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Death of Indigenous teen found on rail tracks with towel under head ‘suspicious’, NSW coroner says

Police initially ruled Mark Haines’ 1988 death a suicide but coroner says investigation hindered by racism and deeply flawed Warning: This article contains images of and references to Indigenous Australians who have… Grouped from 2 articles across 2 sources.

2 reports2 sourcesJun 18, 2026, 4:53 AM
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The GuardianJun 18, 2026, 4:53 AM

Death of Indigenous teen found on rail tracks with towel under head ‘suspicious’, NSW coroner says

Police initially ruled Mark Haines’ 1988 death a suicide but coroner says investigation hindered by racism and deeply flawed Warning: This article contains images of and references to Indigenous Australians who have died Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The police investigation into the death of Indigenous teenager Mark Haines in northern New South Wales nearly four decades ago was hindered by racism and deeply flawed, a coroner has found. The body of the Gomeroi teenager was discovered on train tracks outside Tamworth on the morning of 16 January 1988. A stolen Holden Torana was found crashed nearby. Continue reading...

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ABC AustraliaJun 18, 2026, 1:41 AM

Coroner suggests racism marred investigation of Indigenous teen's death

The mysterious death of Mark Haines, whose body was discovered on railway tracks in northern NSW in 1988, would have been treated differently "if it was a white boy", according to the coroner.

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