Allegations police killed fugitive 'complete nonsense,' detective says

Accusations a wanted man was killed by police who set his car alight to destroy the evidence have been described as "nonsense" by a senior officer.

An inquest is examining the death of Robert George Greig who spent two weeks on the run in 2022 in southern Tasmania after shooting at three police officers.

Greig's body was recovered from his burning car, which went up in flames near his bushland hideout following a police pursuit.

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Greig's father Gary provided an affidavit to the inquest, claiming his son had been killed by police, either by shooting or the use of a flash grenade, who set the car on fire in a cover-up.

However, Gary also told the inquest there was no evidence before the court that police had been involved in his son's death.

Tasmania Police detective Michael Foster, who was involved in a professional standards investigation into the incident, gave evidence today.

He said there was no evidence of police firing shots or using a flash grenade.

Foster said the nearest specialist police officers were at least one kilometre from Greig's car when it caught alight.

Gary Greig previously said a lawyer, Fabiano Cangelosi, who briefly acted for the family, told him he had information suggesting police had fired a flash bomb into his son's car.

"(Gary) is a grieving father and I'm very disappointed in his lawyer trying to take advantage of the situation," Foster said.

"I'm not sure what he's trying to get out of it. These allegations are complete nonsense."

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Cangelosi told the inquest a former client who ran a "vigilante" Facebook news page had messaged him about Greig's death.

Cangelosi said the former client, who has since died, was listening to police radio when Greig died and told him it sounded like police had used a "flash bang".

The lawyer also told the inquest the allegation of a flash grenade being used was not supported by any coronial evidence he had seen.

Cangelosi was asked why Gary Greig may have believed he had direct information a flash grenade had been used.

"I never understood that was Gary Greig's belief about the information," Cangelosi said.

"I am very sorry he has had that mistaken belief."

Pathologist Christopher Lawrence, who conducted the post-mortem, said it was too difficult to tell whether Greig suffered a gunshot wound.

His report suggested Greig died shortly after the fire started, the inquest was told.

The court was previously told guns, a blowtorch and gas bottles were found in the car.

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