Daniel's Remains Key to Court Case

DANIEL JAMES MORCOMBE

This news was publish in 4th July, 2012. It was publish by Sunshine Coast Daily.

PROSECUTORS fear any move to release the bones of Daniel Morcombe back to his parents prematurely could see their entire case fall over.

Government and police sources say while they understand the frustration of Bruce and Denise Morcombe in not being able to properly farewell their son, their prime consideration must be the successful prosecution of the person accused of Daniel's abduction and murder.

The Daily has been told that all testing on the prosecution side of Daniel's remains has been completed after items were sent to the US, Auckland and interstate.

However those test results are subject to challenge during the court process.

Given the age of the remains, more detailed testing has had to be carried out, taking months.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe told reporters at a packed press conference that no one wanted any error or challenge to allow the person responsible for Daniel's death to walk free.

However they said they believed at least three tests had been carried out and could not see why Daniel's remains had to be kept by the state indefinitely.

They said if the defence team wanted to have its own tests carried out, it should do so now, rather than during or after the trial which could be two to four years away.

Denise Morcombe said her parents were in their 80s and ailing and wanted to be able to farewell Daniel properly.

"It is just a waiting game ... we can't plan anything. We can't do anything,'' she said.

DANIEL'S PARENTS, BRUCE AND DENISE MORCOMBE.

Some had even mistakenly assumed that Daniel's funeral had been held, she said.

Mr Morcombe said it was not only the family that wanted to say goodbye but others in the community.

"Clearly a lot of people have taken Daniel into their hearts and they, like us, want to say goodbye to the boy,'' Mr Morcombe said.

"I think that's only right.

"There should be a proper send-off for Daniel and here we are 11 months down the track and we don't know where he is.

"Truly there is no difference to the middle of last year or five years ago. We did not know where Daniel was and we don't know now. It's just not fair.''

Late yesterday, the government released a statement saying: "Our hearts go out to the Morcombe family''.

But it went on to say: "In all criminal cases, the law requires that the defence is given the opportunity to contest matters pertaining to evidence. When that process has been completed, evidence can be released.

"This will be done as quickly as legal requirements allow.''

Prosecutors are hoping that the defence team will give an undertaking in court that they will not challenge the test results. If that happens, Daniel's remains could be released before the trial.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said prosecutors would be given whatever resources they needed to ensure there were no delays.

"The government will not let the prosecution fall down on resource issues,'' he said.

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