Final Week of Mark Haines Inquest Examines Key Evidence and Witness Testimonies

The decades-long pursuit of justice for the Gomeroi teenager's 1988 death nears a critical juncture as the coronial inquiry explores unresolved questions and police handling of the case.

• The coronial inquest into Mark Haines' 1988 death is in its final week, with findings expected later this year.
• Recent testimony has highlighted the role of a crashed Holden Torana and conflicting accounts from witnesses, including Haines' best friend, Glenn Mannion, who denies involvement but believes 'something sinister' occurred.
• The inquest is revisiting allegations of police mishandling evidence during the original investigation, which concluded Haines likely lay on the tracks deliberately or in a dazed state—a theory rejected by his family.
• Don Craigie, Haines' uncle, has led a nearly four-decade campaign for answers, prompting a renewed investigation in 2018 and the current inquest.
• The coroner will consider how Haines came to be on the tracks, the adequacy of police work, and whether new evidence sheds light on the case.

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