A 1978 Queensland triple murder inquest focuses on Bruce Preston, who admitted stealing a victim’s bike but faces perjury warnings over conflicting testimony.

A reopened inquest into the 1978 Queensland triple murder of Karen Edwards, Tim Thomson, and Gordon Twaddle has focused on Bruce John Preston, the only person charged, who testified under immunity and was warned he is “very close” to perjury. The victims, killed by .22 calibre bullets, were last seen near Mount Isa with a brown and white Toyota LandCruiser. Preston, linked to the case after being found with Thomson’s stolen red BMW motorbike, admitted stealing it but claimed he didn’t know its significance. The coroner questioned inconsistencies in his testimony, while his brother said their father reportedly said “the little bastard done it,” though he denied it was a confession. The inquest continues as authorities seek to resolve the decades-old case.