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Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Government of Western Australia State Coat of Arms
Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest Findings

Home →Inquest Findings→Inquest Findings 2015→Roberts, Francis Gerald

Inquest into the Death of Francis Gerald ROBERTS

Inquest into the Death of Francis Gerald ROBERTS

Delivered on :6 August 2015

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Vicker

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased was serving an indefinite sentence of life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 13 years at the time of his death.  The deceased was 62 years of age.

The deceased had been unwell with known heart disease and insulin controlled type two diabetes mellitus prior to his imprisonment on 28 May 2004. In March 2006 the deceased was transferred to Casuarina Prison due to his ongoing medical issues and to facilitate family visits. The deceased was significantly non-compliant with medical intervention. On 24 May 2012 he was registered as a Phase I terminally ill prisoner. This was updated to a Phase II terminally ill prisoner on 21 June 2012 and he remained at Phase II until his death. The deceased was transferred for the final time from the Casuarina Infirmary to Fremantle Hospital on 14 February 2014 where he remained under guard until his death on 9 March 2014.

The Coroner concluded that the deceased’s death was consistent with heart failure in association with cardiomyopathy and death occurred by way of natural causes.

The Coroner found the deceased’s supervision, treatment and care, while a prisoner was reasonable and appropriate, despite his complex medical management and resistant demeanour.

Catch Words : Death in Custody : Prison : Terminally ill Prisoner : Complex Medical Management : Natural Causes.


Last updated: 13-Feb-2024

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