Inquest into the Death of David Greenwood
Inquest into the Suspected Death of David GREENWOOD
Delivered on : 17 April 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Jenkin
Recommendations : No
Orders/Rules : No
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : Mr David Greenwood (Mr Greenwood) he walked off a camp at Gindalbie Station (Gindalbie), located about 64 km northeast of Kalgoorlie sometime after 5.00 am on 14 October 1984. Mr Greenwood has not been seen or heard from since.
On 30 April 2002, a human skull and several bones were located about four kilometres from the Gindalbie homestead. The remains were forensically examined and it was concluded that they appeared to be those of an Aboriginal adult male who had died at least 10 years earlier. On 13 September 2005, a coroner issued a Record of Investigation of Death finding that on the basis of the available information: “the likelihood is that the remains are those of David Greenwood”.
Following receipt of a police investigation report, the Deputy State Coroner set aside the coroner’s finding and wrote to the Commissioner of Police to advise that she had reasonable cause to suspect that Mr Greenwood had died and that his death was a “reportable death”
Following an inquest on 10 April 2025, a coroner concluded that the available evidence established beyond all reasonable doubt that Mr Greenwood died on or about 14 October 1984 in the vicinity of Gindalbie.
After carefully considering the available evidence, the coroner expressed the view that the most likely explanation for Mr Greenwood’s death was that he had died from exposure after walking off from a camp at Gindalbie.
However, in circumstances where Mr Greenwood’s body has never been located (and the remains found at Gindalbie at in 2002 cannot be identified), the coroner was obliged to find that the cause of Mr Greenwood’s death was unascertained and the coroner made an open finding as to the manner of Mr Greenwood’s death.
Catch Words : Missing persons investigation : Unascertained cause of death : Open finding
Last updated: 23 May 2025