William Tyrrell inquest: Persons of interest set to testify

The media has been warned against “vilification” of persons of interest called to testify at the William Tyrrell inquest.

Bill Spedding, left, and William Tyrell.

What does it mean to be “a person of interest” in a case as high profile of that as the disappearance of William Tyrrell?

Technically, all it means is that police want to speak to you, if only to rule you out.

In real life, it can lead to what Mr Gerard Craddock SC, who is the counsel assisting the NSW deputy state coroner, Ms Harriet Grahame at the formal inquest into William’s disappearance, described as “naming and shaming” without any justification.

Mr Craddock warned the media against the “vilification” of those people who will be called to testify as the inquest into the perplexing case continues throughout August.

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Among the witnesses expected to be called is Mr Bill Spedding, formerly of Bonny Hills, NSW, which is about twenty minutes from the village of Kendall, where William was playing when he went missing.

Mr Spedding has vehemently and repeatedly denied any involvement in William’s disappearance.

The process by which Mr Spedding became a “person of interest” is detailed in Episode Four of Nowhere Child, a new podcast series by The Australian, to be released at 3pm today.

Mr Spedding attended the Tyrrell house on 9 September 2014, two days before William and his foster family arrived.

He was asked to fix a broken washing machine but did not have the right part.

William’s foster mum called him from the house phone on the morning of the 12th to ask when he might back, since the washing was piling up.

William went missing about 90 minutes later.

Police raided Mr Spedding’s properties, including his place of business, in January 2015. No trace of William was found, and he has never been charged in connection with the boy’s disappearance. He has since left the area with his wife of three decades, Margaret.

Mr Spedding made a YouTube video, protesting the police raids, and media interest. He is expected to tell the inquest he knew nothing about William, and did not visit the house that day.