September 16th 2024.
After almost 15 years, the highly anticipated inquest into the tragic death of Josh Warneke, a young man from Western Australia, has begun. However, much to the disappointment of many, the man who was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for his manslaughter will not be giving evidence at the court proceedings.
During the first day of the inquest, the state coroner and lawyers retraced Warneke's final steps in Broome, a town in the state's north-west. As they visited the places where Warneke spent his last hours, his mother, Ingrid Bishop, also returned to the town with the hope of finding some closure.
"It's a very challenging experience, but I'm trying to keep my emotions in check and stay optimistic," she shared with 9News. "We've been waiting for this day for almost nine years, so it's a step in the right direction."
The court was shown CCTV footage from inside the Oasis Bar, where Warneke was seen enjoying himself before heading to a nearby McDonald's drive-through for takeaway. Bishop tearfully expressed how difficult it was to watch the footage and see her son dancing and walking around, knowing that if he had stayed just a few more minutes, he would still be alive.
The state coroner will be hearing from experts regarding three potential causes of Warneke's death: being run over by a vehicle, being struck on the head with a weapon, or a combination of both. The first witness to give evidence was Erin Parke, a local resident who spoke with Warneke at the Oasis Bar that fateful night. She recalled how he seemed cheerful and lively.
Gene Gibson, the man who was wrongly convicted and imprisoned for Warneke's death, will not be appearing as a witness. Bishop expressed her disappointment in not being able to hear from other persons of interest and witnesses, but she understands the importance of ensuring the right people are present at the inquest.
The inquest is scheduled to last for nine days, with the first three days taking place in the Kimberley region before moving to Perth. Thirty witnesses are expected to be called, but the court revealed that not all key civilian witnesses could be located due to the significant amount of time that has passed since Warneke's death.
Tomorrow, a taxi driver who saw Warneke at the local McDonald's just minutes before his body was found by another driver will be giving evidence. The police officers who were involved in the initial investigation will not be called until next week.
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