Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into theDeaths of Zaraiyah-Lily HEADLAND and Andreas Hohaia HEADLAND

Inquest into the Death of Zaraiyah-Lily HEADLAND and Andreas Hohaia HEADLAND

Delivered on : 16 January 2020

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Linton

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : At the time of their deaths the two deceased children were aged 5 years and 3 years old. Their parent’s marriage had ended a few days prior to their deaths. The children father found it difficult to accept the breakdown of his marriage, and he bought some sedative medication as part of a plan he formulated to kill the children.

On 20 October 2016 the childrens’ father spoke to their mother. The nature of the phone call left her disturbed; in particular a comment which her husband had made, that she would never see her children again. Although she did not think their father would harm her children, she went to the Joondalup police with her friend requesting assistance, hoping the police would conduct a welfare check on the children.

After making some preliminary enquiries, including speaking with the childrens’ grandparents, a police recruit spoke to the father of children who had telephoned his wife while she was at the police station. Arrangements were made for the deceased’s father to bring the children to the police station in order for the welfare check of the children to be carried out. Reassured by the arrangements. The police recruit and her supervisor told the mother to go home and they would let her know when they had seen the children and checked on their welfare.

The childrens’ father failed to attend the police station.

Further enquiries were made and an address was obtained where the father was likely to be found. Police officers attended a house in Yanchep where they found both children deceased.

The Coroner found the children had been murdered by their father. The Coroner adopted the relevant facts as found by the learned sentencing Judge who found the childrens’ father had murdered the two children and sentenced him to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 31 years.

Catch Words :Police Welfare Checks : Intervention for Children : Unlawful Homicide.


Last updated: 31-Jan-2020

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