Person of interest given alibi in schoolgirl's disappearance

A person of interest in the disappearance of schoolgirl Marilyn Wallman was seen working more than 100 kilometres away at a Queensland coalmine on the day she went missing, a court has heard.The 14-year-old's bicycle was discovered by her brothers on March 21, 1972, after she left to catch a school bus in Mackay, north Queensland, at 7:42am.A fragment of her skull was found two years later at McGregor Creek, about 40km from where she was last seen.At the time, Marilyn's brother, Rex Wallman, recalled hearing a young girl's voice behind a cane field near the bike and then a man speaking.During a coronial inquest this week in Mackay, the girl's relative Noel Morris — who has not yet appeared before the inquiry — was named as a person of interest in the investigation.On Friday, Noel's uncle, Barry Morris, told the inquest that his nephew had been at work on that day 54 years ago.Noel Morris was the husband of Marilyn Wallman's cousin, Ann Morris. (ABC Tropical North: Danielle Jesser)Barry told the court via video link that he remembered seeing Noel "hauling coal from the coal face" at Goonyella mine where they worked about 145km south-west of Mackay.The 81-year-old said he also saw his nephew playing cards in a break room, though he did not speak to him."[There] was sort of no need for me to have any recollection on it, except that Noel told my wife, which she told me when I got home, that Marilyn had been missing," he said.Barry Morris said he could not remember where Noel was on the days before and after March 21 and did not know anyone else alive who could have seen his nephew at work that day.Friction in the familyThe court heard Noel had been "like a brother" to Barry, but in years following Marilyn's disappearance there had been friction in the wider family group.Barry said he recalled his brother, Lionel Morris, telling family members at a gathering, "Noel done it", referring to Marilyn's disappearance.Questioned by counsel assisting the coroner, John Aberdeen, why he did not defend his nephew, Barry said: "I knew it was crap."Witness Jenny Goode told the court she had known Lionel Morris, her uncle, to be a heavy drinker who "always exaggerated things".Ms Goode said family often visited her house at Bucasia, including Noel and his wife, Ann Morris.Leslie Goode and Jenny Good leaving Mackay Court House. (ABC Tropical North: Danielle Jesser)The court heard Ms Morris had been staying at the home before and after she gave birth to her daughter, Jodie, on March 16, 1972 — five days before Marilyn Wallman went missing.Ms Goode said she could not recall if Noel had visited them in Mackay that week."I know Ann definitely stayed with me, and I would assume that Noel would have come down from time to time," she said."He was still working out at Moranbah."Family denies overnight partyMr Aberdeen read evidence on Friday from Noel's wife, Ann.In the statement, Ann said she had been told by Noel's uncle, Robert Morris, known as "Squizzy", that he and his nephew had been drinking together at the Bucasia home the night before Marilyn disappeared."Squizzy also says that they drank on till the early hours of the morning," Mr Aberdeen said.Ms Goode and her husband, Leslie, said that no party had taken place that night.Mr Goode told the court they had "never" had a party there at that time of the morning, on a working day.The inquest, which is to determine the cause of Marilyn Wallman's death and whether any person was involved, will continue on Monday.