Coroner finds Jari Wise did not jump in front of girlfriend’s car on the night of his death
After a four-year battle, a coroner has found Huon Valley man Jari Wise did not jump in front of his girlfriend’s car on the night of his death. But his supporters say questions remain unanswered.
Police & Courts
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A coroner has not been swayed by claims Huon Valley man Jari Wise died after he “jumped out in front” of his girlfriend’s car more than four years ago.
But Coroner Simon Cooper also found there was “no evidence” that his on-off partner, Melissa Oates, mowed him down deliberately.
On Monday, the highly-controversial and high-profile case finally drew to a close in Tasmania’s justice system.
The findings have provided some vindication for supporters of Mr Wise, who have always said it was untrue he jumped out in front of Oates’ car.
But the ruling didn’t give them the answer they longed for, a finding of legal responsibility.
While the case may now be at its legal end, Mr Wise’s mother Faith Tkalac has promised she will not stop fighting until she has answers.
Mr Cooper, in his findings, said the 26-year-old died at Huonville on February 29, 2020 from “massive unsurvivable injuries” after Oates struck him in her Toyota Estima mini-van.
He said Oates was “very intoxicated”, with a blood alcohol reading of three times the legal limit, driving at “excessive speed” of 110km/h, and not wearing her glasses when she ran him over on Wilmot Road after an argument, and following a night of drinking with friends.
Mr Cooper said he did not believe claims from Oates, her friend and her cousin, that Mr Wise had a history of doing so and jumped in front of his girlfriend’s car on the night in question.
“There is a complete absence of any reliable evidence that supports a conclusion that Mr Wise jumped into her path,” he said.
Mr Cooper also didn’t believe Oates’ claims that she didn’t know she’d hit Mr Wise, and said instead she’d returned to her friends and told them she had “hit the c..t”.
But he stopped short of holding her responsible for her partner’s death.
“There is no evidence that supports a conclusion Ms Oates deliberately ran Mr Wise over,” he found.
After Mr Cooper handed down his findings, Ms Tkalac told journalists her feelings about the decision were “totally mixed”.
“Simon Cooper has said ‘yes, that Jari didn’t jump in front of Melissa’s car’. That’s what I wanted. That’s what I wanted to hear and I’m content with that,” she said.
But she indicated she wanted more from the findings.
“I feel I have to push again,” she said.
“It’s not the end. It’s just kind of lifted up into the air again.
“I’m going to have a sit-down with a lawyer, and do a lot more reading and a lot more research, and start all over again.”
Ms Tkalac had spent years campaigning for an inquest – with protests, rallies and marches, camping outside of politicians’ offices and working with lawyers towards legislative change.
She has never been charged with causing Mr Wise’s death, and has always denied those allegations.
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