VICTORIAN Coroner John Olle last week ordered an audit of the initial investigation by police into the disappearance of Warren Meyer in bush east of Healesville five years ago.
Mr Meyer, 57, was holidaying in Healesville when he went missing while bushwalking from Dom Dom Saddle on the Black Spur between Healesville and Narbethong on 23 March – Easter Sunday, 2008.
There has been no sign of the missing Beaumaris man since he set out at 7.30am, taking with him food, water, a phone and GPS.
The search at the time included more than 100 police, including the canine unit, SES members and local volunteers who know the area.
The Mail reported on 31 March that police had scaled down the search saying they had found no trace of Mr Meyer after a six-day expansive search in dense bushland.
They also said at the time they had not ruled out foul play and that they did not believe Mr Meyer had staged his own disappearance.
In October a further search was mounted, but turned up nothing with police conceding their investigation was at a standstill.
At that time the missing man’s family offered a $100,000 reward for anyone who found Mr Meyer’s remains.
A Summary Inquest held on Tuesday led to the call for the review which a spokesperson for the Coroner has said will be undertaken by a new police investigator.
A further mention hearing has been set for 31 May, by which time the audit of the police investigation is expected to be completed, with the final inquest date set down for September.
This hearing will help the coroner define the issues or scope of the inquest and finalise witnesses.
