Television program to re-examine death of Tasmanian man

Fresh CCTV footage related to a high-profile Tasmanian crime case is set to “shock and surprise” the community.

FRESH CCTV footage related to a high-profile Tasmanian crime case will be aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday night.

Channel 9 says the findings of former homicide detective Gary Jubelin and forensic pathologist Dr Tony Thomas - who have re-examined the police evidence in the case against Melissa Oates - will surprise and shock viewers.

Oates was jailed for eight months in April last year after being found guilty of dangerous driving.

Court Pedestrian Fatal

Her former partner Jari Wise died after he was hit by Oates’s car at Huonville on February 29, 2020

Oates, 35, was three times over the legal blood alcohol limit when driving when she hit her former partner with her car. He died at the scene.

The Hobart Supreme Court heard Oates and Mr Wise had been drinking together at a friend’s place before leaving separately around midnight.

Mr Wise was walking along Wilmot Rd when he was hit by the car Oates was driving.

Oates did not stop after she hit him.

Never-before-seen CCTV will be revealed on the program which producers say will provide startling new details about Jari’s final moments.

“There’s evidence available saying the car was heard to rev up before the impact,” Mr Jubelin tells reporter Tom Steinfort.

The mother of Jari Wise, Faith Tkalac (red dreadlocks) alongside family and friends yell and at and chase down Jari's former girlfriend, Melissa Oates as she leaves Hobart Magistrates Court under police escort after her court hearing was adjourned. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“There’s so many inconsistencies with what we know and [Melissa’s] version of events..”

When he sentenced Oates Justice Gregory Geason acknowledged eight months jail would not “satisfy those who have lost a loved one”.

Jari’s family has long complained the punishment given to Oates was not adequate and that there was more to the story.

At the time they called the sentence a “kick in the face.”

Oates told police Jari had jumped out in front of her car.

But his family says she had a history of violence towards him.

Whether the program will cause the case to be re-examined by Tasmania Police is yet to be seen.