Transcript of Mr Chapman's walkthrough. I told JLZ I would do this, if I had some time.
Transcribed from the video about 1/3 of the way down in this link (with a few umms and yesses omitted).
Missing toddler inquest adjourned until 2020
LB: Earlier today during your electronically recorded witness statement, you told us that you stood on that top step with your hand on the rail, you saw something, you saw a car …
RC: The front of the car was just – you can see all the gravel that’s on the edge of the tar – the front of the car was about mid where that loose gravel is there, and what made me look up is that the gravel is so close to the edge of the drain, and the gravel was .. you can see how it runs down.
LB: What we might do, before we walk down there. Could you tell us which car it was you saw at this point?
RC: It was umm .. at the time I didn’t know what make it was but I believe it to be now a Toyota Landcruiser, an old model, a box type vehicle of a beige colour. Can you hear, hear me?
LB: Alright then. You and I might just take a walk down here so you can show me exactly where that vehicle was when you first saw it.
Video person: For recording purpose, I am now standing in the exact spot Mr Chapman was standing
RC: It was about here
(about 10 feet from his walkway over the drain) very close to the edge
LB: For the purpose of the video recording, the position where Ron was standing on Laurel Street is where the front of the vehicle he’s just described was when he first saw it.
Okay Ron, I’ll get you to .. earlier today, in your recorded witness statement, you talked about a 2nd vehicle. Now you told us when you saw this 2nd vehicle, you made your way part way down this staircase. Can you show me where you were standing when you saw the 2nd vehicle?
RC: Between the 2nd and 3rd step, probably one foot on each step.
LB: Okay. So that’s the position you were when you saw a 2nd vehicle come around the corner. Is that right?
RC: Yes
LB: How long was it between the 1st vehicle and the 2nd vehicle?
RC: It would only have been a couple of seconds I should imagine.
LB: Is it a case the amount of time it took to get from the top step to where you’re standing now is how long it took between the 1st vehicle and the 2nd vehicle?
RC: Yes, the other car, you see standing here I can only just see out of the corner of my eye the other car sort of by the bin
(just on the immediate other side of the driveway) and that’s when the other car cut the corner and came around
LB: Okay, so when you refer to the bin just a moment ago, that’s where the 1st vehicle was?
RC: Yes, otherwise I would have had to turn my head to see any further. That’s about where I could see out of the corner of my eye.
LB: So that vehicle was just there at that bin when you saw another vehicle come around the corner.
RC: That’s basically about 50-60 yards … umm, it’s probably only 40 yards.
LB: Okay that’s fine. Watching out for traffic, we’ll cross the road now and you can show the video where you saw the other car
Video person: For the purpose of the recording, I am now standing at the spot where Mr Chapman has indicated that he was standing
(In about a 1 min period, 5 cars have now driven past while walking to and from the other side of the road)
LB: Okay for the purpose of the video recording, that point where Ron was standing on the corner of Laurel Street and Batar Creek Road is where he first saw the 2nd vehicle coming around the corner. He’s indicated that he saw the driver’s side wheels of the vehicle almost on the grass as it took the corner on the wrong side of the road.
Ron, if I can just ask you to take up your position here when you saw that 2nd vehicle.
Can you now indicate for me, using your hands, the last point where you saw this 2nd vehicle?
RC: Around the same position as I last saw the 1st car. Around near the garbage bin. Because by the time I sort of get down
(the steps) I virtually have my back to the car and walk across and lift up the lid
(of the letterbox).
LB: Ron, when you saw that 2nd car, did you pause on the steps at any time, or did you keep walking down?
RC: I can’t remember stopping, I think I would have kept walking. Because I just thought it was a hoon .. driving or showing off, whatever .. he didn’t have anyone in the vehicle, and I didn’t see anything else, because of the tinted windows, at quarter to 11 the sun’s up at a nice .. and was shining down, that’s how I knew it was a male driver. Because I could see it was a man in the vehicle, I didn’t get a clear enough look ....