Police say the now dead son-in-law of a World War II veteran may have been involved in the elderly man's disappearance nearly three decades ago, a court has been told.
Retired builder Leslie Ralph Ball, who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in Darwin in 1944, vanished from Townsville on May 22, 1993.
"Conflicting evidence" about the 73-year-old's last known movements emerged during an inquest in the 1990s, counsel assisting Sarah Lane told a pre-inquest conference in the Brisbane Coroners Court on Tuesday.
That coroner was unable to find Mr Ball's disappeared due to foul play, but said "the evidence indicated his absence was due to other than his own making".
Mr Ball's daughter Leanne Phillips claimed to have last seen her father at a Brisbane hospital on April 21, 1993, when she had been admitted for an operation.
But the coroner found a train ticket bought days earlier in Mr Ball's name for travel from Townsville to Brisbane was a forgery.
At the time of his disappearance, Mr Ball had recently bought a home in Cardwell, about 150km north of Townsville, but was yet to move in.
His Valiant sedan was found at the train station car park after he vanished, while a light blue trailer he kept filled with his belongings was found burnt in bushland about 10km from the home of Ms Phillips and her husband David.
"The investigating coroner found this to be evidence that a person or persons unknown had attempted to destroy and conceal the whereabouts of Mr Ball's trailer and personal effects," Ms Lane told the hearing.
"The coroner stated ... there were strong indications to suspect the disappearance may be other than by his own intentions and that Mr Ball may be deceased."
The inquest was closed without hearing from Mr and Ms Phillips for health reasons, but investigation reviews were held and witnesses interviewed again.
This culminated in a report containing new findings submitted to the Coroners Court in May 2017.
Ms Lane said police say evidence suggests Mr Phillips, who died from natural causes in 2015, may have been involved in Mr Ball's disappearance.
Mr Phillips is survived by his wife "who police allege has knowledge of the circumstances of her father's death and has not provided truthful accounts to police in relation to his disappearance".
Ms Lane said a friend of Mr and Mrs Phillips, Brian Murphy, told police the veteran's son-in-law had confessed to having killed Mr Ball.
The inquest was re-opened at the direction of the attorney-general because of the new evidence, but has been delayed.
Coroner Stephanie Gallagher is to consider whether Mr Ball died and the identity of anyone involved in his disappearance or death.
Police, Ms Phillips and Brian Murphy are due to testify at the hearing on August 22.
