Maree Howell, with a picture of her daughter Rose Rain.
Rose Rain HOWELL
DOB:
1984
HAIR:
dark brown/black Mohawk
BUILD:
med
EYES:
hazel/
green
Brown
CIRCUMSTANCES:
Rose
Howell
was last seen in the Bellingen,
NSW town-ship on Friday the
11th of April 2003. When last seen Rose was in good spirits and was organising
her birthday party.
At 5:30pm she was seen hitchhiking north on the Pacific
Highway near the Old Pacific Highway turn-off to Perry Hill and Repton.
She has not
been spoken to or sighted since and there are concerns for her welfare
Rose is
Aboriginal and is described as approximately 160-165cms tall, short dark
brown/black Mohawk haircut on top and sides of head shaved (zero cut). She
has hazel/green eyes, thin eyebrows, 2 small moles on her left forehead about 1cm apart below hairline, small mole
on left side of neck and olive skin. She was last seen wearing a black tank top, dark grey jeans, black belt with
silver buckle and black boots.
Reported missing to:
Bellingen Police Station.
CORONER’S COURT
Name of Deceased: Rose Rain HOWELL
File Number: 2011/386556
Hearing Dates: 10 – 11 December 2012 and 27 June 2013
Location of Inquest: Court House Bellingen, and Coroner’s Court Glebe NSW
Date of Finding: 27 June 2013
Coroner: Magistrate P. A. MacMahon Deputy State Coroner
Findings made in accordance with Section 81(1) Coroners Act 2009:
Rose Rain Howell (born 20 April 1984) died on or about 11 April 2003 in
the Bellingen / Coffs Harbour area of the State of New South Wales. As to the
cause and manner of her death the evidence available does not enable me to make
a finding. Recommendations made in accordance with Section 82 (1) Coroners Act
2009: To: The Commissioner of Police: That the investigation of the death of
Rose Rain Howell be referred to the Unsolved Homicide Unit of the NSW Force for
further investigation in accordance with the protocols and procedures of that
unit.
Magistrate P A MacMahon Deputy State Coroner 27 June 2013
Reasons for Findings:
Rose Rain Howell (who I will refer to as ‘Rose’) was born on 20 April 1984 at
Bundagen a small community village about 20 kilometres south of Coffs Harbour.
She was the daughter of Malila Howell and Clifford Lambert. In 2003 her parents
were separated. Rose was a young woman with a strong and independent
personality. She was said to have a great sense of humour. She had a keen
interest in drama, played the bass guitar and wrote songs. She suffered from
autism however she did not let that interfere in her life. She was not known to
use illicit drugs and only rarely drank alcohol. Rose liked to dress in
distinctive attire and had a Mohawk style haircut. This made her fairly
recognisable. In April 2003 Rose was planning her nineteenth birthday party. She
was very excited at the prospect.
On 11 April 2003 she went into the Bellingen shopping area in order to make
her birthday invitations on the Bellingen Library computers. During the day she
was seen by a number of persons. She eventually left Bellingen and travelled in
the direction of her home at Bundagen. She did not arrive at Bungagen that
evening and has not been seen by any members of her family since.
Jurisdiction of the Coroner:
It is important to understand the role and function of the coroner that
arises when a person is reported missing and is suspected to be deceased. The
legislation governing the functions of a coroner is the Coroners Act 2009 (the
Act). That legislation replaced the Coroners Act 1980 (the Old Act). Although
Rose went missing in 2003 the Act governs the conduct of this inquest. Sections
18 and 21 of the Act gives a coroner jurisdiction to hold an inquest where the
reportable death, or suspected reportable death, of an individual occurred
within New South Wales or the person who has died, or is suspected to have died,
was ordinarily a resident of New South Wales. Section 6 of the Act defines a
‘reportable death’ as including one that occurred ‘under suspicious or unusual
circumstances.’ Section 35 of the Act requires that all reportable deaths and
suspected deaths be reported to a coroner. Some inquests are mandatory. Section
27 of the Act sets out the circumstances where an inquest is mandatory. Those
circumstances include circumstances where the date or place of death or the
cause or manner of death has not been sufficiently disclosed. Where a person has
been reported missing, and where it is reasonably suspected that the person is
deceased and no body has been discovered it would be unlikely that the cause and
manner of death would be sufficiently disclosed as a result in such situations
an inquest is mandatory. Section 80 of the Act provides that where an inquest is
conducted and where, on the evidence available, a coroner is not satisfied that
a person suspected to be deceased is in fact dead he or she is required to make
a finding that the person is not dead and terminate the inquest. Section 81(1)
of the Act sets out the primary function of the coroner when an inquest is held.
That section requires, in summary, that at the conclusion of the inquest the
coroner is to establish, should sufficient evidence be available, the fact that
a person has died, the identity of that person, the date and place of their
death and the cause and manner thereof. Section 78(3) gives a coroner the
discretion, where the requirements of Section 78(1)(b) have been met during the
course of and inquest to either, continue the inquest and make findings in
accordance with Section 81(1), or to suspend the inquest Section 78 (1)(b) deals
with the situation where a coroner, having regard to the evidence available,
forms the opinion that: (i) The evidence is capable of satisfying a jury beyond
reasonable doubt that a known person has committed an indictable offence, and
(ii) There is a reasonable prospect that a jury would convict the known person
of the indictable offence, and (iii) The indictable offence would raise the
issue of whether the known person caused the death with which the inquest is
concerned. Section 78(4) provides that where a coroner exercises the discretion
to suspend an inquest in accordance with Section 78(3) he or she is required to
refer the evidence available to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Section
82(1) of the Act provides that a coroner conducting an inquest may also make
such recommendations, as he or she considers necessary or desirable, in relation
to any matter connected with the death with which the inquest is concerned. The
making of recommendations are discretionary and relate usually, but not
necessarily only, to matters of public health, public safety or the conduct of
services provided by public instrumentalities. In this way coronial proceedings
can be forward looking, aiming to prevent future deaths. Section 82(2) of the
Act provides that a recommendation made in accordance with Section 82(1)
includes a recommendation that the matter be investigated or reviewed by a
specified person or body. Section 74(1)(b) of the Act provides a coroner with
the discretion to prohibit the publication of any evidence given during the
course of an inquest where he or she is of the opinion that it is in the public
interest to do so.
History of the Investigation:
Rose’s disappearance was reported to police at the Bellingen Police Station
on 15 April 2003. NSW Police, under the direction of Detective Senior Constable
Anthony Murphy subsequently undertook an investigation into Rose’s disappearance
however that investigation failed to locate Rose or to establish the
circumstances of her disappearance. Responsibility for the investigation of
Rose’s disappearance was subsequently allocated to Detective Senior Constable
Peter Watt. DSC Watt reported Rose’s suspected death in accordance with the Act
on 14 December 2011. The inquest was listed for hearing at Bellingen and
commenced on 10 December 2012 before me. On 10 and 11 December 2012 evidence was
taken from DSC Peter Watt, nine persons who had reportedly seen Rose on or after
11 April 2003, together with evidence from Rose’s mother Malila Howell. In
addition to witness evidence relevant documentary evidence was tendered and a
view undertaken that sought to retrace, in part, Rose’s last known movements.
The inquest was adjourned on 11 December 2012 to enable further investigations
to be undertaken by DSC Watt following the receipt of additional information. On
27 June 2013 the inquest was resumed at the Coroner’s Court Glebe. DSC Watt was
recalled and gave evidence as to the results of his further investigations. The
inquest was then concluded.
The Evidence:
Malila Howell gave evidence as to Rose’s personality, circumstances and
background. She confirmed that Rose did not, to her knowledge, use illicit
substances nor did she consume alcohol often. She said that she last saw Rose on
11 April 2003 before she left to go to Bellingen. At that time Rose was very
excited as to her upcoming 19th birthday and the party that was to occur at
Bundagen on Monday 21 April 2003 at 6.30pm. Ms Howell in evidence and in the
statements she had previously given said that she had a good relationship with
Rose and that it was unusual for her to not maintain contact with her. She said
that whilst Rose had at times in the past engaged in attention seeking and risk
taking behaviour she had not shown any signs of being suicidal or engaging in
intentional self harm. Ms Howell would love to think that Rose was alive and
well, living under a new identity, but did not think that that was likely. She
was ultimately of the opinion that Rose was deceased and that it was likely she
had been the subject of foul play.
The investigation established that Rose was able to get a lift from Bundagen
to the Bellingen turn off with another Bundagen resident Malcolm Wood. In his
statement Mr Wood said that he picked her up at about 10.50am and subsequently
dropped her off at the Waterfall Way roundabout on the Old Pacific Highway at
Raleigh. He said that she was in good spirits and spoke enthusiastically about
her upcoming birthday party. Mr Wood also remembered seeing Rose in Bellingen
about 4.00pm that afternoon.
The investigation identified a number of other people who saw Rose in
Bellingen throughout the day on 11 April 2003. Maureen McCarthy made a statement
on 28 May 2003 and gave evidence at the inquest. She was a teacher. She had
first seen Rose in Bellingen early in 2003 and had noticed her on 7 or 8
occasions around town prior to 11 April 2003. She observed that Rose wore
distinctive clothing, had a Mohawk style hairstyle and walked with a distinctive
manner. On 11 April 2003 Ms McCarthy was returning to Bellingen from Bowraville.
She estimated that she arrived between 5.00pm and 5.30pm. As she did she saw
Rose standing on Waterfall Way near the intersection of Prince Street. She knew
the location to be a popular place for people who wanted to hitch a lift to
wait. Ms McCarthy had picked up hitchhikers from the location previously. Ms
McCarthy thought that Rose was trying to hitch a ride.
Stuart McDade gave evidence at the inquest. He stated that he, and his
partner Amanda Wood, moved to Bellingen in February 2003. He did not know Rose
but had seen her around town and knew that she was a local girl. He stated that
about 5.00pm he was driving past the Bellingen Golf Club on Waterfall Way and
saw a girl hitching a ride. He stopped and gave the girl a lift. When he reached
his destination at 838 Waterfall Way she got out and continued walking in the
direction of the Pacific Highway. When he subsequently saw posters seeking
information as to her whereabouts he realised the girl he had given a lift to
was Rose.
Stephen Hull gave evidence at the inquest. In 2003 he had lived in the
Bellingen area for about 8 years. In 2003 he played soccer in an over 35’s
competition for the Bellingen Soccer Club that was conducted in Coffs Harbour.
On days that there was a game he would car pool to Coffs Harbour with other team
members. They would meet at Connell Park off Waterfall Way about 5.00pm prior to
travelling to Coffs Harbour. Mr Hull gave evidence that about 5.00pm on 11 April
2003 as he pulled into Connell Park he observed a girl who appeared to be
hitching going in an easterly direction. Mr Hull and his teammates subsequently
left for Coffs Harbour about 5.15pm. As they were travelling along the Pacific
Highway approaching the Pine Creek State Forest he again saw the girl walking
northwards on the western side of the highway. Mr Hull did not know Rose however
he subsequently identified the girl he had seen at Connell Park and walking
along the highway to be Rose.
In 2003 a statement was taken from Lawrence Fowler. Mr Fowler stated that in
early 2003 he was in a café in Bellingen and had a conversation with a young
woman about music. He was a retired musician. He found out that her name was
Rosie. On 11 April 2003, just as it was getting dark, he and his friend Leah
Munro were travelling from Coffs Harbour towards Bellingen. As he approached the
Repton turnoff he moved to the turning lane in order to turn off onto the Old
Pacific Highway prior to entering Waterfall Way. As he did so he saw the girl he
knew as Rosie standing in the rain. Mr Fowler turned into the Repton Road and
stopped. Because of the direction the girl was walking Mr Fowler thought she was
going to Bellingen. He offered her a lift. The girl accepted and got into the
car. She then changed her mind and told Mr Fowler and Ms Munro that she had to
go to Bundagen. She then got out of the car and Mr Fowler and Ms Munro proceeded
on their way. The evidence was that sunset in Bellingen on 11 April 2003 was at
5.17pm.
William John Robb made a statement on 3 July 2003 and also gave evidence at
the inquest. On 11 April 2003 at about 5.00pm he was driving travelling to pick
up his daughter from his sisters home at Raleigh. As he came to the intersection
of Perrys Road and the Old Pacific Highway he saw a girl with a Mohawk haircut
sitting on a wooden bench at the Perrys Hill lookout. As far as he could see the
girl was alone. Mr Robb stated that after he had collected his daughter he was
returning home about 6.15pm. When he turned into Perrys Road he noticed a car
parked at the lookout. He thought it was either white or yellow but did not take
much notice of it. He continued along Perrys Road for about a 100 metres and
then he noticed a girl with a Mohawk style haircut walking in an easterly
direction. He believed it was the same girl he had previously noticed at the
lookout. Mr Robb did not believe that at the time she was seeking a lift. Mr
Robb travelled around her and then proceeded home. Mr Robb was confident about
the date and times he observed the girl because it was his wedding anniversary
and his daughter was performing in a dance demonstration that evening and had to
be at the performance by 7.00pm. Mr Robb did not know Rose however he had seen
her in Bellingen earlier in the year. He was able to recognise her as the same
girl as he had seen on 11 April 2003 because she was wearing the same clothes
and hairstyle.
The investigation into Rose’s disappearance also identified a number of
people who believed that they had seen Rose after 11 April 2003. Mr Alan Amos
Scott came forward during the course of the inquest. He was a Bellingen resident
and operated tow trucks. He knew Rose because she had regularly walked past his
workshop. He remembered that the last time he had seen her she was standing on
the bank of the Old Pacific Highway at Pine Creek about 100-120 metres south of
the turnoff to Bundagen. He said it was early nighttime. He said that he saw her
standing on the steep slope and he wondered if she was going to jump. She did
not do so. He was unsure of the date but having looked at his records he
initially thought it was either 3 or 13 April 2003 however later he thought it
could have been on 11 April 2003. He had not seen Rose since that time.
David Leonard Fergusson was a resident of Bellingen. He gave evidence at the
inquest. On 11 April 2003 he was required to attend the Bellingen District
Hospital for day surgery. Evidence tendered to the inquest confirmed the date of
his surgery. His evidence was that he had seen Rose around town on numerous
occasions. On the day of his surgery he remembered speaking to her. Their
conversation was mainly about music but she mentioned that she was having a
birthday party and was really excited about it. Mr Fergusson stated that the
next morning he came into Bellingen and whilst there saw Rose walking past the
courthouse. He did not speak to her on that occasion. He said that the clothing
she was wearing was similar to the clothing that she had been wearing on the day
previously. He thought that he saw her between 11.00am and 1.00pm.
Leanne Gai Walmsley made a statement to police on 27 May 2003 and gave
evidence at the inquest. She did not know Rose. She saw her photograph in the
local newspaper after she went missing and contacted the police. She said that
she had seen Rose on 3 or 4 occasions in Coffs Harbour but had never spoken to
her. She said that on 16 April 2003 whilst travelling to the Bunnings store at
Coffs Harbour as part of her employment she was stopped in her car in the
southbound lane on the Pacific Highway back from the lights at Combine Street
waiting for them to change. As she waited a girl, who she believed to be Rose,
walked past her. The girl was wearing a black tee shirt and black denim jeans.
She was carrying a guitar over her back and had black closely shaven hair. The
girl passed Albany Street and then continued in a southerly direction on the
Pacific Highway. Ms Walmsley did not think she was hitchhiking. When the lights
changed Ms Walmsley continued on her way.
Shaylee Anne Smith made a statement on 30 May 2003 and gave evidence at the
inquest. She said that she had met Rose at Tormina High School when they
commenced in year seven. She said that she knew Rose well but was not close to
her. She said that about two weeks before 5 May 2003 she, and her boyfriend
Peter Hopwood were travelling in a car along the Pacific Highway Coffs Harbour
when she saw Rose walking along the footpath on the eastern side of the highway.
She recognised Rose, in part, because of her distinctive walk. She observed that
she had her head shaven except for a Mohawk bit along the top of her head. She
said that she was wearing the same type of clothing as she usually did. Ms Smith
also said that on Monday 5 May 2003 she and Mr Hopwood were again in Coffs
Harbour as she had a doctor’s appointment. About 4.00pm she and Mr Hopwood were
walking along Grafton Street Coffs Harbour. When they passed the Pizza Haven she
thought she saw Rose sitting on the plastic chairs in front of the kebab shop.
She said that she was wearing the same clothes but did not have the Mohawk
haircut. Ms Smith said hello to the girl she thought was Rose however the girl
did not respond. Ms Smith thought this was unusual because previously when they
had met Rose would ‘speak for ages.’ As they passed the location later that day
the girl was still there but had her back to them. They did not make further
contact. Ms Smith also gave evidence that two or three days later she once again
saw a person she believed to be Rose as she was travelling in a car in Grafton
Street Coffs Harbour. She said that she recognised her because of the same
distinctive walk, the way she looked and the clothing that she wore. At that
time she said Rose was walking north along the eastern footpath of Grafton
Street in the company of a blond haired woman. She thought that the woman looked
like a ‘feral or a hippy.’ Rose appeared to be happy and as far as she could
tell the two women seemed to be mucking around. When she gave evidence Ms Smith
also remembered that she had seen Rose giving out birthday invitations outside
Tormina High School. She said that at the time Rose was out the front near the
bus stop. She was unable to give a date or time. Peter Hopwood also gave
evidence. He had not made a statement at the time of Rose’s disappearance. He
did not know Rose but knew of her. His recollection was vague but he gave
evidence of seeing her in the Mall at Coffs Harbour but did not remember what
she was wearing at the time. He remembered that it was on a day when he and his
partner were attending a doctor’s appointment. He said that his partner was
about six weeks pregnant at the time. The child was born on 23 December 2003.
Sarina Baker made a statement to police on 29 May 2003 but did not give
evidence at the inquest. In 2003 she was a nineteen year old. She had attended
Tormina High School and had known Rose at school. She did not know if Rose had
been in her year. She did not know Rose very well. She said that on 2 May 2003
she was in a bus that was travelling north on the Pacific Highway. At a point
near an antique shop south of Bray Street the bus passed Rose who was walking
south on the footpath. Ms Baker said that she was able to get a good look at
Rose as she was walking towards the bus and the bus was not travelling very
fast. Whilst she was ‘100% sure’ that the girl she saw was Rose she was only
‘pretty sure’ that the date was 2 May 2003.
A statement prepared by Constable Troy Briggs was also tendered to the
inquest. Constable Briggs is currently part of the Missing Persons Unit of the
NSW Police. As part of his duties he undertook a number of searches with various
governmental and other institutions to determine whether or not Rose had had
contact with them. The result of those searches was that since 11 April 2003
Rose had not left Australia under her name, had not come to the attention of any
State or Territory Police Force, did not conduct an account with any financial
institution, was not on the electoral roll and had not sought to receive
benefits from Centrelink or the Health Insurance Commission.
Shortly before the inquest began in Bellingen on 10 December 2012 a person
contacted Crime Stoppers and provided information concerning the death of Rose.
The caller did not identify himself but identified a person alleged to have been
involved in her death. The person identified was a person then serving a
sentence of imprisonment and was also a mental health patient at the Long Bay
Correctional Centre Hospital. Further investigation was able to confirm that the
source of the information was, in fact, the prisoner himself. Having been
informed of the health and circumstances of the informant I formed the view that
it would not be in the public interest for the evidence of his name to be
published. I came to this conclusion for several reasons firstly because if the
information was credible it would likely lead to the commencement of criminal
proceedings and I did not want any evidence given in this inquest to interfere
with such proceedings in any way. Secondly I was informed that there was some
concern expressed by corrective service officers that the informant, who had
been associating with another prisoner who had been receiving considerable media
attention, may be using his disclosure to obtain some sort of attention for
himself. If this was the case I did not want the inquest to provide him with
such attention. I therefore ordered, in accordance with section 74(1)(b) of the
Act, that evidence of the name of the informant not be published and that in the
proceedings he be referred to by the pseudonym ‘prisoner A’. I propose to
continue that prohibition following the delivery of these findings. Following
‘Prisoner A’ being identified he was spoken to by detectives stationed at
Maroubra. He provided certain information that related to his involvement in
Rose’s death. He said that Rose had been abducted and subsequently killed and
then buried and that he and another person who he refused to identify had been
involved. This information was provided to me and I considered it appropriate
for the details, to the extent that was known at the time, to be communicated to
Malila Howell. The information provided was such that it needed to be
investigated prior to the inquest being concluded. I therefore decided to
commence the inquest, receive all the evidence then available and then adjourn
the inquest to allow that investigation to occur. I asked that the police
undertake the further investigation necessary as soon as possible.
On 19 December 2012 Detectives Watt and Wallington interviewed ‘Prisoner A’.
During the interview he made certain claims as to his involvement in Rose’s
death and gave information as to the location of her body. ‘Prisoner A’ was
interviewed again on 6 March 2013. On 7 May 2013 a search was conducted at the
location that ‘Prisoner A’ had nominated as the site of Rose’s burial. On 13 May
2013 a further search was undertaken this time involving the use of a Police
Cadaver dog. The searches undertaken were extensive and did not locate Rose’s
body or any other relevant evidence. DSC Watt was cautious in attributing
credibility to the information given by ‘Prisoner A’. He accepted that ‘Prisoner
A’ appeared to believe that the information he gave was true. That information
however contained a number of significant inconsistencies between his first and
second interviews. It did appear to be the case that he had some personal
knowledge of Rose and a sound knowledge of the geographical area in which the
killing of Rose and disposed of her body was said to have occurred. That
knowledge would not, however, be exclusive to ‘Prisoner A’. ‘Prisoner A’ also
suffered from significant mental health issues. His medical condition was such
that his treating doctors would not approve his leaving the Long Bay Hospital
and travelling to Coffs Harbour to assist the police search for Rose’s burial
site. DSC Watt concluded that whilst the information supplied by ‘Prisoner A’
could not be completely dismissed there were serious credibility issues
associated with it.
Consideration and Conclusions.
As I outlined above the first matter I have to deal with is the question of
whether or not I can be satisfied, to requisite standard of proof, that Rose is
deceased. If I am so satisfied then I am to proceed to make findings in
accordance with Section 81(1) of the Act as the evidence allows. If I am not so
satisfied then Section 80 of the Act requires me to find as such and terminate
the inquest. That Rose travelled from her home to Bellingen on 11 April 2003 is
without doubt. It would seem that late in the afternoon she began the journey
towards her home. She was hitchhiking. McCarthy saw her waiting for a lift and
McDade and Wood picked her up. They dropped her outside 838 Waterfall Way. She
appears to have obtained another lift from an unknown person and is subsequently
seen around 5.00pm on or near the Old Pacific Highway by Hull, Fowler, Munro and
Robb. I am satisfied that the last time she was seen alive on 11 April 2003 was
by Mr Robb when he drove passed her on Perrys Road at about 6.45pm. At the time
she was travelling in the direction of her home at Bundagen. After 11 April 2011
there have been a number of reported sightings of Rose. Mr Ferguson in Bellingen
on 12 April 2003, Ms Walmsley in Coffs Harbour on 16 April 2003, Ms Smith in
Coffs Harbour on three occasions, two weeks before 5 May 2003, on 5 May 2003 and
2 or 3 days after 5 May 2003 and finally Ms Baker once again in Coffs Harbour on
2 May 2003. Leaving aside for the moment the question of whether or not these
sightings occurred there has been no evidence of Rose being alive since the
early part of May 2003.
On 11 April 2003 by all accounts Rose was in good spirits. She was excited
about her forthcoming Birthday party. She had a good relationship with her
mother and friends. There was no evidence to suggest that Rose would be likely
to leave the Coffs Harbour/Bellingen area and seek to establish a new life
elsewhere. Even if she wished to do so there would be some question as to
whether she would be able to do so without assistance because of her autism. In
any event even if she were inclined to do so why would she do so after
organising and then inviting her friends to her birthday party? I do not think
that she has done so. The evidence is that she has not left Australia, has not
conducted any financial account and has not sought the assistance of Centrelink,
Medicare or come to the attention of the Police in the ten years since. I am
satisfied that if she were to be alive she would have more than likely made
contact with her mother and her close friends. I am satisfied that, on the
balance of probabilities, Rose is deceased. Having concluded that Rose is
deceased I am required to make findings, if evidence is available, as to the
date and place of her death and the cause and manner thereof in accordance with
Section 81(1). The determination of the date and place of Rose’s death requires
an evaluation of the evidence of the sightings after 11 April 2003.
David Ferguson believed that he saw Rose in Bellingen on 12 April 2003. He
did not make a statement at the time of her disappearance and in recalling this
sighting he was doing so many years after the events. There was some support for
his memory because of the association between his hospital procedure that was
confirmed to have occurred on 11 April 2003 and his memory of seeing her the
next day. He had, however, seen her around Bellingen on previous occasions and
may well have confused the dates. I accept that Mr Ferguson was trying to assist
the Inquest with his evidence however given the time between the events and his
trying to remember them I could not be satisfied, to the required standard of
proof, that his sighting of her on 12 April 2003 was accurate.
Ms Walmsley believed she saw Rose on 16 April 2003. She was at Coffs Harbour
on the Pacific Highway. She did not know Rose but thought she had seen her
before in Coffs Harbour. She came forward when she saw a photograph of Rose in
the newspaper. The woman who she saw on 16 April 2003 had some resemblance to
Rose. She also had a guitar on her back and Rose was keen on her music. None of
the evidence of Rose’s movement on 11 April 2003 suggested that she was carrying
her guitar at that time. The evidence was that she had not been home between 11
and 16 April 2003 so she could not have recovered her guitar. Indeed Rose was
reported missing to the police on 15 April 2003. On the evidence available I am
not satisfied that the person seen by Ms Walmsley on 16 April 2003 was Rose.
Ms Smith gave evidence that she saw Rose on four occasions. The first was
outside Toormina High School when Rose was handing out invitations to her
birthday party. The subsequent occasions were about two weeks before 5 May 2003,
on 5 May 2003 and two or three days after 5 May 2003. Each subsequent sighting
was in Coffs Harbour. The evidence of Ms Smith seeing Rose outside Toormina High
School was not provided in her initial statement but given for the first time at
the inquest. The only evidence of Rose giving out invitations for her birthday
was on 11 April 2003. That was the last day of school for the first term in
2003. Although Ms Smith was not precise as to the time from the description
given by her it would seem that it occurred as students were leaving the school.
School ordinarily concludes about 3.00pm however as it was the last day of term
it may have been earlier. Toormina High School is between Coffs Harbour and
Bellingen. Coffs Harbour is 10 kilometres to the north and Bellingen is 31
kilometres to the southwest. There is evidence of various confirmed sightings of
Rose in the Bellingen CBD at various times during the morning and afternoon on
that day. She was then seen hitchhiking at 5.00pm. It would seem unlikely, if
not impossible, for Rose to have travelled to Toormina High School to hand out
invitations and then to have retuned to Bellingen. In any event there would be
no need for her to do so if she was wishing to return home as to travel to
Bellingen would be to effectively pass her home. I do not believe that Ms Smith
saw Rose at Toormina High School on 11 April 2003 as she believes. Ms Smith gave
other evidence of seeing Rose on various occasions after 11 April 2003. Ms
Smith’s evidence was that she knew Rose quite well from their time at school. On
each occasion she said she recognised Rose because of her attire, her hairstyle
and the manner of her walk. On 5 May 2003 she said that she spoke to the person
she believed to be Rose but the person did not respond. She found this unusual
because Rose was fairly gregarious and when spoken to would respond and in the
past Ms Smith said she had difficulty ending the conversation. I am satisfied
that Ms Smith must be mistaken and the girl she saw was not Rose. Apart from the
uncharacteristic response to being spoken to by the time of these events there
was an active police search for Rose that was accompanied by considerable media
activity. Were it to have been Rose it would be reasonable to think that she
would have responded and contacted her mother or the police. She would certainly
have attended her birthday party. I am satisfied that Ms Smith is mistaken when
she says that she saw Rose on the three dates that she has mentioned.
Ms Baker’s stated that she saw Rose as a bus that she was in passed her on
the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour. Ms Baker stated that she had a good vision
of Rose. She had been with her at school but did not know her very well. She
thought that the date she saw Rose was 2 May 2003. She was very sure that it was
Rose that she saw but was less sure of the date. I am satisfied that Ms Baker
was trying to assist the police investigation by her evidence however I could
not be satisfied, on the basis of the evidence available, that she saw Rose on 2
May 2003. If she did see Rose then it may well have been on a date prior to her
going missing. Ms Baker was not available to give evidence at the inquest so
these matters could not be examined and without such examination I could not be
satisfied that the date was in fact 2 May 2003.
In the circumstances I am satisfied that the last confirmed sighting Rose
being alive was when she was seen by Mr Robb a little after 6.00pm on 11 April
2003. I am satisfied that had she been alive after that date she would have been
in contact with her family and friends and would certainly have attended her
birthday party. She did not do so. It is therefore more probably than not that
she died at or about the time of her disappearance and that her death occurred
in the vicinity of where she was last seen. I therefore propose to record that
Rose died on or about 11 April 2003 and that her death occurred in the Bellingen
/ Coffs Harbour area of New South Wales.
This brings me to the question of the cause and manner of Rose’s death. Her
body not having been located there is no evidence on which I could make a
finding as to the cause of her death. That is a matter that will need to be left
open until additional evidence becomes available. The situation as to the manner
of Rose’s death is similar. The manner of a person’s death can generally be
classified as being one of four alternatives. These are natural cause,
misadventure, intentional self-harm or the result of action of a third party. In
Rose’s case there is no evidence to suggest that her death was due to natural
cause or misadventure. Rose was in apparent good health on the day she went
missing and there was no evidence to suggest she suffered from any underlying
medical condition that might have resulted in her sudden death. Were Rose to
have suffered sudden death, due to either underlying medical condition or and
accident or injury it is, in my view more likely that her body would have been
found well before now. I am satisfied that this is not the case. As to
intentional self-harm I am satisfied that this is also unlikely. All the
evidence available to me is that Rose was in good spirits on 11 April 2003, was
looking forward to her upcoming birthday party, had not displayed any suicidal
ideation in the period prior to her disappearance and when last seen appeared to
be, if not on her way home, at least travelling in the direction of her home
without any apparent distress. I am therefore satisfied that it is likely that
Rose’s death occurred at the hands of some unknown third party or parties.
This leads to a consideration of the information given to police by ‘Prisoner
‘A’. Were I to be satisfied that the evidence available with respect of the
alleged involvement of ‘Prisoner A’ in the death of Rose was such as to meet the
requirements of Section 78(1)(b) then I would suspend the inquest and refer that
evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration. The evidence
available however does not meet that standard. Having reviewed the information
given by ‘Prisoner A’ I agree with DSC Watt that it cannot be ignored. In spite
of the extensive investigation undertaken by DSC Watt there is no objective
evidence available to support the claims made by ‘Prisoner A.’ There is also a
serious question as to whether or not he had the opportunity to be involved in
Rose’s disappearance due to the restrictions that were placed on his movements
at about the time Rose went missing. I am therefore satisfied that the
information provided by ‘Prisoner A’ it is not of such a standard as to be
capable of being relied on by me to determine either the cause or manner of
Rose’s death. Whilst it is likely that Rose’s death was brought about at the
hands of a person, or persons, unknown there is also insufficient evidence
available for me to make a positive finding that this was the case and in such
circumstances the manner of Rose’s death will necessarily also be the subject of
an open finding.
Future investigations
At the end of an inquest dealing with a missing person where a coroner is
required to make open findings as to cause and or manner of death although the
inquest is concluded the investigation is not. The investigation remains open by
the police and the State Coroner may, where new evidence becomes available,
order a fresh inquest. This will be the situation in this case, one can only
hope that in the future such evidence will be come available and Rose’s family
will be able to at least be comforted by the knowledge of the circumstances of
her death. Section 82
Recommendations
I do not consider that any matters have arisen in this inquest that would
necessitate me making any recommendations in accordance with this section other
than that it be referred to the unsolved homicide unit of the NSW Police for
further investigation in accordance with the protocols of that unit.
Magistrate P A MacMahon
Deputy State Coroner
27 June 2013
Police Renew Appeal For Missing Woman - Coffs Harbour
11 April 2005
On the 12 April 2005, Rose Rain Howell has been missing for 2 years . Operation
Chelonia was established to investigate her disappearance. Police believe she
may have been the victim of foul play.
On the morning of Friday 11 April, Rose left her mother's home in Bundagen,
about 20km south of Coffs Harbour. She went to the library in Bellingen and
worked on invitations to her 19th birthday party, (Monday 21 April 2003). After
Rose left the library an unknown person drove her from Bellingen and dropped off
about 5:00pm at Marx Hill, several kilometres away. It is unclear how Rose left
Marx Hill but it is believed she was picked up by another motorist.
The last sighting of Rose was at 5:30pm on 11 April when she was seen
hitchhiking north on the Pacific Highway near the Old Pacific Highway turn-off
to Perry Hill and Repton.
Rose is 20-years-old, she is described as being of white appearance, about
160-165cm tall with olive skin, hazel/green eyes, thin eyebrows and 2 moles
about 1cm apart below the hairline with another mole on the left side of her
neck. At the time of her disappearance she had short dark brown hair with the
sides shaved and a Mohawk on top. She was wearing a black tank top, dark grey
jeans, a black belt with a silver buckle and black boots.
Anyone with information regarding
the disappearance of Rose Rain
Howell is urged to contact Coffs
Harbour Police on 6652 0299 or
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Appeal from Rose's mother
An outgoing woman with a short, dark mohawk and hazel-green eyes, Rose Howell
was last seen on Friday, April 11, 2003, walking along Perry's Road in Repton,
NSW. Rose turned 20 in April this year, and at the time she disappeared had just
been invited to join a band. Her mother Malila tells her story ...
As my daughter Rose left with friends for Bellingen, I said to her, "Let me know
if you need a lift home."
Rose, my youngest of four, was planning a big party at home on April 21 — the
day after her 19th birthday. We live at Repton, which is about a 15-minute drive
from Bellingen in northern NSW.
Rose spent the day in town making invitations on the Bellingen library's
computer and personally delivering them to her friends. She didn't come home
that night, but she often stayed in town overnight. However, by Sunday morning I
was seriously worried.
Though Rose is a determined and independent young woman, I knew she hadn't run
away — her mobile, electric bass and the rest of her belongings were at home.
She was looking forward to her party and was excited because she'd been invited
to join a band. When she didn't turn up for her appointments in Coffs Harbour on
Monday, I went to the police. They didn't think she'd run away, either.
We found out Rose had been coming home when she vanished. She had hitched to the
corner of the Old Pacific Highway and Perry's Road at about 5.30-6pm and started
walking. Rose was within five kilometres of home — but she didn't make it there.
It was dusk and raining when someone saw her at the top of Perry's Hill. This
was the last time anyone saw her.
I put up posters in Bellingen, describing her — 160-165cm tall, hazel-green
eyes, with a very short, dark mohawk and wearing a black singlet top,
charcoal-coloured jeans and black boots.
The police don't have any clues. Their only lead is an anonymous letter from May
28 last year but no-one came forward when I went on television to appeal to the
writer.
The local community has raised a $20,000 reward for accurate information about
Rose's location.
All I can do is keep putting up posters and talking to the media. I'll never let
go of hope. Rose, if you're out there somewhere, please let me know. I miss you.
If you have any information, please call Coffs Harbour police station on (02)
6652 0299.
It's Missing Person's Week and Katya Quigley spoke to the mother of a
Bellingen woman who has been missing since 2003
One of the worst fears for any parent is the thought
of their child going missing. Around 35,000 people are reported missing
in Australia each year - that's one person every 15 minutes. While 95%
of missing persons are found within a week, there are currently 1,600
people who have been missing for more than six months.
It's missing person's week and the slogan for the week this year
is "When someone goes missing. More than one person is lost"
Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay told Elloise Farrow Smith that
there are more than 20 long term missing people on the Coffs Coast. He
said that people shouldn't hesitate to contact police if they are
concerned about a family member or friend who is missing. "What we say
to people is not to wait 24 hours to report that someone is missing. If
they've actually got fears for their safety and their location is
unknown. It's not a crime to go missing," he said.
Rose Howell went missing in the Bellingen area on Friday April 11
2003, she was only 18 at the time. Her mother, Malila Howell, told Katya
Quigley she felt worried about Rose the day she went missing when she
didn't come home or call.
"After three days it was something's wrong, something's gone
wrong, what's going on? Where is she? And then you kind of get desperate
as the time goes past and you haven't got an answer to this right in
your face, really important question and there's no way you can get an
answer," she said.
"She was last seen on Perry's Hill on the evening of the day she
went missing," Malila said. "Some weeks afterwards the police got an
anonymous letter with details in it that they tried to follow up that
intimated that she was dead."
"I went to all her haunts and places that she knew and talked to
all her friends and I put posters up around Bellingen and around the
area."
She said she is always wondering, and thinking about Rose. "You go
on with life because that's what you do and it's like all the time you
carry along this black hole with you," she said.
Detective Inspector Lindsay appealed for anyone who has any
information about Rose Howell to please contact Coffs Harbour police on
6652 0299. He also said that anyone who is missing to please contact
family or friends. "We would appeal to any person that hasn't been in
contact with their family and next of kin for a long period of time to
get in contact."
Malila said that if Rose is listening, she would like to send her
love to her. "If you're alive I'd really like to know that you are and
there's a big hole in life where you used to be but I hope your life is
going well," she said.
Inquest underway into the disappearance of Coffs Coast teen
11th Dec 2012 1:00 PM
Coffs Coast Advocate
AN INQUEST is underway into the disappearance of Coffs Coast teenager
Rose Howell, who was reported missing a few days short of her 19th
birthday, nine years ago.
Evidence into her disappearance is being heard in the Bellingen Court
today and tomorrow.
A police investigation into the case found Rose left her mother's home
at Bundagen on the morning of Friday, April 11, 2003.
She travelled to the Bellingen Library where she worked on invitations
for a planned birthday party.
After leaving the library, an unknown person drove Rose from Bellingen
and dropped her off at Marx Hill at around 5pm.
It is believed Rose was then picked up by another motorist and she was
last seen about 6.45pm, hitchhiking north on the Pacific Highway near
the Old Pacific Highway turn-off to Perry Hill and Repton.
Coroner has doubts over missing girl confession
A CONVICTED armed robber has admitted he was involved in the abduction
and murder of a Bundagen teenager 10 years ago but the Coroner has
expressed his doubts.
Coffs Coast
Advocate
June 28, 2013 - 8:00AM
A CONVICTED armed robber has admitted he was involved in the
abduction and murder of a Bundagen teenager 10 years ago but
the Coroner has expressed doubts regarding the confession.
The criminal was just 15 years-old when local teen Rose Howell
disappeared in 2003.
The criminal's "admission" was revealed as a coroner yesterday
gave his findings into the 18-year-old's disappearance - which
he ruled could not definitely be linked to the man, who may have
only put himself forward to get publicity while in jail.
Ms Howell was last seen as she tried to hitchhike from Bellingen
after using the local library's computers to prepare invitations
for her 19th birthday party.
She did not return to her Bundagen home and her family have not
seen or heard from her since.
Last December the inmate, "Prisoner A", contacted Crime Stoppers
to claim responsibilty along with an unidentified accomplice for
Ms Howell's death.
Dirty Little Secrets: Long Bay jail prisoner
claims to hold major clue to missing teen
Kate Kachor - MSN
It was less than a week before Christmas in 2012 when detectives from Maroubra
police station in Sydney’s east spoke with a Long Bay prison inmate.
Days before the coronial inquest into Rose Howell’s 2003 disappearance, Crime
Stoppers had received an anonymous call claiming the good-humoured and
independent teenager from the small community of Bundagen on the NSW mid-north
coast had been murdered by a prisoner there.
It would turn out the source of information was the prisoner himself.
Giving evidence at that inquest was Detective Senior Constable Peter Watt, who
had travelled more than 500km from Sydney to the Bellingen court on the north
NSW coast.
Detective Watt was put in charge of Rose’s case after an earlier investigation
failed to locate the 18-year-old or establish any real circumstances around her
disappearance.
Rose was last seen alive around 6.45pm on Friday 11 April, 2003, just nine days
before her 19th birthday. She had been hitchhiking north along the Pacific
Highway towards her home in Bundagen – a 30-minute drive from Coffs Harbour. She
has never been heard from again.
In accordance with the Coroners Act 2009, on December 14, 2011 - eight years
after she went missing - Detective Watt officially listed Rose as deceased.
One year later, in mid-December 2012, the inquest was held.
Retired musician, Lawrence Fowler, came forward to say he and his friend Leah
Munro had seen Rose as they drove from Coffs Harbour towards Bellingen on Friday
11 April, 2003.
Lawrence said he thought Rose was heading to Bellingen, and given it was raining
and getting dark, he stopped to offer the teenager a lift. He remembered meeting
her earlier that year in a Bellingen cafe where they chatted about music.
“The girl accepted and got into the car. She then changed her mind and told Mr
Fowler and Ms Munro that she had to go to Bundagen. She then got out of the car
and Mr Fowler and Ms Munro proceeded on their way,” Rose’s coroner’s report
reads.
Another witness, William Robb, said he saw a girl fitting Rose’s description
sitting on a wooden bench later that afternoon at a lookout near Perrys Road –
an area just outside the township of Repton and less than 20 minutes from
Bundagen.
William was on his way to pick up his daughter from his sister’s house at
Raleigh, about a nine-minute drive away. On his return home, at around 6.15pm,
he said he again saw Rose at the lookout and noticed a car parked nearby.
William said he couldn’t recall much about the car’s description, except to say
it was “white” or “yellow”. He said he continued driving as it didn’t look like
Rose was in need of a lift.
Alan Scott, a Bellingen tow truck operator, also came forward during the
inquest. He had known Rose as she regularly walked past his workshop and said he
remembered seeing her in the “early night time” standing on the bank of the Old
Pacific Highway at Pine Creek.
Alan said she was about 100m to 120m south of the turnoff to Bundagen. When
quizzed over the date, he first said he thought it might have been April 3 or
April 13. He later said it could have been April 11.
It’s worth noting here that the body of 20-year-old Melbourne hitchhiker, Ineka
Hinkley, was found in bushland near a truck-stop also at Pine Creek on
November 6, 1996.
Back to Rose. There were reports of a number of other sightings of the teenager
in the days after April 11, 2003. Though police have been unable to verify them.
As her inquest continued into the second day, it was abruptly adjourned when the
Crime Stoppers call was revealed.
The individual behind that call has only ever been identified publicly as
‘Prisoner A’. Little is known about ‘Prisoner A’ other than he is serving time
behind bars and is also a mental health patient at the Long Bay Correctional
Centre Hospital.
During his first conversation with Detective Watt on December 19, ‘Prisoner A’
alleged Rose had been abducted before being killed. He also claimed he and
another individual were involved in the teenager’s death and that he knew the
location of her body.
‘Prisoner A’ was interviewed by detectives again on March 6, 2013 and one day
later cops searched an area of Coffs Harbour which they thought could be Rose’s
final resting place.
Six days later, the area was searched again with a police cadaver dog. No sign
of Rose’s body was found.
It should be noted here that in the coroner’s report ‘Prisoner A’ was considered
too mentally unstable by doctors to be allowed any sort of leave from the Long
Bay Hospital and as such did not help with the search.
While Detective Watt accepted the prisoner appeared to believe the information
about Rose was true, his account was found to have a number of “significant
inconsistences” between the first and second interviews.
These inconsistencies included the prisoner’s mental state and that he had been
associating with another prisoner who had been receiving “considerable media
attention”. The name of this prisoner has also been kept confidential by
authorities.
The coroner’s report suggested ‘Prisoner A’ may be using the information he
provided to detectives to obtain “some kind of attention for himself”.
“It did appear to be the case that he had some personal knowledge of Rose and a
sound knowledge of the geographical areas in which the killing of Rose and
disposed of her body was said to have occurred,” the coroner’s report read.
“That knowledge would not, however, be exclusive to ‘Prisoner A’.”
Now, while it could well be the case that ‘Prisoner A’ was delusional when he
came to ring Crime Stoppers back in 2012 and truly had nothing to do with Rose’s
disappearance - a thought has kept bubbling way at the back of my mind since
reading Rose’s coroner’s report – what about the weather.
In the nine years since she went missing until her inquest, NSW had record
amounts of rain, including, in 2012, the wettest March since 1956. While I do
not doubt the thoroughness of the police search, could weather conditions over
those nine years have shifted any remains in the soil?
Perhaps this is just wishful thinking on my part that searchers were in the
right location but looking in slightly in the wrong spot.
Tragically, it is at this point in the series where Rhoda Roberts re-enters.
In July 1998 Rhoda lost her twin sister Lois.
Her bound and tortured remains were found in the thick scrub of the Whian Whian
state forest six months and 10 days after she was reported missing.
On April 30, 2002, six years after Lois’ murder, her family was dealt another
nightmare blow when Rhoda’s cousin and mother-of-two, Lucy McDonald, vanished
from her Lismore Heights home without a trace.
Tragically her daughter returned home from work that evening to find Lucy’s keys
and wallet but no sign of mum.
“Poor Lucy,” Rhoda tells me, her voice drained. “Her body has never been found”.
A spokesperson for NSW State Crime Command says local police conducted numerous
inquiries to locate Lucy, including following up sightings at various places,
including Cowangla, Nimbin, Lismore, and near Tweed Heads. But she was never
located.
After exhausting “all lines of inquiry”, detectives referred the case to the NSW
Coroner with an inquest into her disappearance held in 2008. The NSW Coroner
returned an open finding.
As to where that investigation is up to now, I’m told Lucy’s disappearance
remains under the responsibility of Lismore detectives and that is all I’m told.
For the
families of Lois Roberts, Lee
Ellen Stace, Ineka Hinkley, Margaret,
Rose and Lucy McDonald the search for answers never stops.
“Since the coroner’s inquiry (we haven’t heard) a bloody word from them (the
police). Not a word,” Rhoda tells me.
The inquest into her twin sister’s murder was held 15-years ago and returned an
open finding.
“The cold case unit (detective) came and spoke to us (back in 1998) and then
they were disbanded … and he basically told us we’d have to wait three years
because there was so many more (cases) they had to investigate before her.”
While the waiting is agonising for Rhoda and her family, a part of her
understands. She says that one of the investigation officers undertook in the
years since Lois’ murder resulted in a husband being charged with the cold case
murder of a local Ballina girl.
“They can have an effect all those years later but we’ve never heard from the
Lismore police since that coroner’s inquiry and yet time and again there are
more girls missing and murders,” she says.
“So, I just think the level of police compassion is zero when it comes to
Aboriginal murder victims.”
Rhoda then mentions Lynette Daley and her six-year wait for justice.
The young indigenous mother-of-seven died from severe blood loss after she was
violently sexually assaulted during a camping trip on a north coast beach near
Iluka in 2011.
In November, it took a jury 32 minutes to convict Adrian Attwater – Lynette’s
then boyfriend – and his friend Paul Maris. Attwater was this month sentenced to
more than 14 years jail for manslaughter while Maris was handed almost seven
years jail for tampering with evidence. Both men were also found guilty of the
aggravated sexual assault of Lynette.
“They knew who the perpetrators were and they still waited six years and they
have no idea what that does to families. They have no idea what it does,” Rhoda
says.
“We will never, ever, ever be the same people we were (before Lois’ murder).
Ever.”
When I ask
the NSW State Crime Command for an update on the status of the victimscovered
in this series, the response is less than heartening.
Lois, Lee, Ineka, Rose and Margaret’s cases are all with the Unsolved Homicide
Team for further investigation. As mentioned, Lucy’s disappearance remains in
the hands of Lismore detectives.
To this day, Terri Blackwell, has much anger. She has ongoing trauma from having
to identify her best friend Lee’s belongings as well as sitting through the
14-day inquest in 2009 at the end of which the coroner returned an open finding.
Without missing a beat, she recalls how the open hearing was told Lee lost her
life to “means other than natural causes”.
If that wasn’t enough, Lee’s family was forced to mourn her death a second time
when, four years after her murder, her bones were finally returned to the family
for burial.
When I ask the NSW State Crime Command about any hope the families might have
these cases could one day be solved, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Olen tells
me that reality comes down to people coming forward with information. If
officers are presented “fresh and compelling evidence” it will be actively
pursued, he says.
Gary McEvoy, a retired Coffs Harbour senior police officer who supervised
detectives investigating both Rose’s disappearance and Lee’s murder, is more
optimistic.
“Nowadays all documents are scanned so there’s the paper copy and the scanned
copy and there’s a computer case manager. There are quite a few systems that
would still be there now, probably even better than when I was there and it’s
very easy to reactivate,” he says.
“I’m sure the police would encourage anyone with information to come forward and
they would make a prompt assessment of the information and reopen the
investigation if required.”
Which also to me begs the question, what about advances in DNA technology.
Associate professor of forensic genetics with University of Canberra, Dennis
McNevin, tells me it is indeed possible for DNA evidence to be retested after
all this time, though it all depends on the quantity of the sample and how it
has been stored.
“If evidence is stored appropriately, it should yield a DNA profile for many
years,” he says.
“We often obtain DNA profiles from 20- to 25-year-old blood stains in our
laboratory.”
While Dennis,
who has worked with the Australian Federal Police and trained members
of the Indonesian, Thai and Iraqi police services, says the same “basic
technology” used at the time of the murders continues to be used today, he
points to the fact now a profile “can be generated from one billionth of a gram”
of DNA.
I ask him if evidence was retested today for traces of DNA, would that testing
provide better results, or offer greater possible matches.
He breaks it down for me.
“The only thing ‘better’ would be the sensitivity, that is, the ability to
obtain a DNA profile that might not have been detected previously,” he says.
“Remember, the point of DNA profiling is to restrict a match to one individual -
either the victim or the perpetrator. Things get a little more complicated if
there is a mixed DNA profile - that is, more than one person contributed DNA.
This could be the case if the victim’s DNA is mixed with the perpetrator’s DNA
or if there were multiple perpetrators.”
DNA procedures have been a consistent source of mystery for families of the
victims featured in this series. For those I have managed to track down, they
all adamantly claimed DNA retesting has not taken place in the cases involving
their loved ones.
The NSW State Crime Command could not give a definitive response on whether or
not the DNA in these cases has been retested.
Another blow for the victims' families.
When I ask Terri if she has a message for anyone who has information that could
help detectives solve Lee’s case, her voice is clear and direct.
“Put themselves in Lee’s shoes, like what if it was one of their family
members,” she says.
“How would they feel if someone was nervous or uncomfortable about saying
something? Someone knows something. No one can ever keep something to
themselves. They’ve got to have told at least one person.”
Rhoda has a similar response.
“The more you ‘um’ and ‘ah’, the more this person is out there and they could be
committing this crime time and time again,” she says.
“By keeping quiet, you’re allowing the particularly perpetrator to continue
doing what he or she obviously gets off on. If you’ve got the slightest bit of
information, you might not think it’s anything great, but it could just be that
tiny little thing that triggers something else. And, would you want your
daughter to be murdered?”
When Rhoda
speaks these words, I think back to the first time I heard about Lois’
murder two years ago around the fire in a friend’s backyard.
At the time, it seemed unthinkable that anyone could go more than a year, let
alone a decade, without any answers to what happened to their sister, daughter,
mum and friend in Lois. Next year, it will be 20 years since Lois’ murder.
That’s two decades without answers for Rhoda and her family.
Tragically, the families of Lee, Ineka, Margaret, Rose and Lucy each have
experience of what it’s like to perpetually wait for any news as to the killer
or killers responsible for taking their loved one.
It just makes you think again and again – someone, somewhere, must know what
happened to them.
5/8/2020 - NSW Police -
Police are appealing for information, as part of Missing
Persons Week, to help locate a teenager who went missing from the
state’s north over 17 years ago.
Rose Howell, then aged 18, left her home in the Bellingen
township of Repton on the afternoon of Friday 11 April 2003.
Her mother believed Rose had intended to meet friends in
Bellingen, and it was not unusual for her to spend the night at one of
her friends’ homes.
On Sunday 13 April 2003, Rose was reported missing to
police after she failed to return home and meet her mother for an 11am
appointment.
At the time of her disappearance, Rose was described as
being of Caucasian appearance, with an olive complexion, about 160-165cm
tall, with hazel eyes and short, dark hair worn in a Mohawk.
Rose also had a condition in her right leg which caused
her to walk with a slight limp.
During the investigation into her disappearance, police
received reports that Rose was seen hitch-hiking on the southbound lanes
of the Pacific Highway, near the Bundagen turn off, on Friday 11 April
2003.
In December 2012, a coronial inquest found that it was
likely Ms Howell had died, but the date, place and cause of death was
undetermined.
The NSW Police Force Missing Persons Registry Manager,
Detective Inspector Glen Browne, said police continue to investigate the
circumstances surrounding Rose’s disappearance and urge anyone with
information to come forward.
“At the time of her disappearance, Rose was excited about
her upcoming 19th birthday party. Today, she would have been be 36 years
old,” Det Insp Browne said.
“Rose was a strong, independent young woman in the prime
of her life. She had a keen interest in local theatre, played the bass
guitar and wrote songs.
“We encourage anyone in the community that may have
information to come forward, regardless of how insignificant you think
it may be.
“After a 17-year search for answers, that small piece of
information may be a step towards providing some peace to Rose’s mum and
loved ones,” Det Insp Browne said.
Anyone with information about Rose Howell’s disappearance
is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Information is treated in strict confidence. The
community is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media
pages.
Coffs teen was in ‘good spirits’ when she disappeared
Rose Howell was seen hitchhiking back to her Repton home 17 years ago. She
hasn’t been seen since.
ON April 11, 2003, Coffs Coast teenager Rose Howell was said to be
in 'good spirits' when she left her Repton home.
Her 19th birthday was just around the corner, so she'd decided to spend
the morning designing invitations for her party at Bellingen Library and
had plans to meet up with friends.
The teen, a bass guitar player and a lover of local theatre, was
recognisable to many with her distinctive clothing and mohawk hairdo.
A number of people reported seeing Ms Howell in Bellingen throughout the
day.
Eventually Ms Howell left the town with a plan to hitchhike her way back
home, and was seen heading north on the Pacific Hwy near the old
turn-off to Perry Hill and Repton at around 6.45pm.
She has not been seen or heard from since.
A coronial inquest into Ms Howell's disappearance in 2012 determined she was no
longer alive - however the date, place and cause of death remains undetermined.
The inquest heard she had a good relationship with her mother and friends and
she did not appear to be struggling with mental health issues. There was no
evidence to suggest she left on her own will.
In December, 2012, a convicted armed robber, who was also a mental health
patient, contacted Crime Stoppers claiming responsibility along with an
unidentified accomplice for Rose's disappearance.
The coroner however expressed doubts over the confession, believing he only put
himself forward to get media attention.
Today, Ms Howell would have been 36-years-old.
As part of Missing Persons Week, NSW Police are appealing for information to
help locate the teen.
At the time of her disappearance, she was described as of caucasian appearance,
with an olive complexion, about 160-165cm tall, with hazel eyes and short, dark
hair styled into a mohawk.
She also had a condition in her right leg which caused her to walk with a slight
limp.
The NSW Police Force Missing Persons Registry Manager, Detective Inspector Glen
Browne, urged anyone with information to come forward.
"Rose was a strong, independent young woman in the prime of her life. She had a
keen interest in local theatre, played the bass guitar and wrote songs," Det
Insp Browne said.
"We encourage anyone in the community that may have information to come forward,
regardless of how insignificant you think it may be.
"After a 17-year search for answers, that small piece of information may be a
step towards providing some peace to Rose's mum and loved ones."
NSW police call for DNA samples in bid to solve missing person cases
More people go missing in Northern NSW than any other area in the state – and
police can’t explain why. In a bid to give names to more than 300 sets of
unidentified human remains, police have launched a bold DNA collection program.
Rose Howell walked out the front door of her home on April 11, 2003, with
birthday invitations at the front of her mind. She was on the cusp of
celebrating her 19th birthday and had planned a party at home in the tiny
community of Bundagen on the Mid North Coast.
“Theme Party!” the black and white invitation read.
“Bundagen, the Banana village, at the end of the road follow the balloons and
streamers.”
The 18-year-old made it to Bellingen, where she handed out the invites to her
friends, and was seen hitchhiking on the road towards her home. But she never
made it there.
“It kind of gnaws at you all the time and even after 18 years, it doesn’t stop,”
mother Malila Howell told The Sunday Telegraph.
“There is still this big hole in your life.”
Ms Howell, 71, has spent countless hours searching the forest that surrounds her
home for her daughter. She plastered missing person posters all over town and
shuddered every time she heard news about a body found on the Mid North Coast.
Even though it’s been 18 years since her only daughter vanished without a trace,
there is a part of Ms Howell that expects Rose to walk through the door.
“I still think of her every day and think she is going to walk around the
corner,” she said.
Rose is one of 192 long-term missing people in NSW’s northern region. More
people have gone missing in the region, which stretches from Newcastle to the
Queensland border, than anywhere else in NSW.
People are harder to find too with the area also having the highest number of
historical missing person cases in the state. Reflective of the North Coast’s
transient population, from tourists to wanderers and nomads, many of those
historical cases involve young hitchhikers.
While hitchhiking is now approached with great caution, 20 years ago it was a
popular way of getting between the idyllic towns dotted across the North Coast.
Rose was meant to get a lift home with a friend from Bellingen to Bundagen on
April 11 but it turned it down because she wasn’t ready.
The last confirmed sighting of Rose was about 5.30pm that night on the Pacific
Hwy near Perry Hill — about 5km from home.
“Immediately after she went missing, there was a time of frantic madness of not
being able to stop looking for her,” Ms Howell said.
“I probably did that for nine months to a year, searching the forest. I would
see a rag by the side of the road and wonder if it was jeans. It was crazy.”
In 2013, after a coroner found Rose had likely met with foul play, the case was
referred to the unsolved homicide team. Many theories have run through Ms
Howell’s mind, some bearable and others unspeakable, but she doesn’t believe her
daughter committed self-harm or ran away.
Rose, who had Asperger’s syndrome, had close friends, a sense of humour, loved
playing guitar and had been invited to join a band.
Immediately after she disappeared, Ms Howell provided a DNA sample to police and
officers collected Rose’s hair brush and some of her books. But with the
advancement of forensic science in mind, Ms Howell has booked an appointment at
the missing persons DNA collection centre to provide a new sample, alongside her
son — one of Rose’s three brothers.
“It is 18 years later, they may have new modern DNA technology and it could be
helpful,” she said.
Family of Rose Howell missing since 2003 desperate for answers as $750,000
reward announced
The mother of a NSW mid north coast teen missing for more than 20 years hopes a
reward for information about her disappearance will finally provide answers.
NSW Police have established a task force and announced a $750,000 reward for
information about the disappearance of Rose Howell.
Ms Howell was 18 when she was last seen at about 6:45pm on Friday, April 11,
2003 walking towards her home in Bundagen — about 25km south of Coffs Harbour.
Her mother, Melila Howell, hopes the reward will provide fresh incentive for new
information.
"Somebody must know something, somebody somewhere around the area where we live
has got some idea of what would've happened," she said.
Ms Howell said her daughter's family and friends were desperate for answers.
"We'd really like to know. Her father died before knowing what happened, she's
got three brothers who don't know what happened to her," she said.
"It
still hurts 20 years later."
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said even the smallest piece of
information could be crucial.
"Any bit of information [that] comes to hand, [that] people provide to Crime
Stoppers or in person, that will be acted upon straight away," he said.
"That
could help us provide those answers, not only to Melila but also to the rest
of the community."
Presumed dead
A 2012 coronial inquest led by the deputy state coroner, Magistrate P. A.
MacMahon, heard the teen had been planning her 19th birthday party, and had
hitchhiked her way to Bellingen on the day she went missing.
Her mother said it wasn't unusual for her daughter to stay with friends in
Bellingen, and she reported Rose missing two days later when she failed to meet
her for an appointment.
At the time of her disappearance, Rose was described as being of Caucasian
appearance, with an olive complexion, between 160 and 165cm tall, with hazel
eyes and short, dark hair worn in a mohawk.
Magistrate MacMahon said in 2012 he was satisfied the last time Rose Howell was
seen alive was by William Robb, who saw her walking along Perrys Road at Repton
as he drove past on his way to his daughter's dance demonstration.
The magistrate concluded on the balance of probabilities Rose Howell had died,
but could not determine the circumstances on evidence provided.
The inquest also heard from several locals who believed they saw Ms Howell after
April 11, including a former schoolmate from Toormina High School.
Shaylee Smith, in the same year as Ms Howell, said she saw her twice in Coffs
Harbour on Monday, May 5 in 2003 and possibly again several days later.
Magistrate MacMahon, however, said he was satisfied Ms Smith was mistaken.
'Prisoner A'
The inquest also heard evidence from "Prisoner A", an inmate at a Sydney prison
and a mental health patient.
Prisoner A told police Ms Howell had been abducted, killed and buried, and that
he and another person were involved.
Two extensive searches at the site nominated by the prisoner as Ms Howell's
burial site did not uncover her body or any relevant evidence.
The inquest heard that Prisoner A's information had "significant
inconsistencies", and they suffered from mental health issues.
In his findings, Magistrate MacMahon said there was no evidence to suggest Ms
Howell's death was due to natural causes or misadventure, and self-harm was an
unlikely cause.
Magistrate MacMahon did not find evidence provided by Prisoner A met the
standard required for a referral to the Department of Public Prosecutions.
The investigation has been open ever since.
Police offer $750k reward for information on missing teen Rose Howell two
decades after disappearance
The mother of a teen who vanished days before her 19th birthday more than two
decades ago says she still hopes her daughter might “reappear”.
The mother of a “quirky” teen who vanished 20 years ago has made a desperate
plea for answers as police offer a hefty reward for information.
Rose Howell, 18, was last seen walking east on Perrys Rd in Repton, south of
Coffs Harbour, shortly after 6pm on April 11, 2003.
Police believe Ms Howell was at the time walking in the direction of her home in
Bundagen, a small town 25km south of Coffs Harbour.
Ms Howell’s mother, Malila Howell, told police she believed her daughter had
intended to meet with friends in Bellingen.
She said it was not unusual for her daughter to spend the night at a friend's
home but raised alarm bells only two days later.
Ms Howell was reported missing to police on April 13 when she failed to return
home and meet her mother for an appointment.
At the time, Ms Howell was only days away from her 19th birthday, with
celebrations planned with friends and family.
Police revealed on Monday a $750,000 reward has been offered for information
about the disappearance.
Ms Howell’s mother Malila hoped the reward might “jog people’s memories” 20
years after her daughter went missing.
“Somebody must know something – someone from where we live has got some idea
what happened to her,” she said.
“(Rose’s) father died without knowing what happened, and she has got three
brothers who don’t know either.
“It still hurts 20 years later.”
Malila Howell described her daughter, who lived with Asperger’s, as “eccentric”
and “quirky”.
She said the 18-year-old would “march around the world” and her good humour was
well known locally.
“I still have this kind of feeling that maybe she‘s just gonna walk around the
corner one day and reappear,” she said.
“It’s quite hard to accept that she might be dead or she’s probably dead because
while she’s not around I don’t have to believe that.”
Malila said having answers would put an end to the “always wondering”.
“We may never know exactly what happened,” she said.
“But, if it was discovered that she is in fact dead … I don’t really know what
it’s going feel like it or what it means.
“I’m not there. I’m here in this situation where I don’t know.”
NSW Police homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said
police were working hard to find answers.
“We’re trying to put the jigsaw puzzle together to try and provide some
answers,” he said.
“I think there‘s people out there in the community who may have held on to a bit
of information or dark secret.
“They may have information that really could put that to light and give us
something.”
Superintendent Doherty said people might have not been in a position previously
to provide information to police.
For others, he said there might be information that at the time – and in a
tight-knit community – was overlooked or forgotten about.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she hoped the reward announcement would
encourage anyone with information to come forward.
“Police haven’t given up on finding answers for Rose’s loved ones,” Ms Catley
said.
“We hope that a $750,000 reward will encourage people to cast their minds back
to 2003 to (remember) anything suspicious or untoward they might have heard or
seen at the time.”
The plea comes more than 10 years after a coronial inquest ruled Ms Howell had
likely died in the Bellingen or Coffs Harbour area.
The 2012 coronial inquest found Ms Howell had been hitchhiking that day, but
fell short of ruling how or where she died.
Deputy State Coroner Paul MacMahon determined it was unlikely Ms Howell would
have left to start a new life elsewhere.
“I am satisfied that had she been alive, (Ms Howell) would have been in contact
and would certainly have attended her birthday party,” he said.
“It is therefore more probably than not that she died at or about the time of
her disappearance, and that her death occurred in the vicinity of where she was
last seen.”