Inquest into disappearance of model, dancer and escort Revelle Balmain underway in Sydney
/ By Giselle WakatamaAn inquest into the 1994 disappearance of Revelle Balmain has been told a witness heard a high-pitched scream and screeching tyres on the night the Sydney woman went missing.
Ms Balmain, a 22-year-old model and dancer originally from Port Stephens, has not been seen since November 5, 1994.
An inquest in 1999 found she died at the hands of a person or persons unknown to her.
That inquiry was told that on the afternoon prior to her disappearance she had been driven to the Red Tomato Inn at Kingsford at 7pm.
On Monday, in his opening address for the second inquest, counsel assisting Matthew Johnston SC said Ms Balmain was working as an escort, using the alias Misha, but had plans to pursue dancing overseas.
"November 5, 1994 was the last night she intended to work before travelling overseas to Japan," Mr Johnston said.
"There was also evidence she wanted to catch up with friends before heading overseas."
Mr Johnston told the inquest the alarm was raised when she failed to meet up with her mother at Newcastle train station as planned the next day.
"She had been due to meet her mother in Newcastle at 11am but did not arrive," he said.
"Her mother reported Ms Balmain missing to police later that night."
'High-pitched female scream'
A $1 million reward was offered in 2022, which coincided with a new investigation.
Deputy State Coroner Joan Baptie was told the officer in charge of that probe would provide an updated statement to the inquest.
Mr Johnston said as a result of his inquiries, the inquest "would examine key witnesses, including a number of witnesses who have not been examined".
The counsel assisting said one witness heard a commotion on the night Ms Balmain vanished into the night.
"She heard a loud skid of brakes from a car, followed by ethnic male voices arguing," Mr Johnston said.
"It was followed by a short, sharp and high-pitched female scream.
"She saw a dark-coloured Holden Commodore and estimated there was a driver and passenger in front and three to four people in [the] back seat.
"She said another car was travelling at the same speed beside the Commodore.
"The next morning she and her daughter were walking and saw skid marks, a clog-style platform shoe and a washed denim skirt."
He said other witnesses found a pager, a Medicare card and a bank card, and that a child found a second clog shoe.
Mr Johnston said at the time she vanished, Ms Balmain had debts and had allegedly "moonlighted" while out on escort jobs, keeping some money for herself.
He said it must be accepted Revelle Balmain was dead, but the cause of death and who may have been involved was unknown.
The inquest is due to run until Friday.