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Coroner Blames Racism, Rules 1988 Train Death Homicide

6/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Coroner Harriet Grahame said entrenched racism likely tainted the police probe of Mark Haines’ 1988 death and ruled the 17-year-old’s death on train tracks near Tamworth was not suicide.
She criticized the investigation for moving the body, failing to test the car and train, and relying on a suicide theory.
She recommended referring the case to NSW police’s unsolved homicide unit for DNA testing and noted a $1 million reward remains.

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Story summary

Coroner Harriet Grahame said entrenched racism likely tainted the police probe of Mark Haines’ 1988 death and ruled the 17-year-old’s death on train tracks near Tamworth was not suicide.
She criticized the investigation for moving the body, failing to test the car and train, and relying on a suicide theory.
She recommended referring the case to NSW police’s unsolved homicide unit for DNA testing and noted a $1 million reward remains.