Inquest into the Death of Satwant KAUR
Inquest into the Death of Satwant KAUR
Delivered on : 31 July 2017
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Deputy State Coroner Vicker
Recommendations : Yes
Recommendation No. 1 - Bail should only be granted where the residents of the address at which the Bailee intends to reside have been consulted and consent to the Bailee residing at the address.
Recommendation No.2 - Proper investigation of a threat to kill any person should not be confined to police Family Protections Units (FPU) even when involving intrafamilial parties.
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : Yes
There be no publication of any discussion of any intelligence handling procedures within and across the Department of Corrective Services and WA Police.
Summary: On 5 December 2013 the deceased died at her home address after suffering 15 stab wounds to her body and neck inflicted by her Stepson. The Stepson was later convicted of murder after he admitted to killing the deceased and was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years before becoming eligible for parole.
The deceased lived with her husband and Stepson in Koondoola after moving to Perth from Singapore in February 2010. At the time of her death the Stepson was on bail for offences relating to theft and drugs. During his time in custody, the Stepson made three separate threats to kill his step mother, the deceased. These threats were not communicated to the deceased or the deceased’s husband who stated he did not know his son had been in jail or gone to court. The Stepson had been bailed to the family home address on 20 November 2013 from Hakea Remand Centre where he had been in custody since 13 November 2013.
The inquest explored the lack of effective communication between the Department of Corrective Services and the Police Department which may have alerted the deceased and her husband to the threats made by the deceased’s Stepson. It would also have been helpful for the fact of the threats to be communicated to the court prosecutor who would have been in a position to argue the bail application residence condition on 20 November 2013. The Court had no information available upon which the court could refuse bail or require no contact provisions with the deceased.
The Deputy State Coroner made a recommendation that where a bailee provides an address at which they intend to reside, then consultation and consent of the residents should be sought.
The Deputy State Coroner made a second recommendation that the investigation of threats to kill should not be confined to police Family Protection Units even though involving intrafamilial parties.
Catch Words : Bail : Unlawful Homicide: Threats to kill: Communication
Last updated: 18-Oct-2024
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