Friendship ‘toxic’, witness reveals

A MAN who went missing off Flinders Island during a fishing trip with a mate had a “quite toxic” relationship with his drinking buddy, a coronial inquest has heard.

Robert Charles Mansell, 42, disappeared while fishing with a friend, Joshua Kennedy, on August 8, 2015.

An inquest into Mr Mansell’s death resumed in Hobart yesterday.

The inquest is examining whether Mr Kennedy had any role in Mr Mansell’s death.

New South Wales man Timothy New, who worked on the island at the time, told the inquest the pair had a “funny relationship”.

“They seemed to get along quite well during the day,” he said.

“If they were drinking, they’d often end up in arguments.”

The inquest previously heard Mr Kennedy and Mr Mansell were rivals for the attentions of then Flinders Island woman Stephanie Riggall.

Ms Riggall told the inquest yesterday the three would often drink a bottle of Jim Beam and two slabs of beer in one sitting.

She said they all had arguments, but it never got violent.

“Josh and Robbie were like brothers, they always had little tiffs, but I never saw them get physical,” she said.

Mr New said Mr Mansell told him in July 2015 that Mr Kennedy had pinned him to the ground and choked him after the pair got into an argument while drinking.

“They used to have altercations, wouldn’t speak for a week and then start drinking again,” Mr New said.

“This was the one that sticks in my mind because it was the most serious and the one Robbie felt concerned about.”

He said he had a lot of trust in Mr Mansell, that he was a reliable worker and they built quite a strong relationship in their time working together.

Mr New said Mr Mansell wasn’t a strong swimmer and he had never seen him in the water.

Ms Riggall’s boyfriend at the time, Jaryd Aitken, gave evidence yesterday that Mr Kennedy told Ms Riggall he loved her while he was in the room a few months before Mr Mansell disappeared.

Mr New said Mr Mansell never disclosed any romantic feelings for Ms Riggall, despite Mr New asking if they were in a sexual relationship a couple of times.

Ms Riggall will continue to give evidence before Coroner Olivia McTaggart when the inquest resumes today.