Claims a man helped a father and step-son missing from Southland to escape, will be the centre of a hearing in Christchurch

John Beckenridge broke a court order and took 11-year-old Mike from his Invercargill school in 2015.

His car was found in the sea at the base of a cliff near Curio Bay, a week later - but no bodies were located..

Herald reporter Anna Leask says a man, who claims his cousin told him the pair escaped and are alive, will front court.

She says the person who allegedly said that, denies it - and the Coroner, lawyers and others in court will be able to question these claims further.