First court date ahead of inquest over tragic road death of Huon Valley man Jari Wise

The first steps in the long-awaited inquest into the death of young Huon Valley man Jari Wise have been taken, after years of campaigning by his family.

Jari’s mother, Faith Tkalac, campaigned strongly for an inquest into her son’s death. Picture Eddie Safarik

The first steps have been taken ahead of a long-awaited inquest into the death of young Huon Valley man Jari Wise.

A case management conference – an early administrative hearing – has been set down with Tasmania’s Coronial Division on August 4, before Coroner Simon Cooper.

Mr Wise, 26, died in February 2020 when he was struck by a car driven by his on-off girlfriend, Melissa Oates.

Oates served eight months in jail for dangerous driving, drink driving, and failing to stop and assist in an accident.

She was never charged with manslaughter or causing Mr Wise’s death.

Faith Tkalac and her son Jari Wise, who died when he was struck by a car driven by his on-off girlfriend, Melissa Oates. Picture: Supplied

Mr Wise’s mother Faith Tkalac spent years campaigning for an inquest into her son’s death.

Her request was rejected by the Coronial Division, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court of Tasmania.

But within hours of the Supreme Court judgment not to compel an inquest in May this year, Attorney-General Elise Archer made an extraordinary intervention – and one never seen before in Tasmanian history – overturning the Supreme Court ruling and ordering an inquest must be held.

A date for the substantial inquest has not yet been set.

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