Inquest into the Suspected Death of Edward John GIBBARD
Deceased
Edward John GIBBARD
Demographics
51y, male
Date of death
1976-12-23
Finding date
2020-05-27
Cause of death
Undetermined - Open Finding
AI-generated summary
Edward John Gibbard, a 51-year-old British merchant seaman, disappeared on the night of 23 December 1976 after leaving Lake Argyle Inn in Western Australia's Kimberley region to drive to Kununurra for a flight to Perth. His abandoned vehicle was found the next morning on the Lake Argyle Road. Despite extensive searches and inquiries over 40+ years, his remains were never recovered. The coroner was satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that Gibbard died around the time of his disappearance in late December 1976, likely between leaving the Inn and reaching Kununurra. No medical condition, accident or voluntary disappearance could explain the circumstances. The coroner made an Open Finding as to manner of death, noting concerns about the adequacy of initial police questioning of witnesses present that evening and the impact of time elapsed on investigation.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Contributing factors
- Night-time driving on remote road
- Vehicle abandoned on roadside Lake Argyle Road
- Possible vehicle movement between initial sighting and police arrival
- Inadequate initial witness statements from those present the evening of disappearance
- Time elapsed affecting investigation and witness recollection
- Loss of records from family estate settlement
Coroner's recommendations
- Greater diligence in obtaining formal witness statements from all persons present at the scene or who discovered the vehicle, particularly when witnesses are intoxicated or memory may be affected by alcohol consumption
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