Current Disappearance of 3yo William Tyrrell * The foster mother has been recommended for charges of pervert the course of justice & interfere with a corpse

[Kurve]

Criminal charges the former foster parents currently face as at 15 April 2022 include:

• Apprehended Violence Orders on both (AVOs)
• Lying to the NSW Crime Commission on former foster mother *Not Guilty
• Lying to the NSW Crime Commission on former foster father *Not Guilty
• 2 x charges of assault against a child on former foster mother *Guilty
• 1 x charge of assault against a child on former foster father
• Stalking &/or Intimidation on both
• Dummy bidding real estate fraud *Guilty

TIMELINE

Where's William Tyrrell? - The Ch 10 podcast (under Coroner's subpoena)

Operation Arkstone

 

[OnTheRocks]

Does anyone know more about this? I can't find any other reports. From a tweet by @7NewsSydney, 12 Dec 2022, a 30-second 7 News video (transcript and emphasis by me):

"Lawyers for Bill Spedding say he tried to settle with police for as little as $750,000 before the former William Tyrrell suspect was awarded almost $1.5 million in court. Police turned down three offers to settle privately, dating back as far as two years.

Solicitor Peter O'Brien: 'They could have settled it earlier - they could have paid him out a just amount at an earlier time.'

"Police say they'll appeal the payout after a court found detectives had maliciously pursued Mr Spedding over the toddler's disappearance."

---

Apparently the NSW Police Force often does choose to settle (note that the following report is two years old):

'Hush' money: NSW police pay out more than $100m in relation to legal settlements, The Guardian, 04 Dec 2020

"New South Wales police have paid out more than $100m in relation to legal settlements over the past four years but in most cases details of the suits were never made public due to confidentiality clauses that prevent victims speaking about alleged officer misconduct."

How good is that? Secret tax payer hush money that the public aren't allowed to know about. The NSW pollies/police are a cesspool of corruption

 

[31550]

Maybe he should pay a portion, considering he was in charge and ultimately made the decision? And Savage could still come yet. Could be costly!

Jubelin was an employee. He had bosses telling him what to do. He was not sacked for disobedience, he resigned after being found guilty of a technical breach. There was no civil action against Jubelin. Need to look higher up for parties responsible.

 

[stormbird]

Not about William's disappearance, but a side issue:

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has reopened an investigation into former police commissioner Mick Fuller, "reconsidering several of its findings in response to concerns raised by the new inspector of the commission, Bruce McClintock SC.

An ABC investigation revealed in February of this year [2022] that the 34-year veteran of the NSW Police had failed to declare his shares in racehorses, in potential breach of the force's code of conduct and the New South Wales government's anti-corruption rules.

Mr Fuller owned the racehorses with senior police, sporting identities, media bosses and businessmen, including two men who became suspects in criminal investigations.
...

Under the NSW Police code of conduct, employees are required to declare any private interests — including shareholdings and social activities — which could give rise to actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest.

As commissioner, Mr Fuller was required to submit such a declaration at least once a year to the state government.

The ABC's investigation revealed he did not submit a declaration of interests until last year, his final year as commissioner, after he had given up his racehorse shares.

According to the Operation Kurumba report, Mr Fuller said he also submitted a declaration in 2017, the year he became commissioner, but neither the LECC nor the government could locate such a document."
...

"The LECC found there was 'considerable disharmony in the upper echelons of the NSW Police Force' when Mr Fuller became commissioner, and his attempts at reform provoked a bitter backlash."

- ABC News, 02 Nov 2022, bolded by me

A follow-up to post 7,518 in 02 Nov 2022 about the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission:

NSW police watchdog reverses decision to clear Mick Fuller of wrongdoing over racehorse shares, ABC News, 13 Dec 2022

"The new supplementary report by the LECC [link goes to a PDF] found the original investigation [by the LECC] failed to consider whether [during his time as a commissioner in NSW Police Force] Mr Fuller's racehorse ownership had the potential to, or could be perceived to, influence his decisions.
It also stated that the LECC's earlier criticism of the ABC's reporting was speculative and unwarranted."

 

[BFew]

NSW police watchdog reverses decision to clear Mick Fuller of wrongdoing over racehorse shares, ABC News, 13 Dec 2022

'Mr Fuller breached conflict of interest rules, and reversed its earlier decision to clear him of any wrongdoing.'

'The NSW law enforcement watchdog has suggested police consider banning all officers from owning racehorses'

'It also called on the new commissioner Karen Webb to clamp down on officer involvement in the corruption-plagued racing industry.'

About time!

 

[Angry Red Bull]

Criticised for turning down an offer to settle for less than a judge eventually awarded.

Criticised if they settle out of court and accused of paying "hush money".

Can't win!!

Yeah sure they can. Act with integrity and don't get in this situation to start

 

[Pies1990]

Jubelin was an employee. He had bosses telling him what to do. He was not sacked for disobedience, he resigned after being found guilty of a technical breach. There was no civil action against Jubelin. Need to look higher up for parties responsible.

Agree that there is a chain of command that gets followed in all departments, but as lead investigator he gets the say in a lot of things and calls to make. Higher up management would of made approvals for events but also instructed him to “run the investigation “.

The judge made a comment that either he tipped off the media or instructed someone else to in the search of Spedding’s house and other events involving him.

 

[31550]

Agree that there is a chain of command that gets followed in all departments, but as lead investigator he gets the say in a lot of things and calls to make. Higher up management would of made approvals for events but also instructed him to “run the investigation “.

The judge made a comment that either he tipped off the media or instructed someone else to in the search of Spedding’s house and other events involving him.

Besides the unauthorised taping of a conversation, there are no such charges against Jubelin personally. That is the only blemish on his entire career with the police force substantiated by an actual charge.
Sure, as lead investigator he would be authorised to make many calls as to the course of the investigation. However, if any of these calls were against the wishes or direction of Command, they would be quickly countermanded, or denounced by higher-ups. So far, they have not been. There have been insinuations that maybe Jubelin should have done this or that, or could have done things better, but there is no official word from the police commissioners or deputies, or police minister that Jubelin did anything illegal or even against instructions.
So, NSW Police Command, and ultimately, the police minister must take responsibility for how this investigation has been run since Day 1. They are the ones who appointed Jubelin six months in, then left him in charge for several years. In addition to that there has not been a single breakthrough in the case since Jubelin departed - not one new piece of evidence released that is directly related to the case.
I don't want to sound like a Jubelin fanboi - I am not. I think he was too much in the foster family camp, and should have remained at arms length from key individuals. But I think overall he has done as much as anyone else, and there is no evidence he had bad intentions. On the other hand I think police Command have been ducking responsibility on this and pointing fingers elsewhere, as well as trying to manipulate the media attention away from their incompetence and failure to progress the case.

 

[Awakening]

Besides the unauthorised taping of a conversation, there are no such charges against Jubelin personally. That is the only blemish on his entire career with the police force substantiated by an actual charge.
Sure, as lead investigator he would be authorised to make many calls as to the course of the investigation. However, if any of these calls were against the wishes or direction of Command, they would be quickly countermanded, or denounced by higher-ups. So far, they have not been. There have been insinuations that maybe Jubelin should have done this or that, or could have done things better, but there is no official word from the police commissioners or deputies, or police minister that Jubelin did anything illegal or even against instructions.
So, NSW Police Command, and ultimately, the police minister must take responsibility for how this investigation has been run since Day 1. They are the ones who appointed Jubelin six months in, then left him in charge for several years. In addition to that there has not been a single breakthrough in the case since Jubelin departed - not one new piece of evidence released that is directly related to the case.
I don't want to sound like a Jubelin fanboi - I am not. I think he was too much in the foster family camp, and should have remained at arms length from key individuals. But I think overall he has done as much as anyone else, and there is no evidence he had bad intentions. On the other hand I think police Command have been ducking responsibility on this and pointing fingers elsewhere, as well as trying to manipulate the media attention away from their incompetence and failure to progress the case.

He may well have been an excellent investigator until he wasn’t. Maybe he got tired, distracted, burn out or overly confident.

I’m reminded of people I’ve worked with who were excellent but for different reasons then became less the excellent eg personal issues, ready for retirement etc.

The thing that bothers me about Gary is he seems to lack any accountability for how he mishandled this case. He still maintains that he was close to solving it.

 

[stormbird]

Does anyone know more about this? I can't find any other reports. From a tweet by @7NewsSydney, 12 Dec 2022, a 30-second 7 News video (transcript and emphasis by me):

"Lawyers for Bill Spedding say he tried to settle with police for as little as $750,000 before the former William Tyrrell suspect was awarded almost $1.5 million in court. Police turned down three offers to settle privately, dating back as far as two years.

Solicitor Peter O'Brien: 'They could have settled it earlier - they could have paid him out a just amount at an earlier time.'

"Police say they'll appeal the payout after a court found detectives had maliciously pursued Mr Spedding over the toddler's disappearance."

---

Apparently the NSW Police Force often does choose to settle (note that the following report is two years old):

'Hush' money: NSW police pay out more than $100m in relation to legal settlements, The Guardian, 04 Dec 2020

"New South Wales police have paid out more than $100m in relation to legal settlements over the past four years but in most cases details of the suits were never made public due to confidentiality clauses that prevent victims speaking about alleged officer misconduct."

I've been looking for more information about the news that "police say they'll appeal the payout" awarded to Bill Spedding (post 7,850) but I can't find anything at all. The original hearing before Justice Harrison was in open court (presumably - there were news reports about what happened) and the judgment is online, so it doesn't make sense to me that an appeal would now be under a non-publication or suppression order.

I'm supposing the police lawyers have to go to the NSW Court of Appeal. Do they first have to ask for leave to appeal? If the appeal goes ahead, will it have a new name and case number or just continue under the earlier name and number?

The NSW Online Registry has a listing for a mention on 12 Dec 2022 (last Monday - nearly two weeks after the judgment had been given on 01 Dec):

Case name: William Harrie Spedding v State of New South Wales
Case number: 2019 / 00289937
Presiding officer: Justice I Harrison
Listing type: Mention

That's the earlier case name and number and judge. Justice Harrison's judgment said the parties would have to work out the amount of interest payable, so maybe the 12 Dec mention was related to that?

If 7 News was correct about the appeal, what happens in the appeal process? Is it going to take months or years and a shocking amount more in legal fees?

 

[NRL Fan]

Besides the unauthorised taping of a conversation, there are no such charges against Jubelin personally. That is the only blemish on his entire career with the police force substantiated by an actual charge.
Sure, as lead investigator he would be authorised to make many calls as to the course of the investigation. However, if any of these calls were against the wishes or direction of Command, they would be quickly countermanded, or denounced by higher-ups. So far, they have not been. There have been insinuations that maybe Jubelin should have done this or that, or could have done things better, but there is no official word from the police commissioners or deputies, or police minister that Jubelin did anything illegal or even against instructions.
So, NSW Police Command, and ultimately, the police minister must take responsibility for how this investigation has been run since Day 1. They are the ones who appointed Jubelin six months in, then left him in charge for several years. In addition to that there has not been a single breakthrough in the case since Jubelin departed - not one new piece of evidence released that is directly related to the case.
I don't want to sound like a Jubelin fanboi - I am not. I think he was too much in the foster family camp, and should have remained at arms length from key individuals. But I think overall he has done as much as anyone else, and there is no evidence he had bad intentions. On the other hand I think police Command have been ducking responsibility on this and pointing fingers elsewhere, as well as trying to manipulate the media attention away from their incompetence and failure to progress the case.

I agree with this summary. Jubelin was a top cop with a proven track record. Unfortunately this case was more like an alien abduction, where a boy vanished without any evidence of how, why and by whom. With the lack of tangible evidence, Jubelin decided to pay hard ball with the suspects, hoping that one of them was the guilty party and might crack under intense pressure, but that strategy is not good unless you uncover the bad egg. Thus, Jubelin was thrown under the bus and made the scapegoat to minimise the negative publicity being directed at the police force. But, the new command still continued that same strategy and even cranked it up several notches, aimed at the FPs, who were the only suspects not given that blow torch by GJ.

If you look at the present state of the case, all suspects have had the blow torch applied and nothing has been prized out. The blow torch was applied with such heat that it's now 99% certain that none of these people are likely to be guilty. The FPs in particular have born the brunt of the torch over the past year, with several unrelated charges, under the guise of "leaving no Stone unturned" and they even had the opportunity to confess to an accident and body disposal at the CC hearing and avoid charges.

I think we're now at the point of this investigation where it's effectively back to square one where the alien abduction theory is almost worth considering and unless new evidence is uncovered then the case will probably remain unresolved forever. The only weak clue remaining (IMO) is the dying confession of Ray Porter who claimed he picked up "his best friend" and Tyrrell from a shed out the back of Kendall Public School and "drove 300km north". This confession points the finger at Frank Abbott, a known paedophile with no alibi on that day, who lived in a caravan owned by Geoff Owen, who was a friend of the FGM and who called her at 9:00am (unanswered) on the morning WT disappeared. IMO - This is more than a coincidence.

For what it's worth, a possible theory is that Geoff Owen called to say he was coming to fix the decking that morning and had asked Abbott to give him a hand. Abbott had driven out there waiting for Geoff to arrive and spotted WT and performed the abduction. IMO - What makes this theory more credible is the fact that GO is linked to FA and FA was the best friend of Ray Porter, who made the confession. At the inquest GO claimed he couldn't remember that day in question due to Parkinson's disease and FA denies any knowledge, which you would expect anyway if he was guilty. FA is now in prison serving 16 years for unrelated child sex offenses and has no reason to admit to the WT crime as he'll die in jail anyway.

 

[Awakening]

I agree with this summary. Jubelin was a top cop with a proven track record. Unfortunately this case was more like an alien abduction, where a boy vanished without any evidence of how, why and by whom. With the lack of tangible evidence, Jubelin decided to pay hard ball with the suspects, hoping that one of them was the guilty party and might crack under intense pressure, but that strategy is not good unless you uncover the bad egg. Thus, Jubelin was thrown under the bus and made the scapegoat to minimise the negative publicity being directed at the police force. But, the new command still continued that same strategy and even cranked it up several notches, aimed at the FPs, who were the only suspects not given that blow torch by GJ.

If you look at the present state of the case, all suspects have had the blow torch applied and nothing has been prized out. The blow torch was applied with such heat that it's now 99% certain that none of these people are likely to be guilty. The FPs in particular have born the brunt of the torch over the past year, with several unrelated charges, under the guise of "leaving no Stone unturned" and they even had the opportunity to confess to an accident and body disposal at the CC hearing and avoid charges.

I think we're now at the point of this investigation where it's effectively back to square one where the alien abduction theory is almost worth considering and unless new evidence is uncovered then the case will probably remain unresolved forever. The only weak clue remaining (IMO) is the dying confession of Ray Porter who claimed he picked up "his best friend" and Tyrrell from a shed out the back of Kendall Public School and "drove 300km north". This confession points the finger at Frank Abbott, a known paedophile with no alibi on that day, who lived in a caravan owned by Geoff Owen, who was a friend of the FGM and who called her at 9:00am (unanswered) on the morning WT disappeared. IMO - This is more than a coincidence.

For what it's worth, a possible theory is that Geoff Owen called to say he was coming to fix the decking that morning and had asked Abbott to give him a hand. Abbott had driven out there waiting for Geoff to arrive and spotted WT and performed the abduction. IMO - What makes this theory more credible is the fact that GO is linked to FA and FA was the best friend of Ray Porter, who made the confession. At the inquest GO claimed he couldn't remember that day in question due to Parkinson's disease and FA denies any knowledge, which you would expect anyway if he was guilty. FA is now in prison serving 16 years for unrelated child sex offenses and has no reason to admit to the WT crime as he'll die in jail anyway.

I like it, good post

 

[Angry Red Bull]

I agree with this summary. Jubelin was a top cop with a proven track record. Unfortunately this case was more like an alien abduction, where a boy vanished without any evidence of how, why and by whom. With the lack of tangible evidence, Jubelin decided to pay hard ball with the suspects, hoping that one of them was the guilty party and might crack under intense pressure, but that strategy is not good unless you uncover the bad egg. Thus, Jubelin was thrown under the bus and made the scapegoat to minimise the negative publicity being directed at the police force. But, the new command still continued that same strategy and even cranked it up several notches, aimed at the FPs, who were the only suspects not given that blow torch by GJ.

If you look at the present state of the case, all suspects have had the blow torch applied and nothing has been prized out. The blow torch was applied with such heat that it's now 99% certain that none of these people are likely to be guilty. The FPs in particular have born the brunt of the torch over the past year, with several unrelated charges, under the guise of "leaving no Stone unturned" and they even had the opportunity to confess to an accident and body disposal at the CC hearing and avoid charges.

I think we're now at the point of this investigation where it's effectively back to square one where the alien abduction theory is almost worth considering and unless new evidence is uncovered then the case will probably remain unresolved forever. The only weak clue remaining (IMO) is the dying confession of Ray Porter who claimed he picked up "his best friend" and Tyrrell from a shed out the back of Kendall Public School and "drove 300km north". This confession points the finger at Frank Abbott, a known paedophile with no alibi on that day, who lived in a caravan owned by Geoff Owen, who was a friend of the FGM and who called her at 9:00am (unanswered) on the morning WT disappeared. IMO - This is more than a coincidence.

For what it's worth, a possible theory is that Geoff Owen called to say he was coming to fix the decking that morning and had asked Abbott to give him a hand. Abbott had driven out there waiting for Geoff to arrive and spotted WT and performed the abduction. IMO - What makes this theory more credible is the fact that GO is linked to FA and FA was the best friend of Ray Porter, who made the confession. At the inquest GO claimed he couldn't remember that day in question due to Parkinson's disease and FA denies any knowledge, which you would expect anyway if he was guilty. FA is now in prison serving 16 years for unrelated child sex offenses and has no reason to admit to the WT crime as he'll die in jail anyway.

Useful suggestion. If an abduction occurred there must have been a reason for him to be there OR there was pre knowledge.

The FGM had said she visited the community centre I seem recall the day before. Geoff Owen has indicated at the inquest he may have been at the community centre the day of the abduction. So perhaps a regular. The FGM is talkative and I'd imagine a social butterfly. I wonder if she had been too talkative when she went to the centre that day and Geoff Owen had been there and overheard her talking about the kids. FA gets hold of that information. Possible explanation for pre knowledge

 

[DropBearess]

I agree with this summary. Jubelin was a top cop with a proven track record. Unfortunately this case was more like an alien abduction, where a boy vanished without any evidence of how, why and by whom. With the lack of tangible evidence, Jubelin decided to pay hard ball with the suspects, hoping that one of them was the guilty party and might crack under intense pressure, but that strategy is not good unless you uncover the bad egg. Thus, Jubelin was thrown under the bus and made the scapegoat to minimise the negative publicity being directed at the police force. But, the new command still continued that same strategy and even cranked it up several notches, aimed at the FPs, who were the only suspects not given that blow torch by GJ.

If you look at the present state of the case, all suspects have had the blow torch applied and nothing has been prized out. The blow torch was applied with such heat that it's now 99% certain that none of these people are likely to be guilty. The FPs in particular have born the brunt of the torch over the past year, with several unrelated charges, under the guise of "leaving no Stone unturned" and they even had the opportunity to confess to an accident and body disposal at the CC hearing and avoid charges.

I think we're now at the point of this investigation where it's effectively back to square one where the alien abduction theory is almost worth considering and unless new evidence is uncovered then the case will probably remain unresolved forever. The only weak clue remaining (IMO) is the dying confession of Ray Porter who claimed he picked up "his best friend" and Tyrrell from a shed out the back of Kendall Public School and "drove 300km north". This confession points the finger at Frank Abbott, a known paedophile with no alibi on that day, who lived in a caravan owned by Geoff Owen, who was a friend of the FGM and who called her at 9:00am (unanswered) on the morning WT disappeared. IMO - This is more than a coincidence.

For what it's worth, a possible theory is that Geoff Owen called to say he was coming to fix the decking that morning and had asked Abbott to give him a hand. Abbott had driven out there waiting for Geoff to arrive and spotted WT and performed the abduction. IMO - What makes this theory more credible is the fact that GO is linked to FA and FA was the best friend of Ray Porter, who made the confession. At the inquest GO claimed he couldn't remember that day in question due to Parkinson's disease and FA denies any knowledge, which you would expect anyway if he was guilty. FA is now in prison serving 16 years for unrelated child sex offenses and has no reason to admit to the WT crime as he'll die in jail anyway.

This is great post! I've followed this case since the beginning and had been a fence-sitter until a year ago.

My scales finally tipped when recordings of physical and emotional abuse became known. It is highly unlikely that William was not subjected to the same discipline in his short life imo.

My thoughts and suspicions of the FPs remain the same, but you've certainly given us something to think about. The only feasible abduction theory l've heard so far.

 

[31550]

I agree that the Abbot/Owen semi-opportunistic abduction theory is one of the most likely and possible. The Ray Porter deathbed confession sort of adds some weight to it. It might even tie in with the eyewitness evidence of Ron Chapman (the nearby neighbour who claimed to see two speeding vehicles, one with a boy in a Spiderman suit), and the reports of a strange smell from Owen's property. It's all circumstantial, but ties in with the phone call from Owen's phone in the morning. And FGM also rang Owen in the afternoon, and he 'knew what was going on'.

You would then be left with the question, "Why didn't anyone see anything?" But, also remember, the FM allegedly went for a 10-minute drive to the riding school and back, and nobody seems to have seen this happen either. Nobody saw FF leave in the morning. Nobody saw the next-door-neighbours arrive home. Nobody saw Mrs Savage leave for bingo. I guess it's possible nobody saw Abbot drive up, snatch William and drive off.

 

[NRL Fan]

I agree that the Abbot/Owen semi-opportunistic abduction theory is one of the most likely and possible. The Ray Porter deathbed confession sort of adds some weight to it. It might even tie in with the eyewitness evidence of Ron Chapman (the nearby neighbour who claimed to see two speeding vehicles, one with a boy in a Spiderman suit), and the reports of a strange smell from Owen's property. It's all circumstantial, but ties in with the phone call from Owen's phone in the morning. And FGM also rang Owen in the afternoon, and he 'knew what was going on'.

You would then be left with the question, "Why didn't anyone see anything?" But, also remember, the FM allegedly went for a 10-minute drive to the riding school and back, and nobody seems to have seen this happen either. Nobody saw FF leave in the morning. Nobody saw the next-door-neighbours arrive home. Nobody saw Mrs Savage leave for bingo. I guess it's possible nobody saw Abbot drive up, snatch William and drive off.

Wrt the strange smell, I have never read anywhere other than Abbott himself reporting the smell to other people in the area. If he did drive WT 300km north with RP and disposed of the boy near Casino, then this could be his way of distracting attention away from his trip up north if he was worried he might have been spotted leaving the area.

 

[31550]

Wrt the strange smell, I have never read anywhere other than Abbott himself reporting the smell to other people in the area. If he did drive WT 300km north with RP and disposed of the boy near Casino, then this could be his way of distracting attention away from his trip up north if he was worried he might have been spotted leaving the area.

The smell was brought up and discussed at the inquest. LH tweeted about it.

 

[BFew]

If 7 News was correct about the appeal, what happens in the appeal process? Is it going to take months or years and a shocking amount more in legal fees?

With a change of NSW Government likely in NSW March 2023, any appeal process that current NSW LNP commence, might be quickly dropped by a new NSW Labor Government.

 

[31550]

With a change of NSW Government likely in NSW March 2023, any appeal process that current NSW LNP commence, might be quickly dropped by a new NSW Labor Government.

I understand your thinking but that's not exactly how separation of powers works in NSW.

 

[BFew]

I understand your thinking but that's not exactly how separation of powers works in NSW.

Please explain.

 

[31550]

Please explain.

Separation of powers is designed to prevent political interference in the legal and judiciary processes.

Separation of powers: Parliament, Executive and Judiciary - Parliamentary Education Office

The principle of the separation of powers distributes the power to govern between the Parliament, the Executive and the Judiciary. This fact sheet examines the role of each group and the related principle of responsible government.

peo.gov.au

Of course, it doesn't always work, but that is the intent.

 

[stormbird]

With a change of NSW Government likely in NSW March 2023, any appeal process that current NSW LNP commence, might be quickly dropped by a new NSW Labor Government.

Re the involvement of politicians: back in September 2015 there were speeches in NSW Parliament to mark Where's William? Week. It was a long time before any of the court cases, so it's not related to any appeal over damages, but IMO it's one of the most unexpected aspects of this case so far (particularly if the strike force's allegations against FM turn out to be correct). Maybe it's normal for local politicians to try to help their constituents when a case needs publicity, I don't know, but IMO this seems to be an appeal by several different members, and the Ministerial Statement includes a reply by Jodi McKay speaking for the Opposition.

The permalinks to the Hansard fragments sometimes don't work for me (I'm guessing they might need a browser that allows all cookies?) but if anyone can see them, some examples of speeches:

- Matter of Public Importance, Leslie Williams (Member for Port Macquarie, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education), Legislative Assembly, 15 Sep 2015, which includes "a statement on behalf of William's family that was shared with us this morning".

- Where's William? Week, Ministerial Statement, Troy Grant (Member for Dubbo, Deputy Premier, Minister for Justice and Police, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Racing), Legislative Assembly, 15 Sep 2015:

"The member for Port Macquarie tells me that this shocking event has rocked the very foundation of that small, tight-knit community; it has made them question the security of their own children, and it has made them question the very freedom their children once had, such as walking to school on their own. On the 12-month anniversary of his disappearance, one of his parents said:

William's disappearance came close to crushing us. It's only the love and support from people on the Mid North Coast that has kept us going.

On Saturday, I joined with people across the nation in writing to William's family in message books placed at rally points along the walks. I wrote this simple message:

The nation is walking with William today but we will walk with you until he is brought home.

 

[31550]

Re the involvement of politicians: back in September 2015 there were speeches in NSW Parliament to mark Where's William? Week. It was a long time before any of the court cases, so it's not related to any appeal over damages, but IMO it's one of the most unexpected aspects of this case so far (particularly if the strike force's allegations against FM turn out to be correct). Maybe it's normal for local politicians to try to help their constituents when a case needs publicity, I don't know, but IMO this seems to be an appeal by several different members, and the Ministerial Statement includes a reply by Jodi McKay speaking for the Opposition.

The permalinks to the Hansard fragments sometimes don't work for me (I'm guessing they might need a browser that allows all cookies?) but if anyone can see them, some examples of speeches:

- Matter of Public Importance, Leslie Williams (Member for Port Macquarie, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education), Legislative Assembly, 15 Sep 2015, which includes "a statement on behalf of William's family that was shared with us this morning".

- Where's William? Week, Ministerial Statement, Troy Grant (Member for Dubbo, Deputy Premier, Minister for Justice and Police, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Racing), Legislative Assembly, 15 Sep 2015:

"The member for Port Macquarie tells me that this shocking event has rocked the very foundation of that small, tight-knit community; it has made them question the security of their own children, and it has made them question the very freedom their children once had, such as walking to school on their own. On the 12-month anniversary of his disappearance, one of his parents said:

On Saturday, I joined with people across the nation in writing to William's family in message books placed at rally points along the walks. I wrote this simple message:

Comments from politicians and other high-profile people have not assisted in finding William. In my opinion, all they have done is reinforced one particular narrative which may or may not be true. Certainly the portrayal of the fosters as 'William's family' is patently false. Why should we trust the rest of the narrative? Clearly, politicians would not be aware of all the facts of the case - maybe nobody is. They might be well intentioned, but in my opinion these comments might have hampered investigation and might ultimately prove damaging to any potential prosecution. It annoys me that these people pretend to 'speak for William' or even his 'family'. They do not.

 

[Pies1990]

The fundraising events, radio and TV interviews to me smell like a well organised PR campaign. Ironically, a mother & daughter team attend court with the foster carers as close friends and have their own PR business. Also ironically, the same firm manages those who do the Wheres William podcast, and work closely with someone else who manages Jubelin. Bit of a close-knit community all linked to a common cause. I suppose if they’re all linked up it’s a good idea to go with the plan. Who knows what else could be part of the plan….paid comments on websites maybe? Linking up with other charity organisations to make another look ridgy didge? Threatening legal action on those who name names or post material which may be harmful to the plan?

All imo

 

[stormbird]

From a post by an unidentified author (unless there's something showing author name for logged-in Facebook members? there's nothing for the public):

"... Christmas serves as another heartbreaking reminder that William is still missing and needs to come home. This Christmas will mark 8 years, 3 months and 15 tragic days since William was taken from the life he loved and all those who love him dearly. ..."

- Where's William Tyrrell? Bring Him Home - Official, Facebook (posted 16 hours ago, so 24 Dec 2022)

 

[JaimePierce]

Wishing William’s mother, father, siblings and his entire biological family a safe and happy Christmas. Sending them hope, love and strength this Christmas Season. ‘Tis the season for new beginnings. I am also praying that 2023 is the year that the person who knows what happened to William makes the decision to come forward and share what they know with the authorities.

We haven’t given up you, William. We are still searching for you.