel assisting the coroner.

Barrister Craig Eberhardt, for Mr Peros, asked at the inquest for his client to be treated as a special witness with questions kept short and simple due to his ADHD and social anxiety. “He has great trouble concentrating. You may well notice that his eyes will tend to move quickly around the room,” he said.

“He was diagnosed as suffering from paranoia long before the murder. And you will quickly ­realise that when he does give evidence, he does communicate in an unusual way.”

It led Coroner David O’Connell to direct lawyers to speak slowly and in a non-confrontational way to Mr Peros in the witness box.

Mr Peros had stated only his name and given a morning greeting when Mr Eberhardt claimed “privilege against self-incrimination to each and every question” on his behalf.

In response, Mr O’Connell directed Mr Peros to give evidence, meaning anything he said could not be used against him in any other court proceeding unless there was a perjury charge.

A hush fell over the court as John Aberdeen, counsel assisting the coroner, rose to ask questions. Mr Peros would say words to the effect of “I don’t remember” at least 31 times to Mr Aberdeen.

At one point in the inquest, Mr Peros could clearly recall that back in 2013 he had corrected the wording of his police statement three times and that he had raised a fourth issue with police.

Moments later, he said he couldn’t actually remember what he said to police on that day.

Mr Peros had told police 36 hours after the murder that he might have gone for a drive that night but that he couldn’t remember.

At the inquest, he said he didn’t know if he went for a drive.

CCTV footage recorded a ute that appeared identical to Mr Peros’s Toyota HiLux driving close to the murder scene and then leaving town for about two hours.

He denied turning his phone off so his movements couldn’t be tracked, and he denied murdering Blackburn.

Nick Dore questioned Mr Peros’s memory problems.

His memory failed him again under questioning by lawyer Nick Dore for the Blackburn family, when he couldn’t remember who told him of Blackburn’s murder and when.

Blackburn family lawyer Kristy Bell said there was no evidence “the drastic memory loss he claims to suffer now” affected other parts of his life.

Mr Peros’s lawyer said there was nothing unusual in not recalling events from so many years earlier.

Anyone with information about the murder of Shandee Blackburn can contact Hedley Thomas at [e-mail]