From a protected witness: who FA worked for
Described FA " as sharp as a tact"
Said around 2013/2014 that he owned a white ute that was a ford courier 1998 model.
An occasion in 2013/2014 detectives talking to FA about an approach to a child at Johns River , he replied yes. He said " I went out to take out a birthday card & take him to lunch" Were asking him about anyone with a white ute. FA said he didn't know anyone & witness though odd as he had a white ute.
Mr Craddock than asked him if that was the first time he thought something a bit suss? He replied he didn't know if it was coming from Danny ( FA & Danny fought like cats & dogs according to this witness)
Mr Craddock than went on to say, as you got to know FA a bit better did he start telling you stories . The witness said he used to take FA to Mudgee , brother down there ( ?FA's ) Had lots of jobs at Mudgee
Mr Craddock than asked if FA told him about murder back in 1965 & he said couple of blokes borrowed his car & raped a girl, she had an epileptic fit & died
. The witness didn't believe the story & thought it rubbish.
He said FA drove without a license , he used to drive me around " I'd say I'll drink, you drive"
He never saw FA drink more than 1 beer. The coroner asked if he ever saw him drunk & he replied :" Never, he said it ruined your eating"
Did you drive him around?, "Absolutely"
He used to drive him to Wauchope to visit daughter.
You know he didn't have a license? FA said " Can't take away what you haven't got"
Did Danny have Camry's? Witness " Yeah maroon & green "
FA drive these? Witness "Didn't see"
Did he tell you he had driven them? Witness "Yes"
Did he tell you about catching train from Kendall & leaving car there so he could get home again ( sorry don't have answer written down but I think it was yes
)
This witness had an illness for about 3 months around 7/14 to 10/14 where they were " out of action work wise"
Witness used to give FA & RP his credit card to purchase food for animals.
Witness ran into RP down at North Haven & said " Where's FA" & RP replied " He's locked up
Witness started getting calls from FA when he was locked up . FA got out of jail ( bail ) & moved to Misty Way which was owned by this witnesses mate.
Some time this witness got out of jail the witness took FA to Blue Mountains & Mudgee to see brother.
Mr Craddock asked the witness if he saw a change in him? Witness " He told me some allegation & that Danny was behind it"
Mr Craddock asked if somewhere around 2014/2015 did you have a need for someone to drive your wife up to Tamworth ? Witness " No she drove him & FA went along"
Mr Craddock asked any particular reason? Witness " Son had a trailer that needed fixing & getting back"
ON that trip FA made sexually inappropriate comments/ conversation with step sons partner .
Coroner asked " What did you think about that? " Witness replied " he denied it "
He was than asked if FA ever borrowed the witnesses vehicles, including work vehicles & the witness replied " yes, a white Nissan Navara 2010, Ford Courier.
Witness also had a Monaro & wife had blue Subaru.
This witness was than asked about a person called Tony Brown ( deceased ) who FA got pink slips for this witnesses cars
on the 12/9/14 this witness said he was across the RD from the Kew Country Club talking to people named Beryl & Ross, he was driving his Monaro ( don't know colour)
They talked about all the cop cars etc & though may have been a drug bust etc
He said the white ute was at Herron Creek that day
The Ford Courier ute was work vehicle, used to collect wood / carry diesel etc. Said ute was at work site all the time .
He used the Navara to get to work & Monaro for leisure.
When FA was in Grafton ( 2016) witness had jail phone contact with FA ( said he spoke more to FA when he was in Nowra jail )
We were played an audio tape from 22/8/2017
When the witness asked why he was in Jail, FA said he was a POI in WT case & was ? moved to Nowra due to threats made ( ? from TJ)
The witness asked FA where he was the day WT disappeared & he said Wauchope
Than another call ( ? when ) where FA told the witness that the cops took him to Newscastle for interview & he refused
The witness said to FA " you gotta ask yourself why kids said made statement ( about suitcase )
FA " I've got all these statements, I've you've got the evidence , charge me"
A call was than played from 19/2/2020
The witness eventually went to see FA in person where he was handed a piece of paper, 3 inch x 1 inch from FA with 2 names written on it. He gave that to police ( we were not told the names )
He was asked by the BIO family's barrister Swift he ever saw TJ with FA & he replied " I don't know who TJ is "