A detective has called for law reform after an accused killer ended his life on the eve of his verdict being delivered, robbing his victim's family of closure.
au.news.yahoo.com
Alleged killer's verdict could remain sealed forever
Rachel Jackson
Wed 11 June 2025 at 3:19 pm AEST
The only person who can say definitively whether Leisl Smith was murdered has been sworn to secrecy by Australian law.
Legal proceedings must be terminated if the accused person dies, according to laws of abatement.
The legislation means Ms Smith's family still do not know if she was murdered, almost 13 years after she went missing.
The lead detective in her case on Wednesday used the woman's inquest to call for law reform.
Her family deserved to know Justice Elizabeth Fullerton's sealed verdict, Detective Sergeant Michael Jones told the court.
"I believe in our investigation, I know in my heart what the result was going to be in trial," he told the NSW Coroner's Court.
"That decision would have helped (Ms Smith's family) to reconcile and move forward."
"It's something that I think about all the time," he said, before addressing Ms Smith's mother Sandi Harvey in the courtroom.
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you the ultimate answers that you really wanted ... you deserve them.
"I've done my best and I'm sorry."
Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame praised the quality of his investigation and said hope remained something could be found.
"It is very clear to me that you went above and beyond," she said.
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