Police report key to baby inquest

Dunedin coroner Jim Conradson is deciding whether an inquest should be held into the 1989 death of the baby daughter of convicted rapist and murderer Paul Bailey.

Four witnesses, who knew Bailey at the time of Linda Rose's death in Ettrick in April 1989, have given statements to police in the hope of forcing a public inquest as part of their campaign to keep Bailey locked up.

Mr Conradson said the statements, and media interest in the death and in Bailey himself, had to be taken into consideration when deciding whether an inquest should be held.

"It's certainly possible, if not probable, that an inquest will be held."

Bailey is serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of Owaka schoolgirl Kylie Smith in November 1991.

In July this year he was sentenced to a further three years' imprisonment for a series of rapes in 1989 and 1990 against a woman who was a teenager at the time.

A formal inquest was not conducted into the death of the eight-week-old baby. Mr Conradson said he was waiting to hear the results of a police investigation into the baby's death before making a decision.

It all depended on whether police planned to prosecute Bailey over any alleged involvement in the death.

The results of the investigation have been forwarded to a senior southern police chief.

"I can't decide anything in advance but I do, under the new legislation, need to take into account the rumours and suspicion surrounding this case," Mr Conradson said.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has asked Mr Conradson to conduct the inquest, and it arranged for the four witnesses to give their briefs of evidence.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES