Shane Tapp’s family expect coronial to probe ‘overzealous’ closure of Aboriginal dad’s case

The family of a Katherine dad whose body was found washed up on a riverbank has called for an examination over how the Territory treats people with addiction.

Shane Tapp was a 43-year-old Katherine father whose body was found on the banks of the river, near Knotts Crossing, on April 12, 2021.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned the following article contains names and images of the deceased.

A grandmother who spent years fighting for answers after her grandson’s body was found washed up on the Katherine river has been hospitalised ahead of a long-awaited coronial inquest.

Elisabeth Armitage is expected to open the coronial inquest into the life and disappearance of Shane Tapp on Tuesday — two years after police closed their investigation into the ‘non-suspicious’ death.

Nine days after the Katherine father was last seen leaving his Gorge Rd home on April 3, 2021 a group of fishermen made a grim discovery.

Shane’s body had washed up on the banks of the Katherine River, near Knotts Crossing, in an advanced state of decomposition.

Within 24 hours, before an autopsy was complete, police closed the investigation saying it was death by misadventure and the 43-year-old had drowned.

Shane Tapp’s body had washed up on the banks of the Katherine River, near Knotts Crossing, in an advanced state of decomposition.

Ever since, his grandmother June Tapp has been fighting for his case to be reopened, believing the Aboriginal father was murdered.

But the day before the hearing was set to begin the Katherine matriarch was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for treatment.

June Tapp’s daughter Toni Tapp Coutts said her 88-year-old mother’s illness was not believed to be life-threatening, and they hoped to watch the Katherine Local Court hearing via an audio visual link.

Shane Tapp’s grandmother June Tapp has been fighting for his case to be reopened, believing the Aboriginal father was murdered

“This inquest was everything to her, because she was the one who fought for it,” Ms Tapp Coutts said.

Ms Tapp Coutts said her family believed her nephew was murdered and his killer was still at large due to an “overzealous” police investigation.

“There’s definitely questions that have to be answered about the untimely death of Shane,” she said.

Ms Tapp Coutts said her family felt there was no appetite to investigate the death of an Aboriginal man with a history of drug addiction.

“But it’s still someone’s child, it’s still someone’s father, cousin and brother,” she said.

“All families should be able to get an answer, especially in circumstances when they could easily be suspicious.

Toni Tapp Coutts said she was aware of a number of people who had been interviewed ahead of the inquest, who were never spoken to in the wake of Shane’s death

“For us, it’s about justice and a fair trial.”

Ms Tapp Coutts said she was aware of a number of people who had been interviewed ahead of the inquest, who were never spoken to in the wake of Shane’s death.

She hoped the three-day hearing would provide some answers.

“And if it comes out of this, that there are no suspicious circumstances, then we have to let it rest,” Ms Tapp Coutts said.

She also hoped the coronial would also examine how the Territory treated addiction and people like Shane who became trapped in that cycle.

“These sort of activities ruin lives and drug dealers are always after the next generation,” she said.

“People need to be aware that it’s your kids that will be in the firing line.”

Originally published as Shane Tapp’s family expect coronial to probe ‘overzealous’ closure of Aboriginal dad’s case