The grandmother of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont has postponed an appearance on a gun charge in an outback courthouse, opting instead to appear in Adelaide. Josie Murray, 75, was scheduled to appear in Peterborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning on a charge of possessing an illegal firearm silencer, which fits on one of the guns she owns.
At the eleventh hour on Tuesday night, the appearance was adjourned in favour of a mention hearing at Adelaide Magistrates Court next month. Police laid the charge against Ms Murray, which is unrelated to Gus's disappearance, two months ago after allegedly finding the device when they returned to Oak Park station to search for further evidence regarding Gus's disappearance.
The aggravated charge carries a maximum penalty of up to a $75,000 fine or 15 years imprisonment. Murray's grandson was last seen alive playing on a dirt mound at the family property in remote Mid North SA around 5pm on September 27 last year. There has been no sign of Gus for almost eight months, despite the state mounting the largest missing person investigation in its history.
South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said last month that he was confident of a breakthrough. Police have confirmed they had 'all but ruled out' the possibility that Gus had simply wandered off. 'We are not going to step away from this investigation until we have some outcome for the family,' Commissioner Stevens stated.
In February, he claimed two members of Gus's family had been 'no co-operating' with authorities investigating the disappearance, but underlined that this did not include the boy's parents, Jess and Josh Lamont. 'We are still working with Gus's mum and dad and there are other members of the family who are no longer co-operating,' he told ABC Radio. Police say that some of Gus's family are 'only communicating via their legal representatives', and that a person whose identity was not revealed was considered a suspect.
Gus's grandparents, Josie Murray and Shannon Murray, thereafter released a statement through lawyers saying they were 'absolutely devastated' by this statement from SA Police. 'We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime. The family has co-operated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad.'
Jess and Josh Lamont issued a statement of their own, saying they were united in their grief and search for answers. 'Our lives have been shattered, and every moment without him is unbearable,' they said in a statement distributed by SA Police. 'We know someone out there may have information. If someone knows what happened, we are pleading with that person - or anyone who may have seen or heard anything - to please come forward.'
