“Zac respected everybody and he deserves to be respected. If Zac has lost his life, we deserve to be able to bury him and remember him,” she informed the Lidcombe Coroner’s Court.
Barnes was seen appearing distressed and offended within the days earlier than he requested to get out of a pal’s automotive whereas on a drive to Thornton railway station.
The Metford man was final seen working off alongside a darkish highway into bushland. He was reported lacking on November 14 however regardless of in depth searches has not been seen since.
Coroner Carmel Forbes has been tasked with figuring out whether or not Barnes has died, the style of his loss of life, and whether or not police did every thing they may.
On Wednesday, because the three-day inquest concluded, Gudelj described her son’s life as a cute toddler, her “little protector”, a boundary-testing teen and pupil who wished to turn out to be a health care provider.
As she spoke, pictures of Barnes as a baby enjoying within the pool, at birthday events and smiling along with his siblings have been proven within the courtroom.
In yr 10, his grades fell. He ultimately wished to give up faculty however labored exhausting to turn out to be an apprentice bricklayer.
“If I can just say to any family out there, Zac’s life turned very quickly and I think a lot of it is because he wanted to be that popular, social kid,” she mentioned.
The inquest beforehand heard Barnes used illicit medication like ecstasy and LSD and was identified to drink and get together with mates.
In March 2016, Barnes had an argument along with his mom who wished to cost him board for staying at dwelling.
Gudelj described how her son had damaged down and was sobbing in his bed room however refused to say why he was so upset.
“I’ve seen stuff, I’ve seen stuff, I can’t get it out of my head,” he informed his mom.
“He felt that if he told me he would get us into some sort of trouble,” Gudelj informed the court docket.
She additionally mentioned somebody had damaged into their dwelling after her son disappeared and had stolen gadgets from his bed room, which she believed was an try and make it look like he took some gadgets and ran away.
However, the person took his brother Cody’s clothes and didn’t take gadgets resembling Barnes’ watch and Converse sneakers.
The coroner additionally heard from Barnes’ employer Alan Kirby and pal Joe Robinson about arguments he was concerned within the day earlier than his disappearance.
On Wednesday Kirby mentioned he didn’t keep in mind firing Barnes on the day the apprentice bricklayer had an altercation with one other worker whereas intoxicated at work, regardless of this being in his 2017 assertion to police.
Robinson mentioned on the day Barnes disappeared he had gotten into one other argument with a pal who he had stayed with for just a few nights.
The teen had not contacted his dad and mom for days earlier than he was discovered at his mate’s place.
When pressed to contact his mom, he obtained upset and requested for a journey to Thornton station the place he made the fateful determination to run into the bush.
Forbes will hand down her findings at a later date.
Readers searching for assist and details about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Source: www.9news.com.au
