QLD:Morcombe POI insists evidence is truth

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2010
QLD:Morcombe POI insists evidence is truth

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Dec 17 AAP - A man who claims he abducted Daniel Morcombe has admitted his
various versions of events have been full of inconsistencies and lies.

Lawyers spent Friday morning picking apart the testimony of person of interest (POI)
P33, who has told an inquest that he and another male kidnapped the 13-year-old from a
Sunshine Coast bus stop in December 2003.

P33 gave a detailed account in the Brisbane Coroners Court on Thursday about how he
and his older male lover - a man known as P32 - drove Daniel to Brisbane and secreted
him in a cabin on an army reserve.

He said P32 subjected the teenager to abuse before killing him.

P33 said they then dumped Daniel's body in the Brisbane River.

Police have told the inquest that P33 is little more than an attention-seeker who cannot
be linked to the case.

P33 admitted on Friday that since 2004 he had "drip-fed" investigators with various
false accounts, saying he had done so because of his mistrust for police.

"I've told some lies, yes," he said.

Craig Chowdhury, counsel assisting coroner Michael Barnes, said: "There are significant
discrepancies and I want you to explain to me how you are making these inconsistencies?"

"I don't trust police ... that's my best explanation," P33 replied.

The court heard P33 initially only implicated P32 in the abduction and murder, and
only wove himself into the story last year.

He denied allegations he had concocted the story as a way of seeking revenge against
P32, who had reported him to police for abusing his daughter and possessing child porn.

P33 said he understood he could be charged with perjury if his latest testimony is
found to be untruthful, but remained insistent the version of events he has given in court
this week is correct.

His barrister, Sam Di Carlo, asked him: "You understand that this is your best opportunity
to give your evidence as truthfully as possible, and you also understand the effect on
Mr and Mrs Morcombe if you're lying?"

"Yes I do," P33 replied.

"Are you still saying you've been telling the truth over the last two days?"

"Yes I have."

P33 said he was eager to go with detectives to the Brisbane River to more accurately
show them where Daniel was dumped.

"I'm more than happy to take someone out and show them the exact location," he said.

"I'm absolutely 100 per cent confident that in one hour you will have that body."

Police have previously given evidence that thorough searches of that area of the river
have revealed nothing.

AAP cf/crh/it/was

KEYWORD: MORCOMBE UPDATE

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