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| CORONER’S COURT Fisher, Coroner, No. COR96 of 97 IN THE MATTER OF AN INQUEST INTO THE CAUSE AND CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF ANTHONY JOHN JONES [known as Tony Jones] TOWNSVILLE, DATE 20/02/2002 FINDINGS (20022002 T20/JOW M/T TSV6356 (Fisher, Coroner)) CORONER: With respect to the findings, the missing person is Anthony John Jones of 5 Bedale Street, Dianella, Perth, Western Australia. Because of the circumstances where: (1) The person was travelling and maintaining contact with his family and brother Tim on a regular basis; (2) The missing person failed to continue that contact as expected; (3) The missing person had no funds prior to an amount of $150 being placed in his account. He was told of its presence by his mother on the 3rd of November 1982; (4) The missing person failed to operate that bank account; (5) That there has been no subsequent contact with the family or operation of the account. I am satisfied that the missing person is dead. I find that he died on or around the 3rd of November 1982 at the hands of a person or persons unknown. It is established on the evidence that the last confirmed contact was when the deceased made a phone call and spoke to his mother from a phone box situated on Bowen Road, Rosslea, near the Sun City Caravan Park. A short time after that another phone call was placed to his girlfriend. The deceased person had on that day, that is the 3rd of November 1982, arrived in Townsville having visited Cairns. Bank records referred to by his family show the last recorded entries as being transacted in Tully and Ingham on the 2nd and 3rd of November 1982. Some doubt exists, therefore, with respect to some parts of Caulley’s evidence, as it does in respect to much of the evidence presented. Clearly, the Tony Jones referred to in Proietti-Ricci’s evidence may well be some other person. It seems to me that given the particulars in respect of this disappearance that more urgent attention should have been given to early investigation. It is recommended that should the department have not already done so, that guidelines be put in place to enable urgent attention to be given to those cases, such as these, where circumstances exist demonstrating an aberration from usual practice. It is recommended that this investigation continue: (1) Initially by obtaining any report completed by the private investigator Mick Buckley; (2) By reference to Exhibit 38, Searching for Tony, and following any relevant sources of information, for example, from the person Kemp, and by confirmation where possible of events described therein, for example, again, hospital visit and similar matters; (3) By investigating the intelligence reports with respect to Pickering and Douglas, Exhibits 31 and 32 and any others not investigated to date, together with such other matters which are suggested in the file, publications, correspondence and transcript which are available to the investigating officer. It should be ensured that all missing person inquiries are lodged with the Coroner as per the Coroner’s Act, section 10, that is within 12 months of the report and the person not having been found. Those are the matters which I make findings on and make recommendations. This inquiry is now closed. |
| Coroner's Findings |
| In February 2002, almost 20 years after Tony Jones vanished without trace in Townsville, Queenlsand, the Coroner Ian Fisher declared he was satisfied that the missing person was dead, and that he had died on or around 3 November 1982 at the hands of a person or persons unknown. The coroner's official findings follow: |
| "I am satisfied that the missing person is dead. I find that he died on or around the 3rd of November 1982" |
| "more attention should have been given to early invest-igation." |
| "It should be ensured that all missing person inquiries are lodged with the Coroner... within 12 months." |
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