GUILTY Australia - Daniel Morcombe, 13, Woombye, QLD, 7 Dec 2003 - #1

[Fuskier]

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 6m
#Morcombe: Witness says she had argument with driver after bus didn't stop for child. Said he threatened to throw her off @tennewsqld

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 20m
#Morcombe: Bus driver says he saw a "young chap" in a red shirt & "another chap" sitting on the side of an embankment. Boy tried to hail bus

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 26m
#Morcombe: Mr Edmonds says his bus broke down at Woombye around 1:45pm @tennewsqld

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 20m
Ross Edmonds bus driver: boy lifted finger to bus, he pointed back like there was another bus coming. #Morcombe @9NewsBrisbane

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 23m
Bus driver Ross Edmonds says saw "young chap" in red shirt &"another chap" sitting at the back under overpass when he passed @9NewsBrisbane

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 31m
Bus driver Ross Edmonds who was driving the day Daniel #Morcombe went missing has taken stand @9NewsBrisbane

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 1h
Witness Peter McGruddy says he saw 2 black sandshoes w toes pointing upwards pulled into a blue car then sped off @9NewsBrisbane #Morcombe

 

[Fuskier]

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 10m
Under cross exam, Mr Fitzgerald says his memory "possibly not" the best. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 13m
Mr Fitzgerald says he doesn't remember Cowan dropping by partner's house on afternoon 7th Dec 2003. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 48s
Mr Fitzgerald says Cowan would buy "20 to 30 dollars worth, very little" from his partner at Woombye. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 6m
Mr Fitzgerald tells court Cowan would sometimes drop in for a cuppa. Other times "he'd drop in to score" marijuana. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 10m
Witness Kevin Fitzgerald now in witness box. He knew Brett Cowan in 2003. #morcombe @abcnews

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 3m
Hearing from witness who knows Cowan: sometimes he would drop by for cuppa, sometimes to "score" marijuana #Morcombe @9NewsBrisbane

 

[Fuskier]

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 36m
Frank and Hazel Davis tell court Cowan would often visit home for family functions. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 37m
Frank Davis's wife Hazel now in witness box. Cowan used to work for their son in sandblasting business. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 38m
Defence suggests Cowan had his hair cut short. Mr Davis says "that's a possibility". #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 53m
Mr Davis says Cowan was wearing work clothes. He was "fairly slim. Usually or partly unshaven. Hair was fairly long." #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 57m
Mr Davis says Cowan arrived at his home around 1:30-1:45pm. Picked up mulcher. Stayed no more than 10 mins. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 59m
Witness Frank Davis tells court Brett Cowan borrowed his mulcher on the day Daniel vanished. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 1h
Mr Rose says by the time bus went under overpass, didn't see anyone or any car. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 1h
Mr Rose says they received a radio transmission about something under bridge. But was incoherent. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 1h
Cowan trial resumed after lunch. Next witness: bus driver Stuart Rose. He was in 2nd bus with driver Jeffrey Norman. #morcombe @abcnews

 

[Fuskier]

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 22m
Day 7 over. 18 witnesses testified. Trial resumes tomorrow for Day 8. #morcombe @abcnews

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 1m
#Morcombe: 18 witnesses gave evidence today incl a woman who says she argued with a bus driver to stop for a boy @tennewsqld

 

[marlywings]

Fuskier....great job again with the tweets! Thankyou!!

Adding this in for anyone who may not have read it. From back at the coronial inquest in April,2011...four or so months prior to Cowan's arrest. P7 as he was called at the inquest...

9th Apr 2011

SHIVERS spread through the packed courtroom as the scruffy suspect slumped into the witness box.

His long, mousey brown hair fell below his shoulders as he looked around.

Police escorts had delivered the man, who lived in a Central Queensland mining town a few years ago, to the sterile courtroom on the seventh level of the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

He took an affirmation, cleared his throat and readied himself for questions.

“This is your last chance to tell us what happened on December 7, 2003.”

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/will-coroner-believe-p7s-life-of-lies-includes-som/819544/

 

[gregjrichards]

Thank you Fuskier for the excellent updates as always.

I am not as familiar with the details about Daniel's case as I am with other cases.

I just wondered if there was any evidence that Cowan had followed Daniel before to that particular spot and decided to act upon it that particular day or if he was just looking for a any boy that day and he unfortunately choose Daniel?

Sorry if anyone finds my question insensitive in anyway I don't mean to be I just wondered how premeditated his crime was.

 

[Fuskier]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2014/02/20/09/53/morcombe-s-alleged-killer-s-wife-to-appear

Morcombe's alleged killer's wife to appear
9:49am February 20, 2014

The wife and former girlfriend of the man accused of killing Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe are expected to appear before a court jury...

 

[Fuskier]

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 17m
Day 8 of Cowan murder trial begins. First witness today is motorist Wayne John Baker. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 16m
Mr Baker tells court he saw boy near overpass. On opposite side of road he saw a blue car with two men near it. #morcombe @abcnews

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 2m
First two witnesses today tell of seeing a blue sedan near overpass on 7 Dec 2003. #Morcombe @9NewsBrisbane

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 1m
Driver Kim Guthrie tells trial she saw a person pulling a boy with red shirt towards a blue car. #morcombe @abcnews

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 2m
Witness Toni Lutherborrow breaks down while describing passenger punching down on white sheet in back of car @9NewsBrisbane #Morcomb

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 3m
Ms Lutherborrow bursts into tears as she recalls a man in front seat turn around and punch the sheet. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 4m
Driver Toni Lutherborrow tells court she saw a blue car on Eudlo Rd and something under white sheet rise up. #morcombe @abcnews

 

[ozazure]

I don't understand why so many conflicting witness reports are put forth. It doesn't seem like a good strategy, is there is a legal requirement? Like different coloured cars, numbers of men, white shoes in a car where someone is getting punched. And some differing timelines. Is it just to say this is the information we used to get the best idea of what happened at the overpass?

I really feel for the bus driver, having to testify to argue other passengers didn't ask him to stop, whether it is true or not, whether he radio'd or not, I bet he would give anything to have not done what was asked of him by his employees to drive on and had picked up Daniel.

Anyway now I am reading the Hailey Owen's thread where eyewitnesses were right there and knew for sure what they were seeing and it still wasn't enough to save her. The difference is, Hailey's fate is known within the day and her murderer is locked up immediately. I wonder what Brett Cowan did in the intervening years. Sounds like he was no good at what he was trying to achieve so hopefully this botched sexual assault put him off versus forced him into getting better.

 

[Fuskier]

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 18m
#Morcombe: Police officer did time trial from overpass to site where it's alleged Daniel was taken to at Glass House Mtns.

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 29m
Det Sgt Gavin Pascoe tells court he did a time trial, starting at overpass and finishing at Cowan's former home. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 26m
Court shown doc of time trials of alternative routes. Times ranged from 14min to 30min. #morcombe @abcnews

 

[Fuskier]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-20/daniel-morcombe-murder-trial-continues-day-8/5272056

Daniel Morcombe murder trial: Driver bursts into tears while testifying in Brisbane's Supreme Court
By Francene Norton and Jason Rawlins Updated 48 minutes ago

Justice Roslyn Atkinson told the jury last week although there was a substantial number of witnesses to appear, not all of them are expected to be questioned at length... Jurors will also walk through a macadamia farm in the Glass House Mountains where police found Daniel's remains eight years later...jurors were also told they will visit the site where the schoolboy disappeared in 2003.

 

[Fuskier]

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 58m
Court shown doc of time trials of alternative routes. Times ranged from 14min to 30min. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 1h
Det Sgt Gavin Pascoe tells court he did a time trial, starting at overpass and finishing at Cowan's former home. #morcombe @abcnews

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 1h
Det Sgt Gavin Pascoe tells court he did "time trial" of route from overpass to Kings Rd then to Alfs Pinch Rd @9NewsBrisbane #Morcombe

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 50m
#Morcombe: Police officer did time trial from overpass to site where it's alleged Daniel was taken to at Glass House Mtns. Approx. 30 mins

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 18m
Witness Troy Walters tells court he met man named Brett on Russell Island in 2006. They swapped cars. Brett's was a white pajero. #morcombe

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 22m
Fingerprint expert says he compared fingerprints found at #Morcombe family home to those found in white pajero, no matches @9NewsBrisbane

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 22m
#Morcombe: 90th witness swapped cars with Brett Cowan in 2006. He took Cowan's white Mitsubishi Pajero @tennewsqld

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 11m
Sandra Drummond in the witness box. She tells court she'd sell Cowan small amounts of marijuana occasionally. #morcombe @abcnews

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 11m
Hearing from Sandra Drummond "just a friend" of Cowan's who got marijuana from her "occasionally" @9NewsBrisbane #Morcombe

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 7m
#Morcombe: Woman who sold marijuana to Cowan can't recall if he visited her house the day Daniel disappeared @tennewsqld

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 8m
Ms Drummond says she can't recall if Cowan was at her house on 7th Dec 2003. #morcombe @abcnews

Tessa Scott ‏@TessaScott9 10m
Ms Drummond asked if Cowan at house 7 Dec 2003 "I don't recall" @9NewsBrisbane #Morcombe

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 10m
Ms Drummond says she remembers Cowan was doing mulching at his home one weekend. Doesn't remember mulcher though. #morcombe @abcnews

 

[Fuskier]

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 20m
#Morcombe: Former police officer says he interviewed Brett Cowan 2 weeks after Daniel disappeared. Audio recording lost @tennewsqld

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 12m
#Morcombe: Jury shown photos of Cowan & his tattoos - taken 2 weeks after Daniel disappeared @tennewsqld

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 12m
Fmr policeman Kenneth King tells court he interviewed Cowan 2 wks after Daniel vanished. Conversation recorded, but it was lost. #morcombe

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 10m
Mr King says Cowan confirmed he'd driven past overpass on 7th Dec, but didn't see any cars or people. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 7m
Mr King says Cowan told him he'd left home about 1:30pm. Arrived home 2:30-2:45pm on 7th Dec 2003. #morcombe @abcnews

 

[Fuskier]

gregjrichards (Scotland WS)

This article and video might be helpful to you. It contains sketches of the accused as well as crime scene shots and a video of a reporter walking us through the Court evidence to date.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...d-in-space-of-two-minutes-20140218-32yg3.html

Daniel Morcombe trial: teen disappeared in space of two minutes
February 19, 2014 by Marissa Calligeros

 

[Fuskier]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-19/daniel-morcombe-murder-trial-more-drivers-testify/5269398

Daniel Morcombe murder: Bus driver denies passenger asked him to stop to pick up boy By Francene Norton and Jason Rawlins
Updated 19 minutes ago

Court told stocky man was throwing punches in car.
Belinda Russell told the court she was driving with her husband and children on the Nambour Connection Road on December 7 around the time authorities believe Daniel was abducted... Mrs Russell said there was an early model pale blue square-looking car in front of her family's four-wheel-drive... She said she could see a man with a fairly stocky build punching down at something on the back seat when she saw a white sneaker rise up and try to kick the man away...

 

[Fuskier]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...lent-struggle-in-blue-car-20140219-330lj.html

Daniel Morcombe murder trial: woman saw violent struggle in blue car
February 19, 2014 - 4:05PM by Marissa Calligeros

Ms Russell said a 1980s model, sky blue sedan cut in front of their four-wheel-drive as they passed the Big Pineapple on Nambour Connection Road. She told Brisbane's Supreme Court on Wednesday that she saw a "fairly stocky" man "punching and moving violently in the back seat".
She said the struggle was so violent "the back of the car itself was bouncing around". Ms Russell said she saw a white sneaker appear over the middle of the back seat of the car. "It was trying to push the man away who was sitting in the back seat, because it came up towards the middle and was trying to kick at the person in the back seat," she told the court.

 

[Fuskier]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-20/daniel-morcombe-murder-day-8-court-trial/5272056

Daniel Morcombe murder: Police re-trace accused killer's route he may have taken when he allegedly abducted teen
By Francene Norton and Jason Rawlins
Updated 1 hour ago

Motorist Wayne John Baker was the first witness to testify at today's proceedings.
He told the court he saw a boy near the overpass on the day Daniel disappeared.
Mr Baker said he saw a blue car on the opposite side of the road with two men near it.
During cross-examination by Cowan's lawyer, Mr Baker said the vehicle matched the description in news reports of a blue vehicle found abandoned weeks later in a Brisbane car park.

Driver Kim Guthrie told the court she saw a person pulling a boy wearing a red shirt towards a blue car.

Witness Kim North gave similar testimony today about a boy and a vehicle.
She also said she saw a person with both hands on a boy's arm trying to coerce him into the car while another person sat in the rear seat.

 

[Crimson clover]

I don't understand why so many conflicting witness reports are put forth. It doesn't seem like a good strategy, is there is a legal requirement? Like different coloured cars, numbers of men, white shoes in a car where someone is getting punched. And some differing timelines. Is it just to say this is the information we used to get the best idea of what happened at the overpass?
I really feel for the bus driver, having to testify to argue other passengers didn't ask him to stop, whether it is true or not, whether he radio'd or not, I bet he would give anything to have not done what was asked of him by his employees to drive on and had picked up Daniel.

Anyway now I am reading the Hailey Owen's thread where eyewitnesses were right there and knew for sure what they were seeing and it still wasn't enough to save her. The difference is, Hailey's fate is known within the day and her murderer is locked up immediately. I wonder what Brett Cowan did in the intervening years. Sounds like he was no good at what he was trying to achieve so hopefully this botched sexual assault put him off versus forced him into getting better.

BBM ~ I agree.
The varied witness accounts are disheartening.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...lent-struggle-in-blue-car-20140219-330lj.html

A woman saw a violent struggle in the back seat of a blue sedan as she travelled along the Sunshine Coast road where slain schoolboy Daniel Morcombe was last seen.

Ms Russell said she saw a white sneaker appear over the middle of the back seat of the car.

"It was trying to push the man away who was sitting in the back seat, because it came up towards the middle and was trying to kick at the person in the back seat," she told the court.

Mr Lipke said he noticed a tarpaulin in the back seat of the sedan.

"It was a tarp, jumping up and down, and as I recall ... I thought it was kids or someone under there moving, or it was the wind that was blowing it," he said.

Eleven years down...where does this come from?
The blue sedan...it's repeated over and over...
Very disheartening...cuz, Cowan reportedly drove a white Mitsubishi Pajero.

 

[Fuskier]

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 2m
Jury shown photos of Cowan with son back in 2003. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 7m
Ms Moncrieff says on 7th Dec 2003 Cowan left home about 11:30am. Not sure what time he returned, but heard him mulching by 3pm. #morcombe

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 19m
Tracey Moncrieff tells court she and Cowan had two children together. Now 11 and 9yrs old. #morcombe @abcnews

Francene Norton ‏@francenenorton 21m
Cowan's ex-wife Tracey Moncrieff now in the witness box. She says she met Cowan in 1998. #morcombe @abcnews

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 23m
#Morcombe: Cowan's ex wife says the couple had a son in 2003 - the same year Daniel disappeared @tennewsqld

Tegan George ‏@tegangeorge 25m
#Morcombe: Cowan's ex-wife is giving evidence. They met at church in '98 and were married the following year @tennewsqld

 

[Crimson clover]

Bumping Fuskier's link...
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-20/daniel-morcombe-murder-day-8-court-trial/5272056

Former policeman Kenneth King told the court he interviewed Cowan two weeks after Daniel vanished.

He said the conversation had been recorded, but was lost.

Huh? Seriously? :banghead:
It gets a lil worse...

Mr Baker said he saw a blue car on the opposite side of the road with two men near it.

During cross-examination by Cowan's lawyer, Mr Baker said the vehicle matched the description in news reports of a blue vehicle found abandoned weeks later in a Brisbane car park.

Driver Kim Guthrie told the court she saw a person pulling a boy wearing a red shirt towards a blue car.

Witness Kim North gave similar testimony today about a boy and a vehicle.

She also said she saw a person with both hands on a boy's arm trying to coerce him into the car while another person sat in the rear seat.

I'm truly on the floor with this...
What? Wow.