Deceased
Gethin Richard Roberts
Demographics
male
Coroner
Coroner Phillip Byrne
Date of death
2003-06-06
Finding date
2005-05-06
Cause of death
Drowning
AI-generated summary
Gethin Richard Roberts drowned in Port Phillip Bay on 5-6 June 2003 following a police pursuit. After evading police during a high-speed car chase, Roberts abandoned the vehicle and deliberately entered the bay. He was last seen approximately 100 metres from shore swimming further out to sea. Remains were found over subsequent months and identified through DNA analysis and forensic anthropology. While this death was not hospital-based, it illustrates the critical intersection of crisis situations, decision-making under extreme stress, and acute incapacity. The coroner found drowning as the cause of death. No medical preventative measures were applicable to this acute circumstantial fatality.
AI-generated summary — refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
Amalgamated Coronial Findings The following document is an amalgamation of reports relating to the death of GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS Affected Cases (Local Case numbers): (cid:153) 20041420; (cid:153) 20041735; (cid:153) 20042486; (cid:153) 20042512; (cid:153) 20043493; (cid:153) 20050435; (cid:153) 20060179 Clarification: At least two reports have been submitted to the NCIS for the same death, often as a result of the recovery of remains across time periods.
To maintain accurate data on deaths reported to Australian Coroners, the NCIS endeavours to retain only one record for each death. As a result duplicate cases are removed from the NCIS.
Where this occurs, appropriate documents are amalgamated and attached to the retained record.
All cases will be retained in the local court system.
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4444 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1800 136 852 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 6th May, 2005 Case No: 1420/04
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH I, LEWIS PHILLIP BYRNE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN ROBERTS without holding an inquest, find that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN ROBERTS and that death occurred on 24th April, 2004 at Found On The Beach Near Kerford Road Pier, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3205 from 1(a). DROWNING in the following circumstances: On the evening of 5th June 2003 Gethin Roberts drove a friend of his, Jason Hogervorst, to the Crown Casino in a VK Holden Commodore he had previously stolen. Mr. Roberts parked the stolen car in a side street near the casino. The pair gambled until nearly 4am when they left the casino. By arrangement Gethin Roberts went to collect the car and Hogervorst attended at the McDonalds restaurant on the corner of City Rd and Clarendon Street. The arrangement was that Roberts would pick Hogervorst up there.
After retrieving the car and on his way to collect Hogenvast the car driven by Gethin Roberts was intercepted by the Sk. Kilda Rd police divisional van. Gethin Roberts stopped the stolen car, waited for police to alight from the divisional van and then "took off" along City Road which becomes Crockford Street before veering left becoming Bay Street Port Melbourne.
A police pursuit followed. A pursuit controller took responsibility for the pursuit. Red lights and siren were activated as the divisional van followed the car driven by Gethin Roberts. En route pursuing police were advised the vehicle was stolen. As the car driven by Mr. Roberts approached Beech Street it reached a speed of approximately 100 kmph and "ran" red lights.
The driver of the pursuing police vehicle determined to terminate the pursuit.
As the vehicle driven by Roberts entered at speed the T-intersection of Bay Street Port Melbourne and Beach Street (the continuation of Beaconsfield Parade) the vehicle became out of control, careered onto the median strip and collided with a signpost.
The driver Gethan Roberts, whose identity at that time was not known to police exited the vehicle, ran across Beach Street, continued on across the sand, removing his jacket as he
ran, and dived into the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The driver was last seen by police some 100 metres out from shore still swimming out to sea.
Subsequent searches by police on land air and water, including police divers, failed to locate the unknown swimmer.
On 9th June 2003 Gethin Roberts was reported missing. Investigation established items in the abandoned stolen car were associated with Gethin Roberts; for instance his fingerprints were found on an empty stubby of beer found in the car.
It would appear that at the time Mr. Roberts had a very significant number of outstanding charges pending, together with 12 outstanding arrest warrants. He must have been desperate to avoid apprehension probably fearing a period of incarceration.
Commencing on 24 April 2004 and continuing during July, August, October and January 2005, various bones were located washed up on the sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
Initially the bones were identified as human bones, with each discovery being given a seperate coroners number. Subsequently the bones that constitute coroners cases 1420/04, 2486/04, 2512/04, 3493/04 and 435/05 were identified either by Forensic Anthropologists, Drs Bentley Atchison and Soren Blau, utilising DNA technology, and/or circumstantial identification, as the human remains of Gethin Roberts.
Coroners number 1735/04 is merely the number allocated to the suspected death prior to the identification of the remains.
The precise circumstances of the demise of Gethan Roberts remain unknown, suffice to say, whilst he made good his escape from police but in doing so drowned in the waters of Port Phillip Bay near Port Melbourne
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4444 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1800 136 852 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 4th May, 2005 Case No: 1735/04
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED DEATH I, LEWIS PHILLIP BYRNE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS without holding an inquest, find that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS and that death occurred on or about the 6th June, 2003 at Hobsons Bay, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207 from 1(a). DROWNING in the following circumstances: On the evening of 5th June 2003 Gethin Roberts drove a friend of his, Jason Hogervorst, to the Crown Casino in a VK Holden Commodore he had previously stolen. Mr. Roberts parked the stolen car in a side street near the casino. The pair gambled until nearly 4am when they left the casino. By arrangement Gethin Roberts went to collect the car and Hogervorst attended at the McDonalds restaurant on the corner of City Rd and Clarendon Street. The arrangement was that Roberts would pick Hogervorst up there.
After retrieving the car and on his way to collect Hogenvast the car driven by Gethin Roberts was intercepted by the Sk. Kilda Rd police divisional van. Gethin Roberts stopped the stolen car, waited for police to alight from the divisional van and then "took off" along City Road which becomes Crockford Street before veering left becoming Bay Street Port Melbourne.
A police pursuit followed. A pursuit controller took responsibility for the pursuit. Red lights and siren were activated as the divisional van followed the car driven by Gethin Roberts. En route pursuing police were advised the vehicle was stolen. As the car driven by Mr. Roberts approached Beech Street it reached a speed of approximately 100 kmph and "ran" red lights.
The driver of the pursuing police vehicle determined to terminate the pursuit.
As the vehicle driven by Roberts entered at speed the T-intersection of Bay Street Port Melbourne and Beach Street (the continuation of Beaconsfield Parade) the vehicle became out of control, careered onto the median strip and collided with a signpost.
The driver Gethan Roberts, whose identity at that time was not known to police exited the vehicle, ran across Beach Street, continued on across the sand, removing his jacket as he ran, and dived into the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The driver was last seen by police some 100 metres out from shore still swimming out to sea.
Subsequent searches by police on land air and water, including police divers, failed to locate the unknown swimmer.
On 9th June 2003 Gethin Roberts was reported missing. Investigation established items in the abandoned stolen car were associated with Gethin Roberts; for instance his fingerprints were found on an empty stubby of beer found in the car.
It would appear that at the time Mr. Roberts had a very significant number of outstanding charges pending, together with 12 outstanding arrest warrants. He must have been desperate to avoid apprehension probably fearing a period of incarceration.
Commencing on 24 April 2004 and continuing during July, August, October and January 2005, various bones were located washed up on the sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
Initially the bones were identified as human bones, with each discovery being given a seperate coroners number. Subsequently the bones that constitute coroners cases 1420/04, 2486/04, 2512/04, 3493/04 and 435/05 were identified either by Forensic Anthropologists, Drs Bentley Atchison and Soren Blau, utilising DNA technology, and/or circumstantial identification, as the human remains of Gethin Roberts.
Coroners number 1735/04 is merely the number allocated to the suspected death prior to the identification of the remains.
The precise circumstances of the demise of Gethan Roberts remain unknown, suffice to say, whilst he made good his escape from police but in doing so drowned in the waters of Port Phillip Bay near Port Melbourne
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4444 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1800 136 852 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 6th May, 2005 Case No: 2486/04
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED DEATH I, LEWIS PHILLIP BYRNE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS with Inquest held at Coronial Services Centre, Southbank on the 11th March, 2005 find that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS and that death occurred on or about the 18th July, 2004 at Lagoon Pier And Kerford Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205 from 1(a). DROWNING in the following circumstances: On the evening of 5th June 2003 Gethin Roberts drove a friend of his, Jason Hogervorst, to the Crown Casino in a VK Holden Commodore he had previously stolen. Mr. Roberts parked the stolen car in a side street near the casino. The pair gambled until nearly 4am when they left the casino. By arrangement Gethin Roberts went to collect the car and Hogervorst attended at the McDonalds restaurant on the corner of City Rd and Clarendon Street. The arrangement was that Roberts would pick Hogervorst up there.
After retrieving the car and on his way to collect Hogenvast the car driven by Gethin Roberts was intercepted by the Sk. Kilda Rd police divisional van. Gethin Roberts stopped the stolen car, waited for police to alight from the divisional van and then "took off" along City Road which becomes Crockford Street before veering left becoming Bay Street Port Melbourne.
A police pursuit followed. A pursuit controller took responsibility for the pursuit. Red lights and siren were activated as the divisional van followed the car driven by Gethin Roberts. En route pursuing police were advised the vehicle was stolen. As the car driven by Mr. Roberts approached Beech Street it reached a speed of approximately 100 kmph and "ran" red lights.
The driver of the pursuing police vehicle determined to terminate the pursuit.
As the vehicle driven by Roberts entered at speed the T-intersection of Bay Street Port Melbourne and Beach Street (the continuation of Beaconsfield Parade) the vehicle became out of control, careered onto the median strip and collided with a signpost.
The driver Gethan Roberts, whose identity at that time was not known to police exited the vehicle, ran across Beach Street, continued on across the sand, removing his jacket as he ran, and dived into the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The driver was last seen by police some 100 metres out from shore still swimming out to sea.
Subsequent searches by police on land air and water, including police divers, failed to locate the unknown swimmer.
On 9th June 2003 Gethin Roberts was reported missing. Investigation established items in the abandoned stolen car were associated with Gethin Roberts; for instance his fingerprints were found on an empty stubby of beer found in the car.
It would appear that at the time Mr. Roberts had a very significant number of outstanding charges pending, together with 12 outstanding arrest warrants. He must have been desperate to avoid apprehension probably fearing a period of incarceration.
Commencing on 24 April 2004 and continuing during July, August, October and January 2005, various bones were located washed up on the sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
Initially the bones were identified as human bones, with each discovery being given a seperate coroners number. Subsequently the bones that constitute coroners cases 1420/04, 2486/04, 2512/04, 3493/04 and 435/05 were identified either by Forensic Anthropologists, Drs Bentley Atchison and Soren Blau, utilising DNA technology, and/or circumstantial identification, as the human remains of Gethin Roberts.
Coroners number 1735/04 is merely the number allocated to the suspected death prior to the identification of the remains.
The precise circumstances of the demise of Gethan Roberts remain unknown, suffice to say, whilst he made good his escape from police but in doing so drowned in the waters of Port Phillip Bay near Port Melbourne
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4444 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1800 136 852 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 6th May, 2005 Case No: 2512/04
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED DEATH I, LEWIS PHILLIP BYRNE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS without holding an inquest, find that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS and that death occurred on or about the 19th July, 2004 at Port Melbourne Beach, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207 from DROWNING 1(a). DROWNING in the following circumstances: On the evening of 5th June 2003 Gethin Roberts drove a friend of his, Jason Hogervorst, to the Crown Casino in a VK Holden Commodore he had previously stolen. Mr. Roberts parked the stolen car in a side street near the casino. The pair gambled until nearly 4am when they left the casino. By arrangement Gethin Roberts went to collect the car and Hogervorst attended at the McDonalds restaurant on the corner of City Rd and Clarendon Street. The arrangement was that Roberts would pick Hogervorst up there.
After retrieving the car and on his way to collect Hogenvast the car driven by Gethin Roberts was intercepted by the Sk. Kilda Rd police divisional van. Gethin Roberts stopped the stolen car, waited for police to alight from the divisional van and then "took off" along City Road which becomes Crockford Street before veering left becoming Bay Street Port Melbourne.
A police pursuit followed. A pursuit controller took responsibility for the pursuit. Red lights and siren were activated as the divisional van followed the car driven by Gethin Roberts. En route pursuing police were advised the vehicle was stolen. As the car driven by Mr. Roberts approached Beech Street it reached a speed of approximately 100 kmph and "ran" red lights.
The driver of the pursuing police vehicle determined to terminate the pursuit.
As the vehicle driven by Roberts entered at speed the T-intersection of Bay Street Port Melbourne and Beach Street (the continuation of Beaconsfield Parade) the vehicle became out of control, careered onto the median strip and collided with a signpost.
The driver Gethan Roberts, whose identity at that time was not known to police exited the vehicle, ran across Beach Street, continued on across the sand, removing his jacket as he ran, and dived into the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The driver was last seen by police some 100 metres out from shore still swimming out to sea.
Subsequent searches by police on land air and water, including police divers, failed to locate the unknown swimmer.
On 9th June 2003 Gethin Roberts was reported missing. Investigation established items in the abandoned stolen car were associated with Gethin Roberts; for instance his fingerprints were found on an empty stubby of beer found in the car.
It would appear that at the time Mr. Roberts had a very significant number of outstanding charges pending, together with 12 outstanding arrest warrants. He must have been desperate to avoid apprehension probably fearing a period of incarceration.
Commencing on 24 April 2004 and continuing during July, August, October and January 2005, various bones were located washed up on the sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
Initially the bones were identified as human bones, with each discovery being given a seperate coroners number. Subsequently the bones that constitute coroners cases 1420/04, 2486/04, 2512/04, 3493/04 and 435/05 were identified either by Forensic Anthropologists, Drs Bentley Atchison and Soren Blau, utilising DNA technology, and/or circumstantial identification, as the human remains of Gethin Roberts.
Coroners number 1735/04 is merely the number allocated to the suspected death prior to the identification of the remains.
The precise circumstances of the demise of Gethan Roberts remain unknown, suffice to say, whilst he made good his escape from police but in doing so drowned in the waters of Port Phillip Bay near Port Melbourne
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4444 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1800 136 852 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 6th May, 2005 Case No: 3493/04
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH I, LEWIS PHILLIP BYRNE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN ROBERTS without holding an inquest, find that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN ROBERTS and that death occurred on 1st October, 2004 at Waters Edge, Beaconsfield Parade, Oppose Foot St, Albert Park, Victoria 3206 from 1(a). DROWNING in the following circumstances: On the evening of 5th June 2003 Gethin Roberts drove a friend of his, Jason Hogervorst, to the Crown Casino in a VK Holden Commodore he had previously stolen. Mr. Roberts parked the stolen car in a side street near the casino. The pair gambled until nearly 4am when they left the casino. By arrangement Gethin Roberts went to collect the car and Hogervorst attended at the McDonalds restaurant on the corner of City Rd and Clarendon Street. The arrangement was that Roberts would pick Hogervorst up there.
After retrieving the car and on his way to collect Hogenvast the car driven by Gethin Roberts was intercepted by the Sk. Kilda Rd police divisional van. Gethin Roberts stopped the stolen car, waited for police to alight from the divisional van and then "took off" along City Road which becomes Crockford Street before veering left becoming Bay Street Port Melbourne.
A police pursuit followed. A pursuit controller took responsibility for the pursuit. Red lights and siren were activated as the divisional van followed the car driven by Gethin Roberts. En route pursuing police were advised the vehicle was stolen. As the car driven by Mr. Roberts approached Beech Street it reached a speed of approximately 100 kmph and "ran" red lights.
The driver of the pursuing police vehicle determined to terminate the pursuit.
As the vehicle driven by Roberts entered at speed the T-intersection of Bay Street Port Melbourne and Beach Street (the continuation of Beaconsfield Parade) the vehicle became out of control, careered onto the median strip and collided with a signpost.
The driver Gethan Roberts, whose identity at that time was not known to police exited the vehicle, ran across Beach Street, continued on across the sand, removing his jacket as he ran, and dived into the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The driver was last seen by police some 100 metres out from shore still swimming out to sea.
Subsequent searches by police on land air and water, including police divers, failed to locate the unknown swimmer.
On 9th June 2003 Gethin Roberts was reported missing. Investigation established items in the abandoned stolen car were associated with Gethin Roberts; for instance his fingerprints were found on an empty stubby of beer found in the car.
It would appear that at the time Mr. Roberts had a very significant number of outstanding charges pending, together with 12 outstanding arrest warrants. He must have been desperate to avoid apprehension probably fearing a period of incarceration.
Commencing on 24 April 2004 and continuing during July, August, October and January 2005, various bones were located washed up on the sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
Initially the bones were identified as human bones, with each discovery being given a seperate coroners number. Subsequently the bones that constitute coroners cases 1420/04, 2486/04, 2512/04, 3493/04 and 435/05 were identified either by Forensic Anthropologists, Drs Bentley Atchison and Soren Blau, utilising DNA technology, and/or circumstantial identification, as the human remains of Gethin Roberts.
Coroners number 1735/04 is merely the number allocated to the suspected death prior to the identification of the remains.
The precise circumstances of the demise of Gethan Roberts remain unknown, suffice to say, whilst he made good his escape from police but in doing so drowned in the waters of Port Phillip Bay near Port Melbourne
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4444 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1800 136 852 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 8th June, 2005 Case No: 435/05
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH I, LEWIS PHILLIP BYRNE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN ROBERTS without holding an inquest, find that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN ROBERTS and that death occurred on 3rd February, 2005 at Middle Park Beach. Kerferd Rd, Middle Park, Victoria 3206 from
DROWNING in the following circumstances: On the evening of 5th June 2003 Gethin Roberts drove a friend of his, Jason Hogervorst, to the Crown Casino in a VK Holden Commodore he had previously stolen. Mr. Roberts parked the stolen car in a side street near the casino. The pair gambled until nearly 4am when they left the casino. By arrangement Gethin Roberts went to collect the car and Hogervorst attended at the McDonalds restaurant on the corner of City Rd and Clarendon Street. The arrangement was that Roberts would pick Hogervorst up there.
After retrieving the car and on his way to collect Hogenvast the car driven by Gethin Roberts was intercepted by the Sk. Kilda Rd police divisional van. Gethin Roberts stopped the stolen car, waited for police to alight from the divisional van and then "took off" along City Road which becomes Crockford Street before veering left becoming Bay Street Port Melbourne.
A police pursuit followed. A pursuit controller took responsibility for the pursuit. Red lights and siren were activated as the divisional van followed the car driven by Gethin Roberts. En route pursuing police were advised the vehicle was stolen. As the car driven by Mr. Roberts approached Beech Street it reached a speed of approximately 100 kmph and "ran" red lights.
The driver of the pursuing police vehicle determined to terminate the pursuit.
As the vehicle driven by Roberts entered at speed the T-intersection of Bay Street Port Melbourne and Beach Street (the continuation of Beaconsfield Parade) the vehicle became out of control, careered onto the median strip and collided with a signpost.
The driver Gethan Roberts, whose identity at that time was not known to police exited the vehicle, ran across Beach Street, continued on across the sand, removing his jacket as he
ran, and dived into the waters of Port Phillip Bay. The driver was last seen by police some 100 metres out from shore still swimming out to sea.
Subsequent searches by police on land air and water, including police divers, failed to locate the unknown swimmer.
On 9th June 2003 Gethin Roberts was reported missing. Investigation established items in the abandoned stolen car were associated with Gethin Roberts; for instance his fingerprints were found on an empty stubby of beer found in the car.
It would appear that at the time Mr. Roberts had a very significant number of outstanding charges pending, together with 12 outstanding arrest warrants. He must have been desperate to avoid apprehension probably fearing a period of incarceration.
Commencing on 24 April 2004 and continuing during July, August, October and January 2005, various bones were located washed up on the sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and the Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
Initially the bones were identified as human bones, with each discovery being given a seperate coroners number. Subsequently the bones that constitute coroners cases 1420/04, 2486/04, 2512/04, 3493/04 and 435/05 were identified either by Forensic Anthropologists, Drs Bentley Atchison and Soren Blau, utilising DNA technology, and/or circumstantial identification, as the human remains of Gethin Roberts.
Coroners number 1735/04 is merely the number allocated to the suspected death prior to the identification of the remains.
The precise circumstances of the demise of Gethan Roberts remain unknown, suffice to say, whilst he made good his escape from police but in doing so drowned in the waters of Port Phillip Bay near Port Melbourne
State Coroners Office 57-83 Kavanagh Street Southbank 3006
CORONERS REGULATIONS 1996 Telephone: (03) 9684 4380 Form 1 (All Hours) Toll Free: 1300 309 519 (Only Country Victoria) Fax: (03) 9682 1206 21st May, 2009 Case No: 179/06
RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH I, JOHN OLLE, Coroner, having investigated the death of GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS without holding an inquest, find that the identity of human bone labelled VIFM Nos. 0179/06 (designated VIFM No. 190106) is a human remain of GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS. Mr Byrne investigated the death of Gethin Richard Roberts with inquest held at the Coronial Services Centre, Southbank on the 11th March, 2005 and found that the identity of the deceased was GETHIN RICHARD ROBERTS and that death occurred on or about 6th June, 2003 at Lagoon Pier and Kerford Road, South Melbourne, Victoria 3205, from 1(a). DROWNING in the following circumstances: I attach a copy of Mr Byrne’s findings, Case No. 2486/04, to this finding.
Identification of bone labelled VIFM No. 0179/06 (designated VIFM No. 190106) On a number of occasions commencing 24 April, 2004, bone subsequently identified as human remains of Gethin Roberts were located washed up on sand in the area between Kerford Road, Middle Park and Port Melbourne Life Saving Club.
On the 14th January, 2006, a human mandible was located on the beach in Albert Park. The bone was conveyed to the St Kilda Road police station and subsequently underwent testing at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. DNA scientific testing was performed by Alan Atchison, who notes, "no differences were detected between the mitochondrial DNA of the jaw bone and that of the previous items from coronial cases 2486/04 and 2512/04.
The mitochondrial DNA type has not been seen in a database of 261 individuals.
Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited. That is, all siblings have the same mitochondrial DNA which is the same as their mother. Cousins, through a maternal line would also have the same mitochondrial DNA." Dr Soren Blau, Forensic Odontologist, examined the mandible. Though unable to comment on the ancestry of the individual, she reported that the morphology suggests the individual was male and aged between 18 and 25 years.
Dr Hill, Forensic Odontologist, examined the mandible. He noted the dental records received with respect Mr Roberts. He reviewed the antimortem records received from the Department of Human Services relating to dental procedures for Mr Gethin Roberts. He concluded that the remains examined by him on the foreshore were of the mandible only.
Dental records received only showed dental procedures undertaken on the maxilla of Gethin Richard Roberts. He was unable to identify the remains on the basis of dental evidence.
I am satisfied on the basis of the forensic examination, in particular the examination of Alan Atchison and Dr Soren Blau, together with the circumstantial evidence that the human mandible labelled VIFM No. 0179/06 (designated VIFM No. 190106) is a human remain of Gethin Richard Roberts.
John Olle Coroner 20th May, 2009
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