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A coronary investigation is underway to determine the cause and circumstances surrounding the death of a Franz Josef mechanic.
Franz Josef Glacier.
Photo: Supplied
Clive Raymond Jenkins, 40, died after a fire in his workshop on the night of September 13, 2016.
At its opening this morning, the attorney who attended the coroner, Sara Jamieson, said fire investigators concluded the fire was deliberate.
However, the cause of death had not yet been determined.
The court also heard a call 111 from a distraught witness, telling the operator that Jenkins had “gone crazy.”
The witness said Jenkins had also recovered weapons.
“He’s gone crazy, he’s got the bulldozer and he’s destroying the place … and I think he’s going to set it on fire,” the witness told the 111 operator.
“Go Go!” Said the witness audibly distressed.
The situation developed when the caller was talking to the operator on 111.
The witness repeatedly told the operator to hurry as they saw the building catch fire.
Meanwhile, Jamieson also read that around the time of death, Jenkins was facing accusations from the Automobile Association (AA) that he had defrauded him out of a sum of $ 30,000.
AA was revealed to have filed a complaint with the police prior to his death.
Jenkins’ former partner of eight years, Michelle May, who co-founded the auto shop with him in Franz Josef, was one of the people who gave witness statements this morning.
May said AA claimed it was “overcharging” for its work as a highway services contractor.
She said it was something she had on her mind in the months leading up to her death.
The court also heard that on the night of the fire, Jenkins called May around 7:20 p.m., which was 18 minutes before call 111 was placed, at 7.38 p.m.
“He sounded a bit bored … he said he couldn’t take it anymore,” he said.
He said the conversation lasted about seven minutes, but he did not know what was about to happen.
May said she was unaware of Jenkins’ past mental health issues.
She said Jenkins was described as a “functional alcoholic” and that he loved his beer.
The hearing continues this week.
