WA: Rinehart says Hancock inquest will be upsetting

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1999
WA: Rinehart says Hancock inquest will be upsetting

GINA RINEHART says an inquest into the death of her father, mining magnate LANG HANCOCK,
will be difficult and upsetting, but necessary.

After seven years of lobbying by Mrs RINEHART, the West Australian government has cleared
the way for an inquest to examine new evidence in Mr HANCOCK's death.

Mrs RINEHART has never accepted police and coronial reports that found Mr HANCOCK died
of natural causes at his Perth home in 1992.

She's previously expressed concern about the actions of Mr HANCOCK's wife, socialite
ROSE PORTEOUS, who was the subject of a restraining order taken out by her father on the
day before his death.

WA Attorney-General PETER FOSS has granted Mrs RINEHART leave to present her new evidence
to a WA Supreme Court judge, who can then rule that an inquest be held.

Mrs RINEHART says Mr HANCOCK's death was unexpected, since he was planning to return
to work the following week.

Mrs PORTEOUS' lawyer MARY POLIS says her client won't be commenting on the issue.

AAP alm/rat/rp l

KEYWORD: HANCOCK (PERTH)

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