More allegations of body disposal denied
A friend of Lachie Jones’ half-brother has denied claims he helped his friend dispose of the toddler’s body.
On Tuesday morning, Jade Vigers gave evidence via audio-visual link from Australia at the inquest into the death of the toddler.
Vigers said he and Scott had known each other since he was about 3 or 4, and he “considers Johnny to be my brother’’.
Vigers is the son of Debbie Thurston, who last week gave evidence that she had heard Lachie in her washhouse when he visited with his mother Michelle Officer on the night he died.
Vigers said he was smoking cannabis with some friends at the Gore A&P Showgrounds when a woman approached them and asked if they had seen a blond boy who was missing. Vigers said he immediately asked if it was Lachie, and was told it was.
Lawyer Max Simpkins, representing Lachie’s father Paul Jones, put it to Vigars that he asked if it was Lachie because he already knew he was dead.
“I can say you can suggest anything you want, mate, doesn’t make it true,’’ Vigers replied.
Simpkins suggested Jonathan had contacted Vigers that day and asked him for help in respect of disposing of Lachie’s body. “I’d say you should be ashamed of yourself for saying that. That’s disgusting,’’ Vigers replied.
When Simpkins asked him if he wanted to tell the real story of what happened that day, Vigers replied: ‘’Lachie went on an adventure and he found himself in trouble, just like little kids do.’’
Coroner’s counsel Simon Mount questioned Vigers about 39 text messages and a phone call exchanged between Scott and Vigers between 9.44pm to 10.41pm that evening. Vigers said he did not recall what they were about.
Police lawyer Robin Bates asked Vigers again whether he assisted Scott in any way to dispose of Lachie’s body. “Absolutely not,’’ he replied.
Earlier on Tuesday, another friend, Korbyn Kirby, was called to give evidence.
In response to questioning by Simpkins, Kirby said he did not notice anything unusual about Scott, and he was his usual self on the night.