This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-46733073
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Australian police Google Maps blunder 'missed location of body' | Australian police Google Maps blunder 'missed location of body' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A missing Australian's body could have been found 18 months earlier if searchers had not relied on incorrect Google Maps data, a coroner has said. | |
Darrell Simon, 46, was last seen in November 2014 at his partner's house about 80km (50 miles) west of Brisbane. | Darrell Simon, 46, was last seen in November 2014 at his partner's house about 80km (50 miles) west of Brisbane. |
Search crews scoured Mr Simon's nearby rural property at the time, but his remains were not found there until May 2016. His death was ruled a suicide. | Search crews scoured Mr Simon's nearby rural property at the time, but his remains were not found there until May 2016. His death was ruled a suicide. |
A printed map used by police showed incorrect boundaries on the property. | |
It meant that search volunteers covered only about half of Mr Simon's property in Laidley Creek West, said Queensland deputy state coroner John Lock. | It meant that search volunteers covered only about half of Mr Simon's property in Laidley Creek West, said Queensland deputy state coroner John Lock. |
"The fact the ground search was conducted over only half the property was very regretful and should not have happened," he said in his report completed last month. | "The fact the ground search was conducted over only half the property was very regretful and should not have happened," he said in his report completed last month. |
The delay in finding Mr Simon's body had "compounded the grief felt by his family and friends, particularly his father", Mr Lock wrote. | The delay in finding Mr Simon's body had "compounded the grief felt by his family and friends, particularly his father", Mr Lock wrote. |
It had also fuelled speculation that Mr Simon had been the victim of foul play, potentially involving a disagreement over money. | It had also fuelled speculation that Mr Simon had been the victim of foul play, potentially involving a disagreement over money. |
"One wonders if Darrell's body was found during the first police search... whether such unhelpful and at times clearly defamatory and untruthful speculation would have even surfaced," the report said. | "One wonders if Darrell's body was found during the first police search... whether such unhelpful and at times clearly defamatory and untruthful speculation would have even surfaced," the report said. |
Mr Lock noted, however, that thick vegetation may still have prevented Mr Simon's body from being found if a search had taken place. | Mr Lock noted, however, that thick vegetation may still have prevented Mr Simon's body from being found if a search had taken place. |
His remains were ultimately discovered by the property's subsequent owners, following a period of drought and the clearing of vegetation. | His remains were ultimately discovered by the property's subsequent owners, following a period of drought and the clearing of vegetation. |
The coroner's report noted that Google Maps was "less helpful" in determining the property's boundaries than other tools available to police. | The coroner's report noted that Google Maps was "less helpful" in determining the property's boundaries than other tools available to police. |
Mr Lock recommended that police be ordered to conduct future searches by using high-quality GPS and mapping data, and improve their communications with search volunteers. | Mr Lock recommended that police be ordered to conduct future searches by using high-quality GPS and mapping data, and improve their communications with search volunteers. |
Queensland police had already taken steps to address both recommendations, the coroner was told. | Queensland police had already taken steps to address both recommendations, the coroner was told. |