William Tyrrell’s former foster father has had his conviction overturned by a judge, who determined that the man did not intend to instil fear in a child during a heated incident in November 2020. At a school drop-off, the foster father shouted at the child, who was crying. However, Judge Sean Grant ruled that this was merely a minor disagreement between a stressed parent and child. The child’s lack of evidence regarding their feelings during the event was pivotal, as the judge noted there was no proof of fear of physical or mental harm.
During the legal proceedings, detectives provided covert recordings from an investigation into William’s 2014 disappearance, with over 1,000 hours of audio captured in the couple’s home and vehicles. While the foster father faced accusations of intimidation for his conduct, he reportedly expressed anger and frustration as he yelled various commands at the child.
Meanwhile, the foster mother, who remains a key figure in the ongoing investigation into William’s case, is contesting her own intimidation convictions related to separate threats made towards the same child. The original incident has highlighted ongoing concerns surrounding child welfare and the events leading to William’s unsettling disappearance, which has yet to result in any charges.