William Tyrrell inquiry: Former person of interest set to take NSW Police to court

Former person of interest in the Tyrrell case, Bill Spedding, to take NSW Police to court.

Bill Spedding. Picture: John Grainger

Washing machine repairman Bill Spedding is preparing to launch a civil action for damages against NSW police, having lost his house, business and reputation, after his name was linked to the disappearance of missing boy William Tyrrell.

Mr Spedding has always maintained that he has a solid alibi, as detailed in The Australian’s podcast series, Nowhere Child: he says he had a cup of coffee with his wife, Margaret, at the Buzz cafe in Laurieton at around 10am on the morning of William’s disappearance; and he also attended an assembly at a local primary school, to see a child relative receive an award.

The school is about a 20-minute drive from Kendall, where William was staying when he disappeared.

Mr Spedding’s alibi appears to be firming, after evidence was given to the coronial inquest by two former parents of the school.

Angela Eschler told the court via video-link from Brisbane yesterday that she had three kids at the school on 12 September 2014, when William went missing.

She also owned a local hairdressing business and knew the Speddings, because they would sometimes bring their grandkids in to get haircuts.

Ms Eschler told the Coroner she attended a special assembly at the school on 12 September 2014 — the day of William’s disappearance — during which school kids sang a version of ‘Hallelujah’, which had parents in tears.

Her son, and one of Mr Spedding’s child relatives, received awards that day, but she couldn’t remember seeing Mr Spedding, or anyone in particular, because she arrived late, and left early.

She remembered she got a “a bit teary … it’s one of those songs.”

While she couldn’t remember whether or not she saw Mr Spedding or his wife that day, a witness from Tuesday did remember seeing Mr Spedding at the school assembly on the day the award was handed to his child relative.

Gordon Wiegold told the court that his son had also attended the school, and he remembered “getting emotional” when the children performed ‘Hallelujah’ during assembly.

He couldn’t remember the date of the assembly, but he agreed that if it was on 12 September 2014, then he was there.

Mr Wiegold said he knew the Speddings because they had family members who played in the local AFL team as his son, and all the boys also went to the same school.

The counsel assisting the Coroner, Mr Gerard Craddock, asked him: “Do you recall (Mr Spedding) being at an assembly where one of those boys … got an award?”

“Yes, I remember that clearly,” he said, “because as I waited for my son, I saw (the boy) making his way out of the school hall, and I high-fived him.”

Asked again: “Do you have a specific recollection of seeing Mr Spedding at the assembly where (the child relative) got the award?”

He replied: “Most certainly … as I said, when the children filed out, I remember giving (him) a high five, and looked back, and saw Bill nod an approval at me for encouraging (him).”

The inference of the evidence is that Mr Spedding was seen at the assembly at which his child relative received an award. If that assembly was the same as the one where ‘Hallelujah’ was sung, then it was on the morning of 12 September 2014, placing him in Laurieton on the morning of Willam’s disappearance fro Kendall.

He has always had a receipt for the coffee at the Buzz cafe.

The inquest into William’s disappearance, which has been plagued by explained delays, closed court sessions, and liberal use of suppression orders, was shut down after less than 25 minutes of evidence yesterday.

Having opened at 10.07am, it closed at 10.25am.

Deputy state coroner Harriet Grahame was for the second time moved to apologise to William’s loved ones, saying: “I acknowledge how frustrating this must be … thank you for keeping faith, and staying engaged with the process.”

William’s families — foster and biological — and their support people have travelled to the mid-north coast town of Taree to hear evidence from witnesses who live close to Kendall.

Mr Spedding’s name became linked to the Tyrrell case because William’s foster Mum called him from the house that morning to ask about a missing part for her Mum’s washing machine.

Police wondered if he’d picked up the message, and gone down to Kendall with the part, just as William came running out in his Spider-Man suit, unattended.

He has always denied it, and he has sued various media outlets for defamation. A civil action for the loss of his business, home and family life is likely to follow.