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News
Wednesday April 4, 2012
Inquest into 1998 disappearance finalised Lisa Ashurst The inquest into the disappearance of Bombala resident, Peter (Moses) Messariti has been finalised with Deputy State Coroner, Sharon Freund, handing down her findings that Mr Messariti disappeared under suspicious circumstances and probably died sometime after the date he went missing. Mr Messariti, 45 at the time, had bought the property on Palarang Road Bombala and then began selling shares in the property to others who shared his interest in establishing an alternative lifestyle community. There were various types of dwellings established on the block. The last confirmed sighting of him was when he was seen leaving the property on November 15, 1998, according to information given to police when he was reported missing
some days later. Police were informed that he left the property in his vehicle on the afternoon of that date. The vehicle was later sighted by an associate in Bukalong Siding Road with his personal property still inside and the vehicle appeared to be abandoned. According to Detective Steve Hopkin of Cooma Police, the vehicle was in an isolated spot and when it was still there 10 days later, Mr Messariti was reported as missing. Police began making several inquiries into his possible whereabouts but were unable to locate him. In 2005, having been unable to trace him, Cooma detectives began to take a closer look into what may have happened and Strikeforce Clayland was established to investigate his disappearance. During their investigations, detectives were able to establish that there had been no further confirmed sightings of Mr Messariti, that he had not been in contact with any of his friends or
family members and that there had been no movement with any of his bank accounts. Police have been of the opinion that Mr Messariti had met with foul play ever since. Evidence was called from 13 witnesses and in handing down her findings, Deputy Sate Coroner, Sharon Freund, determined that Mr Messariti disappeared under suspicious circumstances and probably died sometime after November 15, 1998 but the cause and manner of his disappearance and probable death are undetermined. Ms Freund also commented that there are a number of possible motives for his death and also stated that she strongly suspected that there was quite a lot that was not being said. Detective Hopkin stated that the police are still very keen to hear from anyone who may have information on Mr Messariti’s disappearance and there is currently a $50,000 reward for information which leads police to locating him.
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At the annual combined meeting of the Cooma and Tuggeranong Rotary Clubs, former Cooma club member Ron Kelly was presented with a sapphire pin for his Paul Harris Fellow award. The award is given for outstanding service to Rotary. He is pictured with Katrin Hackney, president of the Cooma Rotary Club, and Iain Blackadder, president of the Tuggeranong Rotary Club
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Pictured, Cooma Rotary Club president, Katrin Hackney, with Russell Cotter of the Michelago Bush Fire Brigade at the annual Cooma and Tuggeranong Rotary meeting. Katrin presented Russell with a cheque for the fire brigade, the money being raised during the sergeant-at-arms session during the meeting.
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