‘A lot was done’: WA top cop defends police actions before woman, teen daughter murdered by estranged ex

Western Australia’s top cop has defended how the force responded to the concerns raised by the wife and daughter of double-murderer Mark Bombara prior to the horrific murder of a mother and her teenage daughter. Mr Bombara, 62, shot dead Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl in the leafy Perth suburb of Floreat last Friday. He had gone to their property looking for his estranged wife but turned the gun on himself after killing Ms Petelczyc and her daughter. The horrific double murder-suicide has prompted anger over whether enough was done to protect Ms Bombara and her daughter Ariel. Both had raised concerns about Mr Bombara’s violent demeanour prior to the shooting. Federal Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the response by WA Police seemed “inadequate”, claiming on ABC Breakfast it appeared both women did not get the response they needed. But Col Blanch, the WA Police Commissioner who has held the role since 2022, said it was “wrong” to suggest police did nothing in response to the concerns the woman had previously raised. Speaking on ABC Radio on Wednesday, he said police had acted on complaints raised to officers by Ms Bombara and her daughter Ariel. In a statement, Ariel said she and her mother had fled their home in March. She claimed to have spoken with police on three separate occasions between March 30 and April 2 where she flagged an “imminent threat” to their lives due to their father’s violent history and access to firearms. Ariel also claimed she was refused a 72-hour restraining order against her father. Mr Blanch said a family violence report was taken, per police policy, which triggered a “risk assessment” based on what was known at the time. “It sends information to the family and domestic violence response team so they can triage that information,” he said. “That was done. There was a triage meeting. It was referred to a third party through the Department of Communities for action. “All of those things did happen.” Mr Blanch said he was “concerned” about Ariel’s explanation of her experience with police, saying that was under investigation. But he reiterated police did what they were trained to do. “It is wrong to say police did nothing,” he said. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the weeks preceding the shooting would be investigated but indicated police were not aware of any complaints about family violence from the Bombaras prior to the shooting. “There were no formal reports ... the police did not have a record prior to that time of any incidents or offences or reports from the family with respect to him (Mr Bombara) prior to that time,” he said. Mr Papalia conceded the current laws were “inadequate” as Mr Bombara — who had no criminal record — was considered a “fit and proper person”. Western Australia is due to introduce the toughest gun laws in Australia but these could become even more strict following Friday’s murder. Premier Roger Cook has ordered a review into legislation that is currently before parliament to see if further reforms may have helped authorities prevent the tragedy. Mr Bombara was a licenced gun owner and owned 13 guns Two of those guns were used to kill Ms Petelczyc and her daughter. Mr Papalia on Wednesday said the current gun laws were inadequate and the new laws before parliament would have impacted Bombara from owning guns. “The new laws state, categorically, that the possession and use of a firearm is a privilege and that privilege is conditional on public safety,” he said. “This assumption drives every other part of the law and impacts every licenced firearm holder in the state. “In addition, there will be no recreational licence in the new laws. “He would have been impacted by the numerical limits of the new laws in that he would have only been able to possess five firearms. “He would have been subject to a health check with a mental health component and the collectors licence that he held would have been subject to far stricter regulations and requirements, which would have prevented him from being approved as a collector.” WA opposition leader Shane Love also weighed in on the tragedy, claiming the state government had downplayed suggestions WA Police knew about Mr Bombara’s firearms and the threat he posed. “However, as more information emerges, it’s clear the police minister did not gather the facts,” Mr Love said. “The police minister owes it to all Western Australians, especially to the Bombara and Petelczyc families, explain what WA Police knew, and why they chose not to act. “He also owes them an apology for trying to spin their tragedy into political point-scoring.” Mr Love also took aim at Mr Blanch for his actions in regards to concerns raised by Ariel Bombara. “Why was Ariel never given the opportunity to raise her concerns with a female officer or a member of the family and domestic violence response team?” he asked. “Ariel Bombara wants answers and she deserves them.”