William Tyrrell inquest: foster mother’s sudden car memory

William Tyrrell’s foster mum initially said she didn’t remember seeing any suspicious cars. She said otherwise days later.

William Tyrrell, who disappeared in 2014.

William Tyrrell’s foster mother initially told police that she could not remember seeing any suspicious cars in the street on the day that William went missing, the Coroner’s Court heard this morning.

She later remembered seeing three strange cars.

The court was shown a transcript of the foster mum’s triple-0 call, made shortly before 11am, in which she’s asked: “There wasn’t anyone suspicious in the area in vehicles?”

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

Her first statement made no mention of suspicious cars, either.

The foster mum had a sudden memory of the suspicious cars a few days later and reported her recollection to police.

Council representing the biological father, Michelle Swift, asked Detective Sergeant Laura Beacroft if she was aware that the foster mother did not mention the cars.

Deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame interjected saying: “The triple-0 call does speak for itself doesn’t it?”

Detective Sergeant Beacroft agreed, but said: “I can only imagine the stress and worry the foster mother was under.”

Ms Swift quickly replied: “I’m not asking you to imagine … the memory of the cars was two days after that?”

“That’s correct,” Det Sgt Beacroft said.

Detective Sergeant Beacroft was responsible for compiling a “persons of interest” profile for police.

This list includes people the police wanted to speak to further.

The inquest continues.