Court hears boy who died sleeping rough in skip bin was missing for days

A coronial inquest in Port Lincoln has heard that a 13-year-old First Nations boy named Budda Spencer died after sleeping in an industrial skip bin that was tipped over by a garbage truck. The incident occurred in May 2021, and the boy was missing for five days prior to his death. His family has asked that he be referred to by his given name for cultural reasons. Special counsel assisting the coroner, Rebecca Schell, testified that the three boys, Budda Spencer, along with two others aged 11 and 12, had decided not to return home that night. They laid down in the bin in a row, intending to stay awake but eventually falling asleep. The night was cold, but the bin provided some warmth, and the boys used cardboard to stay comfortable. All three boys awoke just before the bin was tipped into the truck’s bed. One of the younger boys managed to climb out of the bin and alert the driver. Budda Spencer attempted to follow suit but was instructed by his friend to remain still. The driver noticed the boy’s friend frantically waving his arms and stopped the vehicle immediately. The inquest heard that Budda Spencer died during the attempt to escape the truck. The inquest is being conducted in Port Lincoln by deputy state coroner Naomi Kereru and is set to move to Adelaide next week. It is expected to examine whether Budda Spencer received adequate support from relevant organizations in the weeks leading up to his death. The court heard that during the five days before his disappearance, Budda was last seen at a youth event and had also slept rough at a football oval grandstand. Police located Budda during this time and tried to bring him home, but no one answered the door, prompting him to run away. The court learned that Budda had a close relationship with an OTR petrol station worker who regularly provided him with food. He confided in the worker, expressing that his home life was not good. Budda’s mother, Deborah Betts, made several reports to different agencies concerning her concerns about her son and her struggle to get him to stay at home. The inquest will hear testimony from South Australia Police, West Coast Youth and Community Services, Youth Justice, and the Department for Child Protection. The central question posed by the inquest is whether Budda Spencer was adequately supported by these agencies. The case has sparked public concern and outrage, with many highlighting the broader issues surrounding child welfare and homelessness in the region. The inquest aims to determine if there were gaps in the system that could have prevented such a tragedy. The court will also assess what interventions might have been necessary to ensure Budda’s safety and well-being. The proceedings continue as authorities seek to understand the circumstances that led to the boy’s untimely death.