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Home →Inquest Findings→Inquest Findings 2016→Devine, Janene

Inquest into the Death of Janene DEVINE

Inquest into the Death of Janene DEVINE

Delivered on :30 September 2016

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner King

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased was 48 years old at the time of her death. She had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis with a poor prognosis in 1999. When she became unable to work in 2004 because of the progression of her illness, her husband became her full-time carer. He suffered from major depression.

The deceased’s husband provided the deceased with inadequate nutrition, leading to malnutrition, sepsis and death. She died in her bed on 16 March 2007.

An earlier inquest was held by a coroner who, without making a finding, on 10 December 2012 referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider whether the deceased‘s husband should be charged with an indictable offence. 

On 31 July 3013 the deceased’s husband was charged with wilful murder. On 12 August 2014 he was convicted of the offence of manslaughter.

On 1 June 2016 Coroner King held another inquest. He found that the deceased died on 16 March 2007 from malnutrition and sepsis on a background of end-stage multiple sclerosis. He found that death occurred by way of unlawful homicide.

Catch Words : Neglect : Unlawful Homicide; Multiple Sclerosis; Malnutrition; Home Care


Last updated: 5-Jul-2024

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