THE PRIME suspect in the disappearance of Lucille Butterworth admitted to her murder when in jail, an inquest has heard. Two former convicts who served with Geoffrey Charles Hunt, the main person of interest in Ms Butterworth’s suspected killing, came forward with information about Hunt’s involvement this month. Hunt was jailed in 1976 for the brutal murder of car saleswoman Susan Knight. Hobart man Leigh Wise told the coronial inquest examining Ms Butterworth’s disappearance from a Claremont bus stop in 1969 that Hunt told him in jail that ‘‘they got me on one but they didn’t get me on another’’. Wise said Hunt also told him in 1977 that ‘‘the best way to pick up girls is at the bus stop’’. He said he thought Hunt was just ‘‘big noting’’ himself, and only realised when he saw coverage of the inquest that the murder Hunt was referring to could have been Ms Butterworth. Another former prisoner, Phillip Thow, said Hunt had told him he got away with killing someone called Jill Butterworth. ‘‘He told me he got away with murdering ... I’m sure he said Jill Butterworth, but it was definitely Butterworth,’’ Thow said. Thow said Hunt told him he disposed of Ms Butterworth’s body ‘‘where it would never, ever be found’’. Hunt’s lawyer Greg Richardson said Thow couldn’t remember which sentence he was serving nor which area of prison he was in when Hunt made the admission to him. Earlier in the day, Hunt’s brother Ken Hunt said his brother sometimes drove a turquoise Holden FB in 1969, similar to one seen by a witness at the Claremont bus stop when Ms Butterworth disappeared. Mr Hunt said on the night Ms Knight was murdered his brother was ‘‘crying and shaking’’ at home and denied leaving the house, despite his car being warm. He said his brother would never talk to girls, and copped abuse from their father. Ms Butterworth was last seen alive 46 years ago and investigators believe she became agitated when she missed her bus to New Norfolk and accepted a ride with someone she knew and met with foul play.
THE PRIME suspect in the disappearance of Lucille Butterworth admitted to her murder when in jail, an inquest has heard.
Lucille Butterworth
Two former convicts who served with Geoffrey Charles Hunt, the main person of interest in Ms Butterworth’s suspected killing, came forward with information about Hunt’s involvement this month.
Hunt was jailed in 1976 for the brutal murder of car saleswoman Susan Knight.
Hobart man Leigh Wise told the coronial inquest examining Ms Butterworth’s disappearance from a Claremont bus stop in 1969 that Hunt told him in jail that ‘‘they got me on one but they didn’t get me on another’’.
Wise said Hunt also told him in 1977 that ‘‘the best way to pick up girls is at the bus stop’’.
He said he thought Hunt was just ‘‘big noting’’ himself, and only realised when he saw coverage of the inquest that the murder Hunt was referring to could have been Ms Butterworth.
Another former prisoner, Phillip Thow, said Hunt had told him he got away with killing someone called Jill Butterworth.
‘‘He told me he got away with murdering ... I’m sure he said Jill Butterworth, but it was definitely Butterworth,’’ Thow said.
Thow said Hunt told him he disposed of Ms Butterworth’s body ‘‘where it would never, ever be found’’.
Hunt’s lawyer Greg Richardson said Thow couldn’t remember which sentence he was serving nor which area of prison he was in when Hunt made the admission to him.
Earlier in the day, Hunt’s brother Ken Hunt said his brother sometimes drove a turquoise Holden FB in 1969, similar to one seen by a witness at the Claremont bus stop when Ms Butterworth disappeared.
Mr Hunt said on the night Ms Knight was murdered his brother was ‘‘crying and shaking’’ at home and denied leaving the house, despite his car being warm.
He said his brother would never talk to girls, and copped abuse from their father.
Ms Butterworth was last seen alive 46 years ago and investigators believe she became agitated when she missed her bus to New Norfolk and accepted a ride with someone she knew and met with foul play.
