Australian tourist David Wilson was taken hostage by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia in 1994. Source: Herald Sun
By Norrie Ross
From: Herald Sun
August 29, 2011
AN inquest into the 1994 kidnapping and murder of David Wilson in Cambodia heard today a new witness has come forward.
Deputy state coroner Iain West was told a man claims that he found out new information on Mr Wilson's death while working in Cambodia between February and May last year.
Mr Wilson, along with a British national and a French national were kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge and after negotiations to secure their release failed, they were executed.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Dr Iain Freckelton SC, said the man, Darryl Raymond Hockey, said he resided in a town in southern Cambodia in 2010 when he found out new information on the kidnapping.
"He hired a motorcycle and spoke to a variety of persons who he believed had first hand information about the circumstances in which the three hostages had been killed," Dr Freckelton said.
"He made various criticisms of the sufficiency of the interventions made by the Australian government."
Dr Freckelton said that Mr Hockey's information was "pertinent" but because it came to light many years after the deaths and it was heresay it should simply be placed on the inquest brief.
He said Mr Hockey should not be called as a witness.
The inquest commenced in 1998 and had has been delayed by criminal proceedings in Cambodia and disputes over the release of classified documents by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Dr Freckelton said that substantial documentation had been made available from various sources since the inquest last adjourned.
He said it was unlikely there was any more information that could help the coroner come to a conclusion.
Another witness, Alistair Gaisford, who was employed in the North Asia division of DFAT in 1994 has applied to be made a party to the inquest.
Dr Freckelton said he has previously made allegations that contradict DFAT's official account of how it handled the delicate hostage negotiations to secure Mr Wilson's release.
In past submissions Mr Gaisford claimed then-Foreign Minister Gareth Evans should have threatened to withdraw aid from Cambodia if it did not make the safety of the hostages the highest priority.
Dr Freckelton said Mr Gaisford claimed a preliminary agreement had been reached with the Khmer Rouge to release their captives.
But the deal fell through because in August, 1994 the Cambodian army stepped up it's bombardment of the Khmer Rouge stronghold where Mr Wilson,29, Briton Mark Slater and Frenchman Jean-Michel Braquet were being held.
The trio were believed to have been executed on September 8, 1994.
Mr West said he would consider Mr Gaisford's request to be made a party and he set a preliminary timetable for the resumption of the inquest.
However Dr Freckelton said he believed "no useful purpose" would be served by hearing further evidence from Mr Gaisford, who had been involved in substantial litigation with DFAT in the Federal Court.
In June 1999 Khmer general Nuon Paet was found guilty of the murder of Mr Wilson and the other two hostages.
Two other former Khmer members have also been convicted of the murders.
By Norrie Ross
From: Herald Sun
August 29, 2011
AN inquest into the 1994 kidnapping and murder of David Wilson in Cambodia heard today a new witness has come forward.
Deputy state coroner Iain West was told a man claims that he found out new information on Mr Wilson's death while working in Cambodia between February and May last year.
Mr Wilson, along with a British national and a French national were kidnapped by the Khmer Rouge and after negotiations to secure their release failed, they were executed.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Dr Iain Freckelton SC, said the man, Darryl Raymond Hockey, said he resided in a town in southern Cambodia in 2010 when he found out new information on the kidnapping.
"He hired a motorcycle and spoke to a variety of persons who he believed had first hand information about the circumstances in which the three hostages had been killed," Dr Freckelton said.
"He made various criticisms of the sufficiency of the interventions made by the Australian government."
Dr Freckelton said that Mr Hockey's information was "pertinent" but because it came to light many years after the deaths and it was heresay it should simply be placed on the inquest brief.
He said Mr Hockey should not be called as a witness.
The inquest commenced in 1998 and had has been delayed by criminal proceedings in Cambodia and disputes over the release of classified documents by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Dr Freckelton said that substantial documentation had been made available from various sources since the inquest last adjourned.
He said it was unlikely there was any more information that could help the coroner come to a conclusion.
Another witness, Alistair Gaisford, who was employed in the North Asia division of DFAT in 1994 has applied to be made a party to the inquest.
Dr Freckelton said he has previously made allegations that contradict DFAT's official account of how it handled the delicate hostage negotiations to secure Mr Wilson's release.
In past submissions Mr Gaisford claimed then-Foreign Minister Gareth Evans should have threatened to withdraw aid from Cambodia if it did not make the safety of the hostages the highest priority.
Dr Freckelton said Mr Gaisford claimed a preliminary agreement had been reached with the Khmer Rouge to release their captives.
But the deal fell through because in August, 1994 the Cambodian army stepped up it's bombardment of the Khmer Rouge stronghold where Mr Wilson,29, Briton Mark Slater and Frenchman Jean-Michel Braquet were being held.
The trio were believed to have been executed on September 8, 1994.
Mr West said he would consider Mr Gaisford's request to be made a party and he set a preliminary timetable for the resumption of the inquest.
However Dr Freckelton said he believed "no useful purpose" would be served by hearing further evidence from Mr Gaisford, who had been involved in substantial litigation with DFAT in the Federal Court.
In June 1999 Khmer general Nuon Paet was found guilty of the murder of Mr Wilson and the other two hostages.
Two other former Khmer members have also been convicted of the murders.
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