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The former partner and one of the last people to see a woman whose remains were found in a bag at a Brisbane recreational area has told an inquest he believed "something wasn't right" before she disappeared.
Key points:
- Ms Watcho's former partner and father of three of her children gave evidence on the third day of a coronial inquiry
- He said Watcho had been with her partner at the time, Sam Sobczak, who had been "escorting" her to the bank
- A childhood friend said Ms Watcho had been "pretty upset" with Mr Sobczak
Constance Watcho was reported missing by family members in early 2018, after she had vanished three months earlier.
Warning: This story contains an image of an Indigenous person who has died and details some may find distressing
In September 2018, the 36-year-old's bones were found in and near a sports bag in scrub at the base of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
Ms Watcho's former partner and father of three of her children gave evidence on the third day of a coronial inquiry into her death being held in Brisbane.
Darren Young told the Coroners Court the pair's 10-year "on-and-off" relationship ended in 2015 or 2016, but they remained on "good terms", describing Ms Watcho as a loving mother who was "headstrong".
"Very straightforward and spoke her mind," he said.
Mr Young told the court he had seen Ms Watcho in November 2017 in South Brisbane, and that she had looked upset.
"Something wasn't right," he said.
"She did look a bit troubled, not herself."
Mr Young told the court she had been with her partner at the time, Sam Sobczak, who had been "escorting" her to the bank.
"He was sort of a bit stand-offish," he said.
On Monday, the inquest heard evidence from police that their investigations had focused on three "people of interest", which included Mr Sobczak and two other men who Ms Watcho had been staying with in Kangaroo Point.
Mr Sobczak and the two men are expected to give evidence later this week.
Mr Young told the court he believed Mr Sobczak knew more about what happened to Ms Watcho due to the "timeline".
"I last seen Constance in his company," he said.
Watcho had been 'pretty upset', friend says
On Tuesday, childhood friend Anne Mickelo told the court before she went missing, Ms Watcho had been "pretty upset" with Mr Sobczak, who she thought was "sleeping around".
"She was arguing with Sam," she said.
Ms Mickelo told the court she had also seen a bruise around her friend's eye and was told it was caused by Ms Watcho's partner.
"She had a domestic with Sam," she said.
The court also heard Ms Mickelo recognised a bag which was used in news coverage about Ms Watcho's death at the time as one that she had seen at the unit her friend had been staying in.
The inquest continues.