Finding into death of Human Remains

IN THE CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA AT MELBOURNE

Court Reference: 4225/11

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST

Form 37 Rule 60(1) Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

Inquest into the Death of UNKNOWN HUMAN REMAINS COMPRISING LEFT AND RIGHT

FEMORA

Delivered On: 16 March 2012 Delivered At: Coroner's Court of Victoria

Level 11, 222 Exhibition Street Melbourne Victoria

Hearing Dates: 16 March 2012 Findings of: K.M. W. PARKINSON, CORONER Police Coronial

Support Unit: Senior Constable Kelly Ramsey

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I, K.M. W. PARKINSON, Coroner having investigated the death of UNKNOWN HUMAN

REMAINS COMPRISING LEFT AND RIGHT FEMORA

AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 16 March 2012 at Melbourne

find that the identity of the deceased was UNKNOWN HUMAN REMAINS COMPRISING LEFT

AND RIGHT FEMORA "

and the death occurred at an unknown date

at an Unknown Location

from:

la. UNKNOWN CAUSE

in the following circumstances:

This matter was listed for inquest this day.

On 5 November 2011, at approximately 11.00am, Mr Arnold Thyssen and his partner were walking their dog along the beach at Shallow Inlet, Victoria, They had left the campsite and walked approximately 100 metres along the beach when Mr Thyssen located what appeared to be bones protruding from the sand cliff wall. The bones were approximately 1200mm from the ground and approximately 1000mm from the top of the cliff.

The bones were recovered from the location and transported to Victoria Police at Dandenong on Monday 7 November, 2011. Detective Senior Constable Michael Van Hamond took possession of the remains and they were conveyed to the Coroners Court of Victoria at Melbourne.

On 8 November 2011, the remains were examined by Dr Soren Blau, Forensic Anthropologist with the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Dr Blau reported that the remains comprised a left and right femora. The remains were dry and brown in colour and heavily weathered. Sand adhered to the skeletal remains, One individual is represented and the left and right femora appear to be from the same individual. It was not possible to comment upon the ancestry of the individual. It was not possible to provide an exact time since death. .

Dr Blau was unable to comment upon the ancestry of the individual. She provided a tentative

opinion that the remains may have been male. The femora were those of an adult however, a more detailed age range was not available. ‘

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I am satisfied that no further investigation is required. I find that the bones comprising left and right femora ate human and are those of one individual. It is possible that the remains are those of a person of Australian Aboriginal ancestry.

On the available evidence it is not possible to make findings as to identity, where, when or in what circumstances the person died.

The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register was searched and no aboriginal burials are registered in the vicinity where the remains were located. ‘

However, in view of the location of the remains, my finding that they are possibly of Aboriginal ancestry, and the aboriginal history in the general area, I am satisfied it is appropriate that Aboriginal Affairs Victoria be advised of the find and invited to inspect the brief, and make submissions if desired as to the appropriate disposition of the remains.

11. Upon receiving advice from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria, I will make orders in relation to disposition

of the remains.

Signature:

K.M. W. PARKINSON CORONER

16 March 2012

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