Chief Coroner to revisit death of Christchurch woman Libby McKay

  • 01/10/2018
Libby McKay and Mike Brown.
Libby McKay and Mike Brown. Photo credit: Supplied

Chief Coroner Deborah Marshall will review the inquest file into the 2013 death of Christchurch woman Libby McKay.

Ms McKay died after allegedly falling from a travelling vehicle in Christchurch. 

Her partner Mike Brown was driving and he claimed she fell and suffered fatal injuries.

At the time he told police he did not push her, and he later moved to Australia. 

Mr Brown failed to return to New Zealand to give evidence in the 2015 inquest into the death, where Coroner David Crerar found her injuries were consistent with falling out of a vehicle. 

Now, Ms McKay's mother Pauline Webby claims she has new evidence that suggests her daughter did not fall out. 

She told TVNZ's Sunday programme a report by Australian crash experts found Ms McKay's injuries were not consistent with Mr Brown's version of events.

Sunday reported police did not do any forensic testing at the scene and had New Zealand independent crash investigator Tim Stevenson examine the report. 

He said if Ms McKay had fallen from the vehicle he would expect there to be significant abrasions to her extremities and the clothes she was wearing. 

The news the Chief Coroner will look at her daughter's case was a way forward, Ms Webby told Sunday.

A coroner does not have the jurisdiction to reopen an inquiry, but the Chief Coroner can apply to the Solicitor General to do so. 

"If someone believes a new coronial inquiry needs to be opened because of fraud, rejection of evidence, irregularity of proceedings, or discovery of new facts, or for any other sufficient reason, they need to apply to the Solicitor-General. The Solicitor-General or High Court may order another inquiry be opened," a Coronial Services spokesperson told Newshub.

The Chief Coroner is looking at the file, but has not yet seen the reports or made any requests to the Solicitor-General in regards to this case, the spokesperson said.

The Coroner's role is to establish the facts of the death, not to determine criminal liability.

Newshub.