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What happened to Gore toddler Lachlan Jones?

Author
Ben Tomsett,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Apr 2024, 7:31am

What happened to Gore toddler Lachlan Jones?

Author
Ben Tomsett,
Publish Date
Mon, 29 Apr 2024, 7:31am

The inquest into听the death of a toddler who was found dead in an oxidation pond in Gore听more than five years ago is set to begin today.

Lachlan Jones was 3 when he was found dead late on the evening of January 29, 2019, face up in a council oxidation pond near his home.

A听police investigation determined that Lachlan drowned,听with no evidence of criminal activity.

However, Lachlan鈥檚 father, Paul Jones,听believes that his child was murdered.

Lachlan鈥檚 father, Paul Jones, believes that his child was murdered. Image / 九一星空无限

Lachlan鈥檚 father, Paul Jones, believes that his child was murdered. Image / 九一星空无限

A 15-day fixture for the inquest of Lachlan鈥檚 death, held by Auckland-based Coroner Alexander Ho, will begin at the Invercargill courthouse this morning.

Throughout the inquest, family and witnesses will be giving evidence about the events of the afternoon and night of Lachlan鈥檚 death.

Each witness鈥 memory will be examined by counsel surrounding the events of that day and evening.

Lachlan Jones' body was found in an oxidation pond in Gore in January 2019.

Lachlan Jones' body was found in an oxidation pond in Gore in January 2019.

Lachlan鈥檚 body was found late on the evening of January 29, 2019 face up in a council oxidation pond approximately 1km from his home.

He had been in the care of his mother, who had reported him missing earlier that evening.

Police investigated the death and determined that there was no evidence of neglect or criminal liability, with a subsequent police reinvestigation reaching the same conclusion.

Lachlan鈥檚 father, Paul has disputed the findings of the police investigations.

He has obtained two expert reports to support his beliefs.

Paul Jones doesn't believe his son walked to the ponds on his own. Photo / George Heard

Paul Jones doesn't believe his son walked to the ponds on his own. Photo / George Heard

Late last year, police admitted to 鈥渕issing some steps鈥 in probing the death, with Southern Police District Commander Paul Basham requesting a national investigations overview of police鈥檚 handling of the original investigation.

Coroner Ho will consider the criticisms that have been made of the police investigation during the inquiry.

鈥淣o way is the fight for justice for my son over,鈥澨Paul Jones told the听Herald听in December 2022 when Gore District Council admitted a health and safety charge听relating to the death and inadequate fencing around the ponds.

鈥淣inety-nine per cent of this town don鈥檛 think he walked out there.鈥

This story was originally published on the Herald,

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