Josh Warneke: Broome murder victim’s mum Ingrid Bishop left immensely disappointed inquest is being delayed

The mother of murdered Broome man Josh Warneke says she’s “immensely disappointed” a coronial inquest into her son’s death still hasn’t been locked in — almost two years after the file was given to the Coroner’s office. Mr Warneke’s body was found on the outskirts of Broome on February 26, 2010, after he spent a night out with friends and decided to walk home to the Roebuck Estate. Witnesses have previously told police they saw him at about 2.45am walking near the intersection of Old Broome Road and Short Street. A taxi driver found his body on the side of the road less than 10 minutes later. He had suffered a serious head injury. The case has already led to one man — Gene Gibson — being wrongfully convicted over the killing. A scathing Corruption and Crime Commission investigation found the original police inquiry was botched by officers who failed to follow proper procedures. Almost two years ago to the day WA Police confirmed it had sent a report into Mr Warneke’s death to the State Coroner, meaning a Coroner’s inquest could potentially be the next step in unravelling the mystery of what happened the night Mr Warneke was killed. But in a statement issued this week the Coroner’s office said while it was still investigating Mr Warneke’s death, it could not say whether an inquest would be announced soon. “The Court continues to investigate this complex matter and is not able to provide any further information,” a spokeswoman for the Coroner said. The latest statement from the Coroners’ office has prompted Mr Warneke’s mother Ingrid Bishop to express her frustration. “I am immensely disappointed and distressed by the delay,” she told The West this week. Ms Bishop — who claims the original police inquiry was “unlawful” — had hoped a Coroner’s inquest into her son’s death would be swift. In an interview with The West two years ago she said she was keen to have the Coroner “fast-track” her son’s case as a matter of urgency. “A public inquiry that examines every facet of the case is needed here,” she said at the time. “I’d like to see it fast-tracked. “We, the family are just wanting answers to questions that have gone unanswered for a decade. We want the truth.” Mr Gibson was originally charged with Mr Warneke’s murder in 2012 but the charge was later downgraded to manslaughter when a video-recorded confession with police was deemed inadmissible because investigators had failed to follow proper protocols under the Criminal Investigation Act. One officer who worked on case later told the CCC that the interview process became a “mess” and a “a dog’s breakfast.” Mr Gibson pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed in 2014 for 7½ years. But he was released from prison in 2017 after WA’s Court of Appeal ruled unanimously Mr Gibson’s conviction was unsafe. He was later given an ex-gratia payment of $1.3 million. A fresh re-investigation into Mr Warneke’s killing was launched by detectives in 2017. A $250,000 reward to help catch his killer was announced, but no new charges have ever been forthcoming.