Family must wait for inquest on war vet’s death

THE family of a World War II veteran who disappeared from Townsville 26 years ago has been told an inquest exploring fresh evidence about his suspected murder must wait until the Queensland Coroner’s Act is updated.

Leslie Ralph Ball, 73, a retired builder who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in Darwin in 1944, vanished on May 22, 1993.

There was a slew of evidence suggesting foul play, but no one has been charged despite multiple investigations and an inquest in 1994 and 1995. An inquest was due to reopen in July this year to hear fresh evidence from Queensland police that his now deceased son-in-law, David Phillips, murdered him over money.

But that was until this month.

Now, deputy state coroner John Lock has told Mr Ball’s family they’ll have to wait until next year because the state government is planning to repostponed vise the Coroner’s Act.

Mr Ball’s daughter, LeChelle Ball, says she has received an email saying there’s likely to be a law change that will allow cold cases like her dad’s to be reopened under the 2003 Act.

This would give the coroner greater power to compel witnesses to give evidence.

“It’s good news and it’s bad news,” Ms Ball said yesterday.

“This has gone on way too long without any justice for dad.” News the Coroner’s Act is likely to be revamped has left Mark Jones, the brother of missing backpacker Tony Jones, dumbfounded and angry.

His younger brother vanished near Townsville in November 1982 while hitchhiking to Mount Isa.

The 20-year-old’s body has never been found but an inquest in 2002 ruled he’d probably been murdered.

A second inquest in 2010 heard Mr Jones’ body may have been burned in slaughter yards in the outback town of Hughenden.

That inquiry was halted part-way through when his family learned it was being heard under the older legislation.

They believe they know who killed their brother and are frustrated the decades- old police investigation hasn’t followed up new leads.

Earlier this year they applied to Brisbane Supreme Court for a fresh inquest using the newer version of the act in the hope its enhanced powers would finally lead to a conviction for their brother’s killing.