Dad claims ‘botched-up police job’
Father disputes versions of events, alleges foul play in son’s death, inquest hears
The father of Lachlan Jones believes the investigation into his 3-year-old son’s death was a “botched-up police job”, and has confirmed allegations made throughout an inquest into the death were made on his behalf.
Lachie was found dead in a Gore District Council oxidation pond on January 29, 2019. Two police investigations concluded the toddler drowned in a tragic accident.
Over the past five years, Paul Jones has been vocal about shortcomings in the police investigation. He believes his son was murdered.
Overseen by Coroner Alexander Ho at the Invercargill courthouse, the 15-day inquest has entered its second week.
Lachie’s mother, half brothers and other witnesses have given evidence over the past week.
Jones told the inquest he did not know what happened on that night, but when asked by police counsel Robin Bates if the allegations made by his lawyer Max Simpkins that Lachie’s mother Michelle Officer and Lachie’s half brothers Cameron and Johnnie (then aged 18 and 16 respectively) were involved in or had knowledge of the boy’s death and cover-up were made on his behalf, he replied: “That is correct.”
Bates put it to Jones the inquest had heard about discord in Officer’s home because of his drinking, which Jones said he “took full responsibility for”.
“I had an issue where I was brought before the courts and [Officer] has made a statement here that it was male assaults female, but it wasn’t, it was just a push, a common assault,” he told the inquest.
He admitted when drinking he was prone to outbursts at Officer’s other sons because of their alleged mistreatment of Lachie.
He recalled an incident where Lachie was on his half-brother Johnnie’s shoulders and “for some reason he crashed on to the ground”. Jones said he wanted to take Lachie to the hospital “with or without Michelle, but she decided to come in the end”.
He recalled Lachie allegedly telling him his elder half-brother Cameron would smack him on his hand when he was “being naughty” and another incident when he alleged Johnny brought a friend home while they were drunk, and “he spewed out in the carport and he widdled in the kitchen and he p **** d over Lachie”.
Bates put it to Jones that the inquest had heard from various witnesses that Lachie was “an energetic little boy”.
Jones disputed this, joking that: “He was a lazy little prick.”
Jones said: “At the end of the day, if your events are true, what mother loses [Lachie] again, what mother puts him down and never picks him up again? I’m disappointed that they had care of him, and if someone else picked him up that night why isn’t [Officer] trying like I am,” he said.
“It seems like a bloody botched-up police job and you’re trying to fix it.”
He alleged that Officer’s version of events “did not stack up”.
Officer previously told the inquest their relationship had broken down, but Jones alleged the morning of Lachie’s death, after he had stayed the night, Officer cooked him eggs and kissed him on the cheek.
“If she hates me so much, why did she do that?”
Jones told the inquest Lachie was not energetic and he had not seen him chasing ducks before. Bates questioned Jones about a video that showed Lachie running, but disputed he was chasing ducks.
Questioned by Beatrix Woodhouse, counsel for Lachie’s mother, Jones said he did not accept the alleged timeline of events established by prior witnesses, but if he were to, he still did not believe Officer did everything she could.
Lawyer Liberty Wells, counsel for the pathologist, asked Jones why he refused a post-mortem for Lachie. He told the inquest: “Just didn’t want my son to be cut up and that, I guess.”
Lachie’s grandfather, Graham Jones, told the inquest his son had been living with him and his partner for about two months after the breakdown of his relationship with Officer.
He told the inquest he observed Lachie’s body at the St John centre on the evening of his death, and it was “absolutely frozen”. He said he cuddled the boy and checked his body for marks and found none.
He said he never visited Officer at her house and his knowledge of their relationship came from his son.
He was not aware of the alleged issues in the household due to Paul’s drinking and gambling.
He told Woodhouse he did not think Officer was a good mother to Lachie, but knew she had a protection order against Paul.
The inquest is ongoing.