Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Beasley (also known as Graeme Leslie Syme)

Inquest into the Death of BEASLEY (also known as Graeme Leslie Syme)

Delivered on :11 July 2017

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner King

Recommendations :Yes

That the Western Australian government review and, if appropriate, amend or repeal the requirement in s107B Sentencing Administration Act 2003 for the Prisoners Review Board to give a prisoner written notice of a decision to amend, suspend or cancel an early release order as soon as practicable after the decision is made.

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : Yes

No report may be published of the inquest or any part of the proceedings or any of the evidence given at the inquest that could lead to the identification of the deceased’s partner or of the deceased’s and his partner’s son.

Summary : The deceased at the time of his death was a sentenced prisoner. He was in the custody of the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Corrective Services under s16 of the Prisons Act 1971.

The focus of the inquest was on the Adult Community Correction’s supervision of the deceased while he was on parole; Adult Community Correction’s decision to suspend the parole order, and the legislative requirement that the Board notify parolees in writing of the cancellation of their parole orders.

The deceased had been placed on parole, but on 26 May 2014 his parole order was suspended by Adult Community Correction officers after he had tested positive to methylamphetamine.

On 28 May 2014 the Prisoners Review Board cancelled his parole order and, in accordance with the relevant legislation, notified him by letter that the parole was cancelled and that he would have to return to prison. The Board issued a warrant for the deceased’s arrest, but the warrant was never executed.

On 10 June 2014 the deceased attended the Adult Community Corrections Wangara Reporting Centre where he produced a knife and stabbed himself with it repeatedly. He was taken by ambulance to Royal Perth Hospital, but he died from his injuries two days later.

The Coroner found the deceased’s treatment and care while at Royal Perth Hospital was appropriate, but that the Adult Community Correction’s supervision of him while he was on parole did not comply with the requirements of the conditions on the parole order.

The Coroner made a recommendation that Government consider amending or repealing the legislative requirement for the Board to notify parolees in writing as soon as practical of parole cancellations.

The Coroner found the deceased died on 12 June 2014 at Royal Perth Hospital from complications of penetrating sharp force injuries through the chest and abdomen (surgically treated) in a man with coronary artery atherosclerosis and death occurred by way of suicide.

Catch Words : Adult Community Corrections : Parole Order suspensions : Notification to clients : Suicide.


Last updated: 30-Apr-2019

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