'Pray for justice': Families of teenagers killed in car crash still waiting for answers

The families of two Indigenous teenagers killed in a car crash are still waiting to hear back from an October 2019 coronial inquest into the deaths of the boys. One mother says the wait has been too long.

A sign from a rally, calling for justice for Jaylen Clark Close

A sign from a rally, calling for justice for Jaylen Clark Close Source: Facebook: Justice for Jaylen

The families of Jaylen Clark Close and Rayshaunn Carr are still waiting to hear the results of a coronial inquest into their deaths.

The two Indigenous boys were killed in a car crash in 2018. Their bodies and the car wreck were found on the side of the Gore Highway, which runs between Toowoomba and Goondiwinid in Quensland. They were on their way to see family in Moree, NSW.

In October last year, a Queensland coroner's court held an inquest into the two teenagers' deaths.

It's been months since the inquest and Janelle Armstrong - Jaylen's mother - told NITV News the wait has been difficult to understand.

The families say they have been keeping the pressure on, fighting for justice for their boys. Ms Armstrong said there are plans for a rally at Goondiwindi, on the border of NSW and Queensland once the COVID-19 restrictions lift.

She said the events leading up to the boys' deaths didn't add up, and her son had been targeted by police before his death.


In April 2018, Jaylen and Rayshaunn had been driving to Moree from Toowoomba in a car which had been allegedly stolen earlier that day and then passed on to the two boys.

Staff at a 24-hour petrol station said they had seen the boys being followed by a black car at high speed.

The wreck was found lying on its roof at the Wyaga Creek rest stop the next day. 

Ms Armstrong said she just wants to see justice for the boys so they can "rest peacefully".

"Once justice comes, they'll have rest," she said.

"This is not just justice for them but justice for all our people.

"We know our Jaylen is home in heaven right now, and we pray for him and we pray for justice.

"We're not going to give up."

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2 min read
Published 20 May 2020 3:45pm
By Keira Jenkins
Source: NITV News


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