Police minister reveals optimism over 'fresh leads' in William Tyrrell case
The NSW Police Minister is confident “fresh leads” in the William Tyrrell case could finally lead to authorities knowing what happened to him.
David Elliott told Sunrise on Tuesday morning police “wouldn’t be there” if they weren’t confident with the new information. Police last week began a new search for the toddler in Kendall on the NSW Mid North Coast.
“They wouldn't be there unless they thought there were new and fresh leads,” he told Sunrise.
“And I think that is the expectation for the people of NSW, and for Australia, that police go to the nth degree and they don't stop until they know that every opportunity of finding evidence to the court is exhausted.”
Police have combed about 10 per cent of the area. Much of the investigation is said to be subterranean. That included looking at a concrete slab at the property, owned by William’s now-deceased foster grandmother, laid after the boy disappeared. Police have since confirmed nothing of note was found there.
Mr Elliott said “inclement weather” had impacted the investigation but added police would not stop until “they are confident that they have done everything that is humanly possible”.
Police on Saturday took a hessian bag away from the site with at least two other pieces of fabric placed in evidence bags and sent off earlier in the week.
The search is expected to take weeks but could be longer due to the rain.
Exhausting search continues for police
Last week, when it was announced a new search for William was going to be undertaken, Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett said “it’s highly likely” if police find anything it would be a body.
The search effort of the area, which has involved digging through dirt and mud, involves hundreds of police officers and a number of cadaver dogs.
Images from the scene over the past 72 hours show dozens of officers, weathering the brunt of the wind and the rain, digging through dirt with spades. Some are using just their hands in the hopes of finding something.
At one stage, an excavator was brought in to assist with moving the mud. Police were also seen walking on foot slowly and examining the terrain for any sign of evidence.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters on Monday the conditions have been “particularly challenging”. He said more than 15 tonnes of soil has been taken to a lab for analysis and it could be "weeks and weeks of searching through that before we have any answers".
More than 40mm of rain has fallen in the area in the past 24 hours and Comm Fuller told a press conference in Canberra police could still be looking for "a number of weeks" and there are still "lots of questions that need to be answered".
William’s foster parents, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, will face a Sydney court charged with assaulting a child on Tuesday.
The charges do not relate to William.
with AAP
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