A New South Wales coroner has found that the police investigation into the 1988 death of Indigenous teenager Mark Haines was hindered by racism and deeply flawed, ruling his death as suspicious.
Background of the case
The body of the 17-year-old Gomeroi teenager was discovered on train tracks outside Tamworth on the morning of 16 January 1988. A stolen Holden Torana was found crashed nearby. Police initially ruled that Haines had laid down on the tracks either deliberately or in a dazed state, while an autopsy determined he died from a traumatic head injury.
Family's long-standing suspicions
Haines' family long suspected foul play and believed the police investigation would have been different if he were non-Indigenous. His uncle, Don Craigie, pushed for years for the death to be re-investigated.
Coroner's findings
Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame found serious problems with the initial police investigation. She noted that Haines' death was quickly ruled a suicide, his body was moved soon after discovery, and the car and train were not forensically tested.
"I accept that the initial investigation into Mark's death was deeply flawed, superficial and inadequate from the outset," Grahame told the court. She said the investigation took place against a backdrop of deeply entrenched racism in Tamworth and regional NSW at the time.
"I find it inconceivable that such a superficial investigation would have taken place … had a young white teenager from the right side of town been found on the train tracks in similar circumstances," she added.
Evidence and theories
Grahame ruled out the initial police finding of suicide, noting that a towel was placed under Haines' head. She dismissed a theory about the possible involvement of local boxer Eddie Davis as an "unsubstantiated rumour," but found that Haines' close friend Glenn Mannion likely knew more about what happened that night. Mannion gave evidence at the inquest and has always denied knowing more.
"I am satisfied that Mark's death is suspicious in that some of the people involved did not or have not come forward," Grahame said.
Impact on the family
Before the findings, Haines' sister, Lorna Haines, spoke of her enduring love for her brother. She said their parents died without knowing what happened to Mark, and their father continued to grapple with his unexplained death in his final years. "[I] would sometimes hear him call out Mark's name in his sleep," she said.
Don Craigie said his nephew had a "charming drawl," was sporty, and well loved by his large family. "We knew our Mark and we did not believe that Mark would go out on the tracks alone," he said. "We believe Mark had met with foul play and someone out there knows what happened to him."
Craigie added, "Mark got the death sentence, the family got a life sentence. We miss him deeply."
Next steps
Grahame recommended that Haines' death be referred back to NSW police's unsolved homicide unit for further investigation, including DNA analysis of a cigarette lighter found near the tracks. A $1 million reward for information remains in place.
The NSW Aboriginal Legal Service credited Craigie with the finding. "Our client, Uncle Don Craigie, has always believed that racism compromised the police investigation of his nephew's death," managing coronial advocate James Pender said. "Thanks to his tireless advocacy, almost 40 years later, a coroner has confirmed this to be true."
