A bikie associate has told a coronial inquest into the suspected death of a woman in WA 25 years ago that he called key witness Andrew Edhouse this week to update him about the court proceedings, despite police being unable to contact Mr Edhouse.
Mr Edhouse, a Club Deroes bikie gang member, is considered central to the inquest into the death of Lisa Govan, who was last seen walking into the Club Deroes headquarters in Kalgoorlie with him and gang associate Trefor Atkinson on the morning of October 8, 1999.
Another witness testified on Monday he saw Mr Edhouse stomp on Ms Govan’s head inside the clubhouse — but police have been unable to track Mr Edhouse down in order to call him as a witness. He is believed to be overseas.
Lisa Govan was last seen at the Club Deroes Kalgoorlie clubhouse in October, 1999. (Supplied)
Ms Govan has not been seen since and her body has never been found.
Gang associate Michael Heaton told the court today he rang Mr Edhouse on Wednesday night to talk about the inquest.
Michael Heaton says he spoke to Andrew Edhouse on Wednesday night, about “what was in the papers this week”. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
“I just told him [Mr Edhouse] I have to come to court today … told him what was in the papers this week,” Mr Heaton said.
Asked if Mr Edhouse is overseas because he knew the inquest was on this week, he said “he hasn’t been served” and that “he’s free to go anywhere”.
Mr Heaton said he had spoken with two other witnesses about the inquest — Mr Atkinson and Kevin Smith, both of whom were also seen outside the clubhouse on the morning Ms Govan vanished.
WA Police counsel Gemma Mullins quizzed him about this.
Gemma Mullins is representing WA Police at the inquest into the disappearance of Lisa Govan. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
“So you’ve spoken with Andrew Edhouse, Kevin Smith, Trefor Atkinson in proximity to this inquest?” she said.
“If you know nothing about it, why have you contacted the three people in connection with Lisa’s disappearance?”
Mr Heaton did not answer.
Mr Heaton also denied removing evidence from the clubhouse with Mr Atkinson on the morning of Ms Govan’s disappearance.
“I don’t know anything about that,” he said.
Michael Heaton gave evidence on day four of the inquest into the disappearance of Lisa Govan. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
Code of silence continues
It followed a lack of evidence yesterday from Mr Atkinson, who frequently answered questions with “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember”.
Coroner Michael Jenkin has mentioned several times this week a bikie ‘code of silence’, which prevents members or associates from discussing club matters, is preventing key evidence from being aired.
“If you’re a patched member or an associate of the Club Deroes, the rule is you don’t talk to police, you don’t talk to anyone?” Coroner Jenkin put to Mr Atkinson yesterday.
Trefor Atkinson is a former Club Deroes associate who gave evidence at the inquest on Wednesday. (ABC News: Grace Burmas)
The court is expected to hear from the last witness, Raymond Fisher, on Friday.
Mr Fisher was described in court as an “old friend” of former Club Deroes member John Trevor Hope — a man suspected of lending his LandCruiser ute to the clubhouse on October 8, 1999 to either dispose of a piece of carpet removed from the floor, or of Ms Govan’s body.
At the time, Mr Fisher provided a statement saying he went to Mr Hope’s house to do some work in the morning of October 8 when Mr Hope got a call saying he needed to take his ute to the clubhouse because something serious had happened.
Mr Hope said in court on Tuesday he did not recall that conversation but it’s expected Mr Fisher will be asked about this tomorrow.
Coroner Jenkin will then have the job of combing through the week’s evidence and is expected to hand down a finding on Monday.
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