Inquest into Liam Mead’s 2017 death to resume later this year with at least one further witness

An inquest has been adjourned to allow a coroner to rule on what evidence will be allowed to be heard from the next witness.

Ted Mead outside Hobart's Magistrates Court on the first day of the inquest into his son Liam’s death, holding a picture of Liam and his mother, Juliet Lavers. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A CORONIAL inquest into the death of a Taroona boy will resume later this year, with at least one more witness to be called.

Coroner Ken Stanton is investigating the death of Liam Mead, 16, who died on March 7, 2017, two days after he was discharged and returned home from a private mental health clinic in Melbourne.

The inquest began in Hobart on Monday.

Youth mental health expert Patrick McGorry will be the next witness to give evidence but Mr Stanton must first rule on what evidence he will hear from Professor McGorry.

The inquest has heard evidence about the public adolescent mental health services available in Tasmania.

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But the Tasmanian Health Service’s lawyer Paul Turner on Thursday argued Prof McGorry’s evidence should not relate to the adequacy of adolescent mental health services in the state public health system, an argument opposed by Liam’s father Ted Mead.

Mr Turner said although he understood the issue was of great interest to Mr Mead, it did not fall within the boundaries of the inquest because Liam was never a public patient.

Counsel assisting the coroner Allison Shand said Liam did not engage with the public health system because there were no in-patient services available for him in the state.

Ms Shand said there had been evidence from Liam’s Hobart psychiatrist that he may have been a candidate for in-patient care had it been available in Tasmania.

Mr Stanton will make a ruling before Prof McGorry is called to give evidence, likely in July or later.

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