UPDATE: An urgent inquest into the 1978 Mount Isa triple murder is set to begin, with authorities confirming the collection of extensive evidence. Queensland Coroner David O’Connell revealed that hearings are scheduled to start on October 7, 2023, just days before the 47th anniversary of the victims’ tragic discovery.
The cold case involves the murders of three friends—Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson, and Gordon Twaddle—who were found dead with gunshot wounds in remote bushland at Spear Creek, located 12 kilometers north of Mount Isa. The trio had embarked on a motorcycle trip from Alice Springs on October 2, 1978, planning to travel to Cairns and then south to Melbourne for Christmas.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Amelia Hughes, stated during a pre-inquest conference that a brief of evidence and witness list will be distributed in September. “It’s quite an extensive brief. That process is still underway with investigations ongoing,” Hughes confirmed, marking a significant step forward in a case that has haunted families for decades.
Families of the victims, including Edwards’ sister, participated remotely in the conference, emphasizing the emotional weight of this case. The last confirmed sighting of the three friends was leaving the Moondarra Caravan Park in a brown and white Toyota Landcruiser on the morning of October 5, 1978.
In a renewed effort to solve the mystery, Queensland police announced a $250,000 reward in 2019 for information leading to the capture of those responsible. Despite the arrest of former NSW prison guard Bruce John Preston in April 2019, charges against him were dropped in July 2023, leaving many unanswered questions.
The upcoming inquest is expected to last for nine days at the Brisbane Coroners Court, culminating just before the anniversary of this tragic event. As the investigation continues, families and the community remain hopeful for justice, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds. The implications of this inquest reach far beyond the victims’ families; it serves as a reminder of the unresolved traumatic events that can linger in communities for generations.
