Coroner 'sorry' for bushie's death
A WA coroner has told the wife and son of a man who was stranded in the Northern Goldfields she was "incredibly sorry" for the loss of the respected community member.
Last week’s three-day coronial inquest in Kalgoorlie-Boulder examined the circumstances of Mr Harris’ death between February 2 and 3, 2010.
The 73-year-old man went to an area near the Sunrise Dam gold mine on February 2 for a day trip of hunting and prospecting.
But his car became bogged and he tried to extract it before he died of a heart attack while walking back towards the Laverton town centre.
The exact time of death and the police response to welfare concerns from Mr Harris’ family were the major focuses of the inquest.
A police internal affairs investigation found the officers had not responded appropriately to the concerns, but said there was insufficient evidence their lack of response contributed to Mr Harris’ death.
Four Laverton police officers were questioned on their actions during the inquest, including Aboriginal Police Liaison Officer Michael Riley, Constable Terry Hutchinson and Senior Constable Clifford Daurat, who were on the evening shift on February 2.
