Coroner's Finding: Breward, Bradley Wade

MAGISTRATES COURT of TASMANIA

CORONIAL DIVISION Record of Investigation into Death (Without Inquest) Coroners Act 1995 Coroners Rules 2006 Rule 11 I, Simon Cooper, Coroner, having investigated the death of Bradley Wade Breward Find, pursuant to Section 28(1) of the Coroners Act 1995, that a) The identity of the deceased is Bradley Wade Breward; b) Mr Breward died as a result of homicide at the hands of Mark Rodney Jones; c) The exact cause of Mr Breward’s death is unable to be determined due to the level of decomposition of Mr Breward’s remains but is likely to have been due to suffocation; and d) Mr Breward died on 1 January 2017 at Unit 1/2 Parklands Parade, Newnham, Tasmania.

In the early hours of New Year’s Day 2017, Mark Rodney Jones accompanied by Ricky John Izard went to the unit in Newnham where Mr Breward was with Mr Cody Lee. Jones believed that Mr Breward had stolen his four-wheel drive a month or so previously. He intended to, in effect, torture Mr Breward to extract information from him about the vehicle.

While Izard held Mr Lee at bay with a screwdriver, Mr Breward, ankles and hands bound with tape, was subjected to a sustained period of violence which included kicks and punches, as well as what has become known as ‘waterboarding’ at the hands of Jones. Mr Breward did not tell him anything about the missing vehicle. It does not appear to have occurred to Jones that this may have been because he had nothing to do with the theft.

The attacks continued. Jones placed a plastic supermarket type bag over Mr Breward’s head twice for extended periods. Eventually, Mr Breward lost consciousness and died.

Jones, helped by Izard, removed Mr Breward’s body from the unit and disposed of it in Lake Eugenana in North West Tasmania.

Police divers recovered Mr Breward’s body a month later, wrapped in plastic. It was taken by mortuary ambulance to Hobart where an autopsy was carried out by Dr Donald Ritchey, Forensic Pathologist. Dr Ritchey found Mr Breward’s body to be substantially decomposed with

fractures of the nose and ribs, and other signs of violence. Because of the level of decomposition, Dr Ritchey was unable to determine the precise cause of Mr Breward’s death.

Mr Breward’s identity was confirmed by fingerprint comparison.

Toxicological analysis of samples taken at autopsy showed Mr Breward had methylamphetamine and amphetamine in his body. I am satisfied that neither drug caused his death.

Jones and Izard were apprehended by Police and charged with crimes associated with Mr Breward’s death. Jones was convicted after a trial of Mr Breward’s murder and sentenced to 22 years imprisonment. Izard pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges arising out of Mr Breward’s death. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Comments and Recommendations The circumstances of Mr Breward’s death are not such as to require me to make any comments or recommendations pursuant to Section 28 of the Coroners Act 1995.

I convey my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Bradley Wade Breward.

Dated: 26 November 2021 at Hobart in the State of Tasmania.

Simon Cooper Coroner