'That was his business': Kimberley Land Council founder denies involvement in suspected death of Indigenous man

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A founder of the Kimberley Land Council says he had nothing to do with the suspected death of a man who has not been seen for nearly 30 years.

"Never talked about it, never talked about them."He agreed he told police in 2016 that Richard Milgin should not have been "going around" with Julie Buck.Mr Watson also told the court there was an issue with the couple being in a "wrong skin" relationship.

When asked about tribal punishment, the former KLC chairman, who is in his eighties, said he found it difficult to hear over the video link. He was asked about a statement to police in 2016 that his stepson "took off in a gap in the hill" but Mr Watson could not remember what he may have meant by that.Mr Watson denied he had gone to the home of Ms Buck's friend Lisa Skinner in Looma with Jimmy Nerrimah, carrying sticks.

Coroner Michael Jenkin said there was evidence before the court that traditional punishment could entail beating or spearing, but not killing.He said he last saw Mr Milgin in 1993 and, after he went missing, was told he and Ms Buck had "ran off".He said it was an "incredibly sad case", and it was possible for him to find beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Milgin was deceased.Members of Richard Milgin's family travelled from Derby to Perth for the inquest.

 

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