William Tyrrell hotline direct to coroner

Police investigating the William Tyrrell case have released a phone number for solicitors working directly for the NSW Coroner.

A William Tyrrell “’ifth-year’ public awareness poster.

Police investigating the disappearance of three-year-old William Tyrrell are so convinced that “someone knows something” they have taken the unusual step of releasing a phone number for the solicitors working directly for the NSW Coroner, so that information can be passed directly to the court.

In a statement to coincide with the fifth anniversary of William’s disappearance on Thursday, police said they had “information that suggests someone in the community” had information about William’s disappearance, and urged them to come forward.

They provided the regular number for Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000, but also urged anyone with direct knowledge of the crime to call “solicitors assisting the Coroner on 02 8346 1388”.

Police believe William was snatched from outside a house in Benaroon Drive in Kendall about 10.15am on September 12, 2014.

William’s biological grandmother said the fifth anniversary was “a devastating day”.

“We have been on a long journey. We miss him. We love him. It’s heartbreaking that he has not been found,” she said.

William was three years old, and dressed in a two-piece Spider-Man suit, when he disappeared. He was in the care of his foster mother, and her mother, at the time. His sister, who was then four, was also present.

The foster family says William ran around the corner of the house, roaring like a tiger, and then went missing. No trace of him has been found. Nobody heard a sound. His foster dad wasn’t at the house, having driven to a nearby town to make a Skype call.

A $1 million reward, the largest ever for a missing person, has been offered for information leading to William’s recovery. It stands uncollected.

NSW police last month revealed the discovery of a possible witness, a near-neighbour, Ronald Chapman, who says he is “100 per cent sure” he saw William standing in the back of a car, hands to the glass, and face peering out, on the morning of his disappearance. The car was being driven erratically down Laurel Street, less than a kilometre from Benaroon Drive.

None of William’s family members can be named, and they cannot publicly advocate for him.

The Department of Family and Community Services says this is necessary to protect the identity of his sister, who remains in the care of the foster parents. The Department took legal action in the NSW Supreme Court to try to prevent the media from reporting that William was in state care when he went missing, but lost the case on the grounds of “legitimate public interest.”

“It’s frustrating because, five years, and we’re not better off,” his grandmother said. “He was taken from us, and then he went missing and we can’t say anything about it.”

An inquest into William’s likely death, before the deputy state coroner, Harriet Grahame, opened in March, before closing until August. It has now been adjourned until March 2020.

No reason for the lengthy delay has been given. The inquest has been interrupted by closed court sessions, and extensive use of suppression orders.

“That was more frustration, because it was four weeks, and we are no better off. It’s all trying to guess what’s going on,” William’s nana said. “One good thing was the solicitor and the barrister have worked really hard, and that made a big difference. We feel part of the process.”

William’s biological family was not able to afford a lawyer for the first part of the inquest, but NSW Legal Aid has since stepped up to ensure they are represented.

William’s foster parents also released a statement on Wednesday, saying: “Tomorrow marks five tragic years since William disappeared; five long years of unimaginable heartbreak and fear; five years of unending sadness and tears; five years without answers, of not knowing where William is or what has happened to him.

“And although we’ll mark five dark years of deep sadness and pain, we’ll also mark five years of hope that William will be found. We’ll mark five years of endless love for him from across Australia and around the world.”

They thanked the media for “five years of continuing to remind the world that William is missing,” and police, for “five years of determination and commitment to find William, and five years of support from Crime Stoppers who continue to wait for the call we hope will one day come.”

The family also thanked their charity partner, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, for joining them “in our promise to never give up on William in the hope that we will find him and bring him home. It is this love and support from so many that keeps hope alive. Our heartfelt thanks to you all.”

The Where’s William campaign, organized by the Insight Communications public relations company on behalf of the foster parents, released a new poster, with a photograph of William, saying: “William, we will never give up.”

The NSW police in its statement said investigators from the homicide squad’s Strike Force Rosann are continuing to conduct inquiries.

“The investigation remains open, and a team of investigators is continuing to explore lines of inquiry and persons of interest during the Coronial process, in an effort to find out what happened to William,” the statement said.

“While the inquest is continuing, police are actively engaged with the Coroner to ensure answers are provided to William’s loved ones.”

The investigation into William’s disappearance was for four years led by one of NSW’s best known homicide detectives, Gary Jubelin, who was removed from the case in January, amid allegations of misconduct.

Mr Jubelin, who subsequently resigned from the police force, has since been charged with four breaches of the Surveillance Devices Act, allegedly for recording conversations without a warrant.

He has pleaded not guilty and will defend the charges in court on 24 September.

An online petition to have all charges against him withdrawn has attracted more than 13,000 signatures.

Faye and Mark Leveson, whose son, Matt, went missing in 2007, and whose body was found buried in a forest after an investigation by Mr Jubelin, supports the petition, saying: “If it wasn’t for him, we would still be out in the national park, looking for our son’s remains. His integrity and professionalism is beyond reproach.”

NSW police urged anyone with information to “come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the solicitors assisting the Coroner on 02 8346 1388.”