More questions after a twist in the disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge in 2015

The pair disappeared after John Beckenridge broke a court order and took his 11-year-old stepson from his Invercargill school.

A coronal hearing into the case adjourned in 2023, has resumed with five new witnesses.

A friend allegedly told people they's assisted them - and they're alive.

Senior Herald crime reporter, Anna Leask, says police were made aware of the story mid-last year.

She says one big questions in this hearing is why that's only emerged now.