Tegan Lane The Australian 17 March 2006

John Stapleton

POLICE renewed their appeal for any information on the whereabouts of missing girl Tegan Lane yesterday as a date was set for a two week inquest.

Tegan Lane was born on September 12, 1996 at Auburn Hospital in western Sydney but has not been seen since leaving the hospital two days later. Her mother Keli Lane, 29, has provided various explanations to the police for the child's whereabouts but the girl has still not been found. If alive she would now be eight years old.

Ms Lane, who did not attend court yesterday, has three other children, two of whom have been adopted out and one who lives with her.

A date of 20 June was set down for the beginning of a two week inquest to be conducted by NSW's chief coroner John Abernathy.

Speaking outside the Westmead Coroners Court yesterday Sgt Rebbecca Becroft said a nationwide search for information on the whereabouts of Tegan had so far been unsuccessful. The search included interviews with a number of men with the name of the alleged father, Andrew Norris, and searches of school databases for a female student of the appropriate age.

``We are still seeking the assistance of the public in locating Tegan Lane, or any information on her whereabouts or what happened to her on leaving Auburn Hospital,'' Sgt Becroft said.

The police served additional material on Ms Lane's solicitor Mary Bova yesterday, detailing the results of their inquiries so far. While the evidence derives from the nationwide search for Tegan, police would not provide any further details. Lane's solicitor Mary Bova said she would not be releasing the information at this stage.