Coroners Act 1996 (Section 26(1)) RECORD OF INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH I, Barry Paul King, Deputy State Coroner, having investigated the death of Shirley June Finn with an inquest held at Perth Coroner’s Court on 29 August 2017; 11, 13, 14 and 18 to 20 September 2017; 20 to 24 and 27 to 30 November 2017; 11 to 14 and 20 December 2017; 23 to 27 July 2018; and 1, 3 and 4 April 2019, find that the identity of the deceased person was Shirley June Finn and that death occurred on or about 22 June 1975 at Melville Parade in South Perth from multiple gunshot wounds to the head in the following circumstances: Counsel Appearing: Ms K E Ellson (29 August 2017) and Mr J T Bishop assisted the Coroner Mr T F Percy QC, Mr S Nigam, Mr R McCabe, Mr M Crowley and Mr R Cywicki (instructed by Nigams Legal) appeared for Ms B Shewring Mr D E Leigh and Mr J F Bennett (State Solicitor’s Office) appeared for the Commissioner of Police Mr Mark Trowell QC appeared for Ms D Cannon Mr L Durand appeared for Ms C M Langan TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 4 References ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Confidentiality ............................................................................................................................. 10 SHIRLEY JUNE FINN ............................................................................................................... 11 EVENTS LEADING UP TO ms finn’s DEATH ........................................................................ 15 Friday 20 June 1975 .................................................................................................................... 15 Saturday 21 June 1975 ................................................................................................................ 17 Sunday 22 June 1975................................................................................................................... 18 THE POLICE CANTEEN .......................................................................................................... 22 Sightings of Ms Finn’s car .......................................................................................................... 26 Later obtained evidence – Peter Burns .............................................................................. 28 Later-obtained evidence – Ray Gardner............................................................................ 30 INVESTIGATION INTO MS FINN’S DEATH ........................................................................ 33 Police discover Ms Finn’s body .................................................................................................. 33 Standard of the original investigation ......................................................................................... 34 Original evidence and reports to the City Coroner ...................................................................... 35 Original investigation records - Serials ....................................................................................... 41 Serial 393 .................................................................................................................................... 42 Location of Ms Finn’s car ........................................................................................................... 47 Evidence lost – John and Patricia Mearns ......................................................................... 50 Evidence lost – Steve Couacaud ....................................................................................... 52 Evidence lost – Stephen Green ......................................................................................... 55 Shots heard .................................................................................................................................. 58 Source of the firearm ................................................................................................................... 60 Ballistics evidence ....................................................................................................................... 62 Forensic evidence ........................................................................................................................ 66 Conclusions from forensic evidence ........................................................................................... 70 HOW DEATH OCCURRED AND THE CAUSE OF DEATH ................................................. 71 POTENTIAL MOTIVES ............................................................................................................ 71 KEEPING HER QUIET .............................................................................................................. 72 The tax debt ....................................................................................................................... 72 Payments to police ............................................................................................................ 76 Missing albums ................................................................................................................. 77 Children to prostitutes ....................................................................................................... 79 Removing her as competition ...................................................................................................... 79 Conclusion regarding motive ...................................................................................................... 82 CORRUPTION ........................................................................................................................... 83 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 83 WAPF STRUCTURE ................................................................................................................. 85 Prostitution and corruption .......................................................................................................... 86 Gregory Hall ..................................................................................................................... 88 George Webber ................................................................................................................. 89 Leigh Beswick ................................................................................................................... 90 Robert Taylor .................................................................................................................... 91 Donna Pelham ................................................................................................................... 91 Witness L .......................................................................................................................... 92 Linda Watson .................................................................................................................... 93 Janet Lawrence .................................................................................................................. 94 Rose Black ........................................................................................................................ 95 Bruce Scott ........................................................................................................................ 95 Inquest into the death of Shirley June Finn (1101/2015) page 2. Purple Circle ................................................................................................................................ 97 Gary Timms ...................................................................................................................... 97 Robin Thoy ....................................................................................................................... 98 Laurence Tyler .................................................................................................................. 99 Christopher Ferris ........................................................................................................... 100 Michael Regan ................................................................................................................ 100 Janet Lawrence ................................................................................................................ 102 Witness L ........................................................................................................................ 103 INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION .......................................... 104 Internal investigation into Mr Johnson............................................................................ 104 The Norris Royal Commission ........................................................................................ 106 The Dixon Inquiry ........................................................................................................... 107 Kennedy Royal Commission ........................................................................................... 112 CONCLUSIONS ABOUT CORRUPTION AND MOTIVE.................................................... 114 SUSPECTS IN MS FINN’S MURDER .................................................................................... 115 Bernard Johnson .......................................................................................................................