A woman who has been missing from an outback town in WA since October 8, 1999, was reportedly seen that morning on the back of a Harley Davidson being driven by a member of a motorcycle gang, who was later killed by a sniper, according to an inquest into her death.
Lisa Govan, 28, disappeared after she was seen entering the headquarters of the outlaw motorcycle group Club Deroes in Kalgoorlie around 7:30 AM that same day.
To this day, her body has not been located.
During the inquest on Friday, Club Deroes associate Raymond Fisher stated he was “certain” he saw Ms. Govan on the back of Billy Grierson’s motorcycle the morning she went missing.
Mr. Grierson, who was affiliated with the rival bikie gang Gypsy Jokers, was shot dead in 2000 by a sniper outside the Ora Banda pub, located northwest of Kalgoorlie, allegedly on the directives of a publican and former senior Perth detective, Don Hancock, who himself was later killed in a car bombing.
The crime scene the morning after bikie Billy Grierson was killed at Ora Banda. (ABC News)
Mr. Fisher testified that he was never a full member of Club Deroes, but merely an associate who had been invited to join.
At that time, Mr. Fisher was employed by John Hope, a former member of Club Deroes who is suspected of having lent his Land Cruiser ute to the clubhouse on the morning of Ms. Govan’s disappearance, potentially to dispose of her body.
Raymond Fisher, a former associate of Club Deroes, claims to have seen Ms. Govan on the back of Billy Grierson’s Harley Davidson. (ABC News: Brianna Melville)
Mr. Fisher mentioned that Mr. Hope instructed him to clean the ute after it had been used by club members on the morning of Ms. Govan’s disappearance, stating in court, “I just did a quick spray.”
Ongoing witness inquiries
Mr. Fisher is the last scheduled witness in the inquest, as police have been unable to locate two other witnesses deemed crucial to the proceedings.
Club Deroes member Andrew Edhouse was seen walking with Ms. Govan into the clubhouse around the time she went missing, with a witness asserting that Mr. Edhouse had stomped on Ms. Govan’s head inside.
Lisa Govan was last seen outside the clubhouse of bikie group Club Deroes in Kalgoorlie on the morning of October 8, 1999. An inquest is currently investigating her suspected murder. (Supplied: Family)
Although Mr. Edhouse has not been found, another witness testified that he had contacted him earlier in the week to discuss the inquest.
Authorities were also unsuccessful in serving a witness summons to Ms. Govan’s boyfriend during the time of her disappearance, Timothy Hammel.
Coroner Michael Jenkin informed the court that “witness inquiries” are still ongoing, before adjourning the inquest.
After the court session on Friday, Ms. Govan’s mother, Pat, expressed her satisfaction with the inquest being adjourned and hoped it would provide police with more time to locate key witnesses.
Lisa Govan’s mother, Pat Govan, expressed satisfaction with the adjournment of the inquest. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
“This gives them ample time to clarify matters and put everything in order, which I am content with,” she stated.
“They are the two main individuals [Edhouse and Hammel]… I just want to resolve this and have it settled.”