02-07-2025
WA coroner hands down open finding after inquest into disappearance of Lisa Govan
One of Western Australia's most enduring missing person cases remains unsolved, after a five-month coronial inquest failed to find out what happened to Lisa Govan.
Ms Govan was 28 when she disappeared in suspicious circumstances.
She was last seen at a bikie gang clubhouse in the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie in October 1999.
Nobody has ever been charged in relation to her disappearance, and a coronial inquest held 25 years on was marred by the reluctance of witnesses to provide information, amid discussions about the "bikie code of silence".
Coroner Michael Jenkin said there was an "information vacuum" around the case.
Coroner Jenkin handed down his findings on Wednesday afternoon, saying although police believe Ms Govan died at the Club Deroes building, no admissible evidence relating to her death has ever been put forth.
The coroner said he was unable to determine the manner of her death, and ruled the case an "open finding".
"In this case an open finding means that it is possible that Lisa's death may have occurred by way of unlawful homicide, accident, or natural causes," Mr Jenkin wrote.
