Ranger describes Kings Park 'oil trail'

A Kings Park ranger has described to Lloyd Rayney’s murder trial in Perth today how he discovered a damaged bollard and saw an “oil trail” and tyre marks leading up a track near where Corryn Rayney was allegedly buried by her husband.

Prosecutor John Agius is alleging Mr Rayney made that oil trail and tyre marks when he drove his wife’s car up a bush track, later burying her nearby.

Ranger Jason Rabbitt said he noticed the bollard had been damaged on the morning on August 8, 2007 – a day after Mrs Rayney was allegedly murdered.

“You could see tyre tracks that went up the track,” Mr Rabbitt told the WA Supreme Court trial.

“It looked like a vehicle had driven over it, everything was covered in oil,” he said. “The oil trail went up the track, stopped and you could see where it had reversed (and gone) back out.”

Mr Rabbitt said the bollard had been undamaged when he saw it the night before on August 7 at about 5pm.

He said the tyre marks did not appear to have been made by a four-wheel-drive, which were the only kind of cars used by park rangers.

Sarah Broomfield, who was acting environmental team leader and acting manager of Kings Park when Mrs Rayney was killed, was also called to give evidence.