Photographer knocked to ground in scuffle outside court

TODAY:

TOWNSVILLE barrister Harvey Walters described counsel assisting the coroner John Aberdeen's submissions naming Robert Hytch as responsible for Rachel Antonio's death as a "particularly fanciful scenario".

Mr Walters is representing Mr Hytch in the inquest into Rachel's disappearance and suspected death.

He started his submissions by describing the difference between "conjecture" and "inference".

Conjecture was a "mere guess", while inference was a "deduction from the evidence (and) may have the validity of proof".

YESTERDAY:

IAN Antonio has allegedly launched another attack against the media reporting on the inquest into his daughter's disappearance and suspected death.

As a photographer from the Townsville Bulletin attempted to take photos of the family as they walked away during the lunch break today, Mr Antonio turned around and walked five or six metres to the photographer and began allegedly punching him.

The photographer was injured as a result of his fall to the ground.

A YOUNG Mackay television reporter was hit in the face with her own microphone by the father of Rachel Antonio, Ian Antonio, as the family walked into the Bowen court house.

The is the second act of aggression from Mr Antonio towards the media in two days during week three of the inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of the 16-year-old.

Just last week a reporter in Caboolture had a woman stub out a lit cigarette in her face outside court

The Antonio family has always previously been welcoming of the media in reporting the inquest to the public.

Detective Sergeant Mark Inmon, who has been in charge of the investigation into Rachel's disappearance, has been recalled today to give evidence in the inquest.

Mr Aberdeen is expected to present his submissions to Coroner David O'Connell later this morning.