Inquest into the Suspected Death of Whisky BIBROU

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Whisky BIBROU (aka Bibel)

Delivered on :4 March 2020

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Vicker

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : In October 1976 Whisky Bibrou was reported as a missing person when he failed to reappear during a walk from Streeter Creek into Broome townsite.

On 1 October 1976 Mr Bibrou and four others went to the Fisherman’s Bend, Old Camp, Broome, and consumed a carton of beer and a flagon of wine. Mr Bibrou informed the group he was with that he was going to look for crabs. The group remained at the camp while Mr Bibrou went crabbing. W he returned he was carrying a number of crabs which he intended to take into town to sell. Mr Bibrou and a friend was last seen crossing the creek towards town. Upon arriving at Streeter Jetty Mr Bibrou’s friend could no longer see Mr Bibrou and so waited for him at the service station and when he did not appear he continued to the Roebuck Hotel to further wait for Mr Bibrou. Over the following days Mr Bibrou’s group looked for him along the creek and in the mangroves but were unable to find him or any trace of him.

On the afternoon of 22 October 1976 Mr Bibrou was reported missing at the Broome Police Station. Police including the Water Police, commenced a search for Mr Bibrou but there was no trace of him. He was searched for by both friends and others in the Aboriginal community in conjunction with the police search, but nothing was found to indicate he was still alive.

The Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt Mr Bibrou was deceased around the time of his disappearance. The Coroner was unable to determine how the deceased died and made an Open Finding as to the manner of Mr Bibrou’s death.

Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Open Finding

Last updated: 24-Mar-2020

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