The foster mother of missing child William Tyrrell provided a NSW Crime Commission hearing about the boy’s disappearance with false or misleading information, police have alleged.
On Thursday, detectives from strike force Rosann – which was established to investigate Tyrrell’s disappearance – issued a 56-year-old woman with a court attendance notice.
The woman – understood to be Tyrrell’s foster mother – will have her matter heard at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on 24 May.
William Tyrrell was last seen playing at his foster grandmother’s home in northern New South Wales in September 2014, when he was three years old. Thursday’s charge is the latest in a string of recent developments linked to the investigation.
In a statement released on Thursday, NSW police said the woman was charged with knowingly giving false or misleading evidence.
Guardian Australia understands this occurred at a hearing before the NSW Crime Commission – a body that works alongside police to investigate serious crimes.
“She remains before the courts,” the police statement said. “Investigations under strike force Rosann continue.”
A years-long investigation into Tyrrell’s disappearance – which included digging up key sites in the town he was last seen in at the end of last year – continues. His disappearance was also the subject of a coronial inquest.
In March, a man understood to be Tyrrell’s foster father was charged with a similar allegation in relation to information he provided to the NSW Crime Commission. He has already pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Neither of the foster parents can be named for legal reasons.
In a separate matter unrelated to the NSW Crime Commission charges, the foster parents were last year charged with the alleged common assault of a child who was not William Tyrrell. They both pleaded not guilty. The charges are not connected to Tyrell’s disappearance.
