Lachlan Jones Photo: Supplied via NZ Herald
Coroner Alexander Ho is calling for more information before giving his findings into the death of Gore preschooler Lachlan Jones.
The three-year-old boy was found dead in a sewage pond on the outskirts of the Southland town in January 2019.
Two police investigations found he accidentally drowned, but his father disputed those findings.
An inquest into the death was held in Invercargill last year.
The coroner was due to give his findings on Friday, but on Monday said he was reluctantly delaying it until next month to allow for further submissions to be filed.
Coroner Alexander Ho. Photo: Stuff / Robyn Edie
Last month, he confirmed he had completed his 160-page provisional findings and gave interested parties about a month to respond, saying the draft findings could be revised.
In Monday's minute, he did not rule out directing further investigations to occur, saying delivering the findings did not necessarily mean the inquest process was closed.
He confirmed he had granted multiple extensions after Lachlan's half-brother Jonathan Scott appointed a new lawyer within days of his submission's deadline.
"The draft findings reached conclusions on several important issues, but certain matters were left open," he said.
It was in the interests of justice to issue his findings now instead of waiting for further investigations, Ho said.
He also acknowledged the significant and extensive allegations, rumours, suspicions and public concerns surrounding Lachlan's death.
"It is in the interests of justice for those to be narrowed and for certainty to be provided so far as the evidence permits and is appropriate," he said.
"This includes vindicating the reputations of individuals who came under scrutiny during the inquest where, in my view, the evidence supported such vindication."
As part of the inquest, Ho had been considering whether a pathologist was correct to determine the boy died from drowning, what led to him being found in the pond, and if anyone else was involved in his death.
Police at the time quickly concluded the boy had drowned, but in 2023 confessed they had "missed some steps" in the investigation.
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