Elly Warren: Questions over young Australian’s death overseas remain after inquest

Elly Rose Warren, 20, had spent six weeks volunteering with an eco-education company in Mozambique and was just days from returning home to Melbourne when her life was cut short in 2016.

Her body was found by a local fisherman in the village of Tofo outside a toilet block about 5am on November 9.

She had spent the evening having a few drinks with friends who last saw her wander off about 11pm, believing she was headed back to her backpackers hostel to sleep.

A local security guard, named Raphael, may have been one of the last to see her alive about 2.30am.

Earlier this year, Victorian State Coroner John Cain began an coronial inquest into her death after her family have long argued she met foul play.

The inquest was told three autopsies had found sand in Ms Warren’s lungs but provided conflicting reports on how she died.

The Mozambique autopsy ruled her death a homicide, but the Australian autopsy could not determine a cause of death.

Handing down his findings on Friday morning, Judge Cain found Ms Warren’s death was caused by aspirated sand, but he was unable to determine the mechanism through which sand entered her airways.

“It is possible that persons or persons unknown contributed to Elly’s death,” he said.

“I am unable to determine whether Elly aspirated the sand near the toilet block or was moved post-mortem.”

He told the court that Ms Warren had been described as a “fearless” person with a strong love for travel and contributing to the world.

“Ellie Rose Warren was a passionate individual with strong drives to do good for her community,” he said.

Earlier this year, the inquest was told Australian authorities flew to Mozambique this year in a final attempt to gather more information regarding Ms Warren’s death.

They reported Mozambique authorities had concluded her death was a homicide this year but had been unable to identify a perpetrator and the case was on hold while it was being reviewed by a judge.

Judge Cain acknowledged the frustration felt by Ms Warrens family, who have spent seven years fighting for answers, and urged the judge in Mozambique to assist in providing closure to her family.

On Monday, Ms Warren’s father, Paul, urged Judge Cain to find she was a victim of homicide.

Mr Warren said the inquest had uncovered “highly suspicious” details about his daughter’s death, pointing to her ripped clothes and the “extremely high density” of sand in her airways.

He also believed colour differences between the sand in her airways and where she was found indicated that she was killed at the main beach and her body was moved to “cast doubt”.

“The fact that Elly’s body was moved is highly suspicious, as it confirms the involvement of a third party,” he said.

“The photos show the truth; there was some sort of physical struggle before her death.”