Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Axel Josef CREMER

Inquest into the Death of Axel Josef CREMER

Delivered on :30 October 2015

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner King

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased at the time of his death was a sentenced prisoner at the Karnet Prison Farm.  The Karnet Prison Farm is a working farm at which food is grown to supply other prisons in the State.

The issues which were explored at the inquest hearing were the circumstances surrounding the death and the supervision, treatment and care of the deceased while he was under the care of the Department of Corrective Services.

During the investigation documents were found in the deceased’s cell which included messages to his wife and step-daughters in which he indicated his intention to end his life due to his despair at losing them because of his criminal acts.

Police seized from the deceased’s prison cell three drink containers containing liquid and two spray bottles also containing liquid.  Toxicological analysis of the liquids found pesticide methiocarb in two drink containers and two other pesticides, piperonyl butoxide and permethrin, in one of the spray bottles.

A post mortem examination was conducted on 8 January 2014.  The forensic pathologist found that the deceased had coronary artery atherosclerosis and pulmonary oedema and congestion.  There were also small nodules in the kidneys.  Toxicological analysis at post mortem showed the presence of methiocarb artefact within the blood and urine and a significant level of methiocarb within the stomach.

The Coroner found that the deceased died on or about 5 January 2014 at Karnet Prison farm from methiocarb toxicity and that death arose by way of suicide.

The Coroner was satisfied that the circumstances of the deceased’s death were causally unrelated to the supervision, treatment and care the deceased received while in the custody of the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Corrective Services.

Catch Words : Death in Custody : Control of Chemicals : Suicide


Last updated: 14-Mar-2024

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