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'Missed opportunity' before DV homicide

Luke CostinAAP
Police were justified in shooting Tafari Walton who'd killed his partner, a coroner says.
Camera IconPolice were justified in shooting Tafari Walton who'd killed his partner, a coroner says. Credit: AAP

A coroner has recommended police almost always physically meet victims of suspected domestic violence after a woman was murdered shortly after a phone welfare check.

Gabby Thompson, 27, was tied up and fatally stabbed by her long-time violent and jealous partner Tafari Walton, 22, about 11am on March 13, 2019.

Walton then led police on a chase around the Lake Macquarie region before he was fatally shot.

Their inquest heard Walton had called a number of Ms Thompson's friends the night before, leading one to call police about her concern Ms Thompson would be harmed.

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That friend recalled telling police she was afraid Walton would stab and potentially kill her friend.

But the dispatch officer disputed the mention of concern for homicide, saying he would have included it in his admittedly brief "concern for welfare" note.

Despite more information being added later, the senior constable who eventually spoke to Ms Thompson didn't know there was a concern of suspected domestic violence.

Thus, he conducted the welfare check over the phone, satisfied by her "chirpy" responses and denial of a need for police assistance.

While not critical of the senior constable, NSW State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan said: "The failure of police to see Gabby following the concern for welfare report represents a missed opportunity to take action to protect her."

There were sound reasons why all incidents relating to suspected domestic violence should be recorded as such, including ensuring attending police were aware of their nature, she said.

In most cases, police should also attend on victims as seeing them may reveal information about their physical appearance, location and the other people who are present.

"There may of course be reasons in particular cases why attending a victim would be unsafe or inappropriate, but absent these exceptional circumstances, police should attend," Ms O'Sullivan said.

The coroner also recommended corrective services properly guide community corrections officers when to report a breach of bail and order regular drug testing.

In the lead-up to Ms Thompson's murder, Walton took drugs for an extended period despite a specific bail condition not to use drugs.

She found police were justified in shooting Walton when he lunged at an officer with a knife.

Capsicum spray had been used prior.

She found the couple's relationship included significant, ongoing domestic violence, with Walton the primary perpetrator and Ms Thompson the primary victim.

But few reports were made to police or other authorities, despite Ms Thompson going to work bruised and her friends and family being aware of the violence.

Ms O'Sullivan accepted the couple's friends and family were in a difficult position, particularly given Ms Thompson's reluctance to involve police.

"However, the circumstances of Gabby's death underline the risk that domestic violence posed to Gabby, and the tragic consequences of not taking more action to protect her," she said.

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