There's another twist in the puzzling disappearance of John and Mike Beckenridge - missing from Southland since 2015.

During a Coronial hearing in Christchurch today, a witness retracted his earlier claim his cousin had told him he'd helped the pair flee.

The father and stepson's car was found in wild sea near the Catlins - below an 88-metre cliff, with no bodies. 

Herald reporter Anna Leask says the witness made a complete turnaround  after being shown his police statement.

"He read through his statement and said - that's what the police have, in this document, that I didn't say it and I never said that and he didn't say this to me."

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