Man last seen on drug run

No conclusion in coroner’s findings

A NORTH-WEST man who went missing in 2004 was on a drug run on the last night he was seen alive, a coroner has found.

Lester William Lee, 42, was last seen in East Devonport on December 19 with Sheffield man Jeffrey Maxwell Norris.

Mr Lee, who was known as Legs, had three sexual partners at the time of his death.

Coroner Simon Cooper investigated foul play, suicide and accidental death as part of his investigation but said the evidence could not allow a conclusion.

Mr Norris took his own life at the Great Lake on June 2, 2006, leaving two notes in which he denied any involvement in Mr Lee’s death. Mr Cooper said it was likely that Mr Lee died late on December 19.

“Finally, while I consider it likely that Mr Jeffrey Norris had more information as to Mr Lee’s disappearance, Mr Norris’s death means that information died with him,” he said.

The investigation revealed that Mr Norris lied to police.

He told police that he had last seen Mr Lee at 8pm at the Argosy Hotel in East Devonport and that after travelling to Devonport and back he had then driven home to Sheffield about 9.30pm.

However, in a second interview on May 24, 2006, Mr Norris revealed that he and Mr Lee went on a drug run.

“Mr Norris’s new account involved he and Mr Lee driving to the weigh station at Parramatta Creek and Mr Lee taking possession of three packages each containing a pound of marijuana.”

The marijuana was delivered to two hotels in the Devonport area and Mr Norris had expected payment of a couple of hundred bucks for using his car. He said that when he last saw Mr Lee he still had a bag of marijuana.

“Mr Norris said Mr Lee did not give him the money he had expected to receive,” the findings said.

“Oddly, Mr Norris said that upon arriving home he showed his partner approximately $600 in cash to give her the impression this was her payment from Mr Lee — his partner thought it was nearer to $1000.”

But Mr Cooper said there was no evidence to suggest that Mr Lee was killed by Mr Norris despite the pair clearly being involved in criminal activity.

He said that there had been no forensic evidence of foul play found in Mr Norris’s vehicle and no body. For 24/7 support, call Lifeline 131 114 or the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467