A sad case from 13 years ago has finally been solved. Leisl Smith, a 23-year-old woman who disappeared, was killed by her partner, according to a recent ruling.
A coroner, Harriet Grahame, said that James Scott Church, who was 42, killed Leisl back on August 19, 2012. The location was a remote area in New South Wales, Australia.
Even though many searches were done, Leisl’s body hasn’t been found. The coroner believes her remains are likely in or near Goulburn River National Park.
James Scott Church was charged with Leisl’s murder. However, he took his own life the day before the court was going to announce the verdict in July 2022. Because of this, the judge kept the decision a secret, and the court’s findings were never made public.
Investigators discovered that James was angry because he felt he was losing control over Leisl. He also thought she might be pregnant with his child. Also, he was worried that Leisl would ruin his relationship with his girlfriend if their “ongoing sexual relationship” was revealed.
It was also reported that Leisl had said James was physically abusive and had threatened to kill her. He also had a history of being abusive to other partners.
The coroner said that James picked up Leisl from the train station before killing her. Leisl was last seen getting into a car with James on August 19, 2012. The coroner said it was clear that he had the chance to hurt Leisl since they were alone in the car.
Even though the coroner is convinced Leisl is dead, her father believes she might still be alive. The coroner acknowledged this but stands by the finding that Leisl is deceased.
The coroner expressed regret that not everyone would accept her findings. She also said that Leisl was deeply loved and missed by her family. She described her as someone who was adventurous, free-spirited, and always looking for joy in life.
The coroner also suggested that the court should review the law about revealing verdicts even after a suspect has died. She believes this is important because of the pain it causes the families involved.
Leisl’s mother, Sandi Harvey, has been campaigning for this law change. She said it was another “slap in the face” to not get an answer. She is happy that the coroner has recommended considering law reform to allow verdicts to be heard in these situations.
