Finding into death of Claire Winifred Buckler

| FORM 37 Rule 60(1)

| FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008 Court reference: 5524/09

Inquest into the Death of CLAIRE WINIFRED BUCKLER

Delivered On: 12 January 2010

Delivered At: Melbourne

Hearing Dates: 12 January 2010

Findings of: Coroner Kim M.W. Parkinson Representation: N/A

Place of death/Suspected death: Kyneton, Victoria 3444

SCAU; Senior Constable Taylor

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FORM 37

Rule 60(1)

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST Séction 67 of the Coroners Act 2008 Court reference: 5524/09 ~ In the Coroners Court of Victoria at Melboume I, KIM PARKINSON, Coroner having investigated the death of:

Details of deceased: Surname: BUCKLER Firstname: CLAIRE Address: ;

AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 10th January 2010 at Melbourne

find that the identity of the deceased was Claire Winifred Buckler and the death occurred between 11 July 1977 and 25 September 1977.

At an unknown focation :

from: an unknown cause.

In the following circumstances:

1, This matter was listed for inquest on 12 January 2010, and my finding was delivered into the transcript on that occasion. This written finding is edited from the transcript..In this matter Case No.5524 of 2009, relates also to File Case No.2420 of 1977. An open finding was made in Case Number 2420 of 1977, in relation to which an open finding was made as to human remains which were located on 25 September: 1977 at Kyneton, in a disused shed on a property, Karinga, Calder Highway, Kyneton. In that matter, the evidence adduced did not enable the Coroner to say who the deceased was or when, where or by what means she came by her death. It is apparent that the remains located were female remains.

2. I have considered all of the evidentiary matters set out in the summary by Victoria Police Belair Task Force member, Detective Senior Constable Anthony Combridge. It is apparent from the material which is before me this day, that it is open to be inferred that the clothing which was located with the deceased female person, was clothing which she came into possession of during the course of her being a resident at the Capricornia Ward at Bendigo Psychiatric Facility. It is

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put that it is open to the Coroner, by inference to reach a conclusion that is more probable than not that the remains located on the 25th September 1977, are those of Clare Winifred Buckler whose date of birth was 26 May 1911. :

The circumstances to which I particularly refer are that:

(1) Ms Buckler was last seen in the Capricornia Ward at Bendigo Psychiatric Facility on 11th July 1977. She was admitted to that facility on 6th June 1977, and remained there until Lith July 1977. She was a voluntary patient.

(2) There were no other missing persons: who were also at the facility or who left or absconded from the facility between the period 6th June 1977 and 25th September 1977, when the remains were found.

(3) Ms Buckler has not been sighted since 11th July 1977, and there is no evidence whether documentary, financial or otherwise, of any activity in relation to her since that date.

(4) The remains which were located, were female and were clothed in clothing provided to a Claire Winifred Buckler by Bendigo Psychiatric Facility, Capricorn Ward, at the time of her admission.

(5) I am informed that there are no other known missing persons either in Victoria or interstate, that is missing female persons, that fall within the relevant timeframes which

have been set out before me in this inquest.

In those circumstances having regard to those matters, I am satisfied that the only

reasonable inference that remains to be made in relation to this matter, is that the remains are those of Clare Winifred Buckler, whose date of birth was 26th May 1911, who disappeared on 11th July 1977. I am unable to determine the cause of her death, the location of her death or the circumstances of her death. The date of death is likely to be between 11th July 1977, and 25th September 1977,

Signature:

Kim M.W, Parkinson Coroner

Date: 1 March 2010

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