Updated August 30, 2011
After an adjournment of more than 10 years the coronial inquest into the kidnapping and murder of the Melbourne backpacker David Wilson in Cambodia in 1994 has resumed in Melbourne.
But the family of David Wilson say they no longer want any involvement with the inquest.
The proceedings were delayed to allow the trials against Mr Wilson's killer to conclude in Cambodia.
The renewed hearing detailed information from a new witness who has added his voice to criticisms that the Australian Government didn't do enough to try and save David Wilson.
Presenter: Rachel Carbonell
Speaker: Peter Wilson, father of David Wilson
CARBONELL: David Wilson was 29 years old when he was kidnapped and murdered by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1994 along with two other hostages from France and England.
The inquest into his death was adjourned so the trials of three men accused of his death could be completed.
The inquest resumed in Melbourne under a different coroner.
David Wilson's father Peter says he no longer wants to take part in the inquest.
WILSON: I want some relief from the, you know I want relief. It's been pretty hard to carry enough. I felt I had to. Now I've got to the stage where frankly I'm not as keen as I was before. Yes, it's just, it's just that I'm pretty tired I think of it. I feel I can't go any further.
CARBONELL: Peter Wilson has long been critical of the Australian government for not doing enough to save his son.
WILSON: The Australian government didn't put enough pressure on the Cambodian government. But that is the main thing. But there's, around that there's a lot of little details of what happened here and there. And you know it's not quite as simple as I've put it. But that is the main thing that could have happened.
CARBONELL: He also remains upset that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or DFAT wouldn't help him pay a private ransom to his son's captors to secure his son's release.
After being contacted about the resumption of the inquest Peter Wilson says he felt dispirited at the direction it was taking.
He says he feels it was focused more on his dispute with DFAT and potential muck raking than finding out the truth about what happened to his son.
WILSON: I just could saw a pattern of what I've been through for years and hadn't seemed to have got anywhere and I felt very upset about it. And I just didn't think I had the energy because it does take energy out of you mentally and physically too to a certain extent to take on what we were trying to do.
CARBONELL: Peter Wilson says he thinks Australian authorities know what happened and what went wrong.
WILSON: I'm sure they know what the real thing that caused the murders. If they don't they shouldn't be where they are. But I'm sure they do. But it's just, they just did not talk about it because it's, they're very worried about international - I suppose that's their job isn't it - international relationship with other countries.
CARBONELL: Although three men in Cambodia have been found guilty of David Wilson's murder since the inquest was adjourned Peter Wilson feels ultimately the family has been disadvantaged by the delay.
WILSON: It gets harder when you're chasing up people who were there and you know what was actually the case. And I've asked some journalists you know what date were you there when you saw the guns going off and how many were there and all the information that years ago most probably they'd be able to give me, you know, but they can't now you know.
So the longer it goes before anything is done, like from my point of view, for us, it gets harder to trace and for anything to come up. If we were able to have this, what we're having now, 10 years ago that wouldn't be a bother. We'd be right onto it you know.
CARBONELL: Counsel assisting the coroner told the court today that a new witness had come forward since the issue was last heard.
Darryl Hockey submitted a statement to the court saying he became aware of information relevant to the inquest while he was living in Cambodia last year.
The statement made various criticisms of the sufficiency of the interventions made by the Australian Government.
The court also heard that Federal Government documents which have since been provided to the coroner's court will shed some light on efforts made by Australia to have David Wilson freed.
The inquest has previously been told that David Wilson was murdered after negotiations between Cambodian government authorities and the Khmer Rouge broke down amid a wider military conflict in Cambodia.
DFAT says it would be inappropriate to make comment while the coronial inquest is continuing.
The inquest has been adjourned again but counsel assisting the coroner has said it is important to have the inquest resolved in a timely fashion.
After an adjournment of more than 10 years the coronial inquest into the kidnapping and murder of the Melbourne backpacker David Wilson in Cambodia in 1994 has resumed in Melbourne.
But the family of David Wilson say they no longer want any involvement with the inquest.
The proceedings were delayed to allow the trials against Mr Wilson's killer to conclude in Cambodia.
The renewed hearing detailed information from a new witness who has added his voice to criticisms that the Australian Government didn't do enough to try and save David Wilson.
Presenter: Rachel Carbonell
Speaker: Peter Wilson, father of David Wilson
- Listen:
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CARBONELL: David Wilson was 29 years old when he was kidnapped and murdered by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1994 along with two other hostages from France and England.
The inquest into his death was adjourned so the trials of three men accused of his death could be completed.
The inquest resumed in Melbourne under a different coroner.
David Wilson's father Peter says he no longer wants to take part in the inquest.
WILSON: I want some relief from the, you know I want relief. It's been pretty hard to carry enough. I felt I had to. Now I've got to the stage where frankly I'm not as keen as I was before. Yes, it's just, it's just that I'm pretty tired I think of it. I feel I can't go any further.
CARBONELL: Peter Wilson has long been critical of the Australian government for not doing enough to save his son.
WILSON: The Australian government didn't put enough pressure on the Cambodian government. But that is the main thing. But there's, around that there's a lot of little details of what happened here and there. And you know it's not quite as simple as I've put it. But that is the main thing that could have happened.
CARBONELL: He also remains upset that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or DFAT wouldn't help him pay a private ransom to his son's captors to secure his son's release.
After being contacted about the resumption of the inquest Peter Wilson says he felt dispirited at the direction it was taking.
He says he feels it was focused more on his dispute with DFAT and potential muck raking than finding out the truth about what happened to his son.
WILSON: I just could saw a pattern of what I've been through for years and hadn't seemed to have got anywhere and I felt very upset about it. And I just didn't think I had the energy because it does take energy out of you mentally and physically too to a certain extent to take on what we were trying to do.
CARBONELL: Peter Wilson says he thinks Australian authorities know what happened and what went wrong.
WILSON: I'm sure they know what the real thing that caused the murders. If they don't they shouldn't be where they are. But I'm sure they do. But it's just, they just did not talk about it because it's, they're very worried about international - I suppose that's their job isn't it - international relationship with other countries.
CARBONELL: Although three men in Cambodia have been found guilty of David Wilson's murder since the inquest was adjourned Peter Wilson feels ultimately the family has been disadvantaged by the delay.
WILSON: It gets harder when you're chasing up people who were there and you know what was actually the case. And I've asked some journalists you know what date were you there when you saw the guns going off and how many were there and all the information that years ago most probably they'd be able to give me, you know, but they can't now you know.
So the longer it goes before anything is done, like from my point of view, for us, it gets harder to trace and for anything to come up. If we were able to have this, what we're having now, 10 years ago that wouldn't be a bother. We'd be right onto it you know.
CARBONELL: Counsel assisting the coroner told the court today that a new witness had come forward since the issue was last heard.
Darryl Hockey submitted a statement to the court saying he became aware of information relevant to the inquest while he was living in Cambodia last year.
The statement made various criticisms of the sufficiency of the interventions made by the Australian Government.
The court also heard that Federal Government documents which have since been provided to the coroner's court will shed some light on efforts made by Australia to have David Wilson freed.
The inquest has previously been told that David Wilson was murdered after negotiations between Cambodian government authorities and the Khmer Rouge broke down amid a wider military conflict in Cambodia.
DFAT says it would be inappropriate to make comment while the coronial inquest is continuing.
The inquest has been adjourned again but counsel assisting the coroner has said it is important to have the inquest resolved in a timely fashion.
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