Coroner finds missing woman Lucille Butterworth was strangled by Geoffrey Charles Hunt

A CORONER has found missing Hobart woman Lucille Butterworth was strangled and dumped on the day she went missing in August 1969.

Lucille Butterworth disappeared in 1969. A coroner has ruled she was strangled and her body dumped in the River Derwent. Picture: Supplied

A CORONER has found missing Hobart woman Lucille Butterworth was strangled and dumped on the day she went missing in August 1969.

Coroner Simon Cooper today handed down his findings in the long-running inquest, saying Ms Butterworth, 20, was killed by Geoffery Hunt after accepting a lift.

Coroner Simon Cooper has found that Geoffrey Charles Hunt killed Ms Butterworth.

Mr Cooper found that Hunt had then strangled her and dumped her body on the south bank of the River Derwent between Granton and New Norfolk.

Mr Cooper also found that confessions Hunt was said to have made to police officers at New Norfolk in July 1976, and to three different inmates of Risdon Prison, had happened and were true.

“On the journey to New Norfolk, Mr Hunt stopped the FB Holden, strangled Miss Butterworth in the vehicle and thereafter disposed of her body on the southern bank of the Derwent River, past the Lime Kilns area roughly half way between Granton and New Norfolk,” Mr Cooper said.

“In the absence of any medical evidence I am unable to find the precise cause of Miss Butterworth’s death. I am unable to make any finding as to whether Miss Butterworth was alive or dead when Mr Hunt disposed of her body.

“I extend my sincere condolences to the family of Lucille Gaye Butterworth and all those who knew her, loved her and felt her loss.”

Members of Lucille Butterworth’s family speak to the media after the findings were handed down. Picture: KIM EISZELE

Ms Butterworth’s family and her former fiance were present in court to hear the coroner’s findings.

Outside the court, Ms Butterworth’s brother Jim said he now hoped the Director of Public Prosecutions would swiftly bring charges against Hunt.

He said the coronial finding was an excellent step but the family would not rest until a prosecution had been brought and Ms Butterworth’s body was found.

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