Answers sought on 1978 Spear Creek triple murder near Mount Isa and police investigation

The coroner tasked with examining the shooting deaths of three young motorcyclists on a trip from Alice Springs to Mount Isa in 1978, has told victims’ families she hopes the process will bring them the answers they have been seeking “for decades”.

The aerial photographs taken by Neil MacKenzie before the helicopter crashed at the Spear Creek murder scene.

The Northern Coroner examining the shooting deaths of three motorcyclists on a trip from Alice Springs to Mount Isa in 1978 has told family members of the victims she hopes the process will bring them the answers they have been seeking “for decades”.

A pre-inquest conference held in the Coroner’s Court in Cairns yesterday marked the start of the latest process in the 47-year-old case.

Amelia Hughes, Counsel assisting the Northern Coroner, Stephanie Williams, outlined the proposed issues, witness list and briefly summarised the facts ahead of the inquest, scheduled for 10 days from October 7 to 17 in Brisbane.

Cold Case - Police are reviewing the Cold Case triple murder of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson and Gordon Twaddle at Spear Creek near Mt Isa in 1978. Pictured, Karen Edwards, 23, from Dandenong in Melbourne.

Cold Case - Police are reviewing the Cold Case triple murder of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson and Gordon Twaddle at Spear Creek near Mt Isa in 1978. Pictured, Gordon Twaddle, 21, of New Zealand.

Ms Hughes said Timothy Thomson, Karen Edwards and Gordon Twaddle set off on a road trip from Alice Springs to Mount Isa on October 2, 1978, on a blue Ducati and a red BMW motorbike, with a sidecar carrying Mr Thompson’s dog on top.

She said Mr Thomson’s body was found three days later near Spear Creek Bridge in Mount Isa by a couple walking their greyhound, and the bodies of Ms Edwards and Mr Twaddle were found nearby the next day.

All had died from gunshot wounds, the court was told.

The travellers were staying at the Moondarra Caravan Park and were visited several times by someone driving a Toyota LandCruiser, which has never been found.

Cold Case - Police are reviewing the Cold Case triple murder of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson and Gordon Twaddle at Spear Creek near Mt Isa in 1978. The Moondarra Caravan Park, near Mount Isa, where the group was last seen alive on October 5, 1978.

Evidence suggests the trio went with the driver of the LandCruiser three times while they were in Mount Isa, and their last known trip in the vehicle was also the last time they were seen alive, the court was told.

Mr Thomson’s dog, which had been travelling with them, was found at the Mount Isa dump the day after the bodies were discovered, with a number of their belongings also discovered at the dump inside a 44-gallon drum.

Cold Case - Police are reviewing the Cold Case triple murder of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson and Gordon Twaddle at Spear Creek near Mt Isa in 1978. Pictured, Tim Thomson, 31, originally of New Zealand. Tim had also lived in Adelaide, Melbourne and Alice Springs.

Two police investigations have been held, including a cold case investigation launched in 2018.

Ms Hughes said one of the issues to be covered during the inquest was “consideration of the scope and adequacy of both police investigations”.

An expert in homicide investigation methodology was expected to present evidence, she said.

During the first investigation, police officers taking aerial images of the area were involved in a helicopter crash, seriously injuring two of them, including the original chief investigator, she said.

Cold Case - Police are reviewing the Cold Case triple murder of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson and Gordon Twaddle at Spear Creek near Mt Isa in 1978. Tim Thomson's 1977 BMW R100S motorcycle with homemade sidecar. The bike had SA plates and was recovered two weeks after their bodies were discovered.

Ms Hughes said 46 witnesses were proposed to be called, including officers involved in both investigations, the people who discovered the bodies, witnesses who saw the trio on their trip or during their stay in the caravan park, and people who saw or had dealings with a man who was in possession of the red motorcycle after the deaths.

She said the inquest would also investigate the identity of a fourth person believed to be travelling with the group at times on a black Honda motorcycle.

The aerial photographs taken by Neil MacKenzie before the helicopter crashed at the Spear Creek murder scene.

Ms Williams said “extensive documents and recordings” were being re-organised for ease of reference.

“I have received the list of issues that the family would like explored at the inquest,” Ms Williams said.

“This matter has been going on for many decades and it is in the forefront of my mind to secure evidence as thoroughly as we can whilst battling the passage of time .. if I speak plainly, none of us are getting any younger and nor are the witnesses.

“This has been a long time coming.

“Thank you for your commitment to your loved ones and I hope that as this inquiry progresses, the court is able to assist you with finding answers.”

Originally published as Answers sought on 1978 Spear Creek triple murder near Mount Isa and police investigation