Leslie Ball disappeared in suspicious circumstances in 1993. Police believe his son-in-law was 'likely responsible for the murder', but he died in 2015 before the inquest into Mr Ball's death was finalised. Now the chief suspect's grave has been found empty.
Sydney businesswoman Le-Chelle Lesley had always sought to keep the closest of tabs on her brother-in-law David John Phillips.
"I don't understand,'' said Ms Lesley, who has spent years querying why police did not arrest Mr Phillips. The 71-year-old World War II veteran was first reported missing by Ms Lesley in mid-1993 after he failed to keep an appointment to contact her.At the time Mr Ball was residing in Townsville spending his retirement playing golf and helping look after his grandchildren.
Mr Ball divorced his first wife in the 1970s and married Ett Ison. The new marriage produced one child, Ms Lesley, but it too ended in divorce.By 1993, Mr Ball was living off his veteran's pension and residing with Leanne and her husband, Mr Phillips, in their house in Townsville.At the time Mr Phillips was working as a labourer while Ms Phillips worked at a local marine tourist attraction.
Around April 21, 1993, before he could pay off the Cardwell property, he reportedly parked his Chrysler Valiant, loaded with his possessions and his beloved golf clubs in the boot, at the Townsville railway station. The coroner found strong inferences that a person or persons had deliberately tried to give the impression Mr Ball had travelled to Brisbane by train.
In the interview, Mr Phillips denied any involvement in Mr Ball's disappearance. He appeared cognisant, fully recovered from the stroke, and looked trim and healthy but bespectacled and older with a thatch of white hair, the ABC understands. Ms Jarvis also told the pre-inquest hearing about the new witness who said Mr Phillips had confessed to killing Mr Ball.She said police believed Ms Phillips had knowledge of her father's death but had not provided truthful accounts to police.
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