Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Isiah Duane KEARING

Inquest into the Death of Isiah Duane KEARING

Delivered on :22 June 2018

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Linton

Recommendations :N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : At the time of his death the deceased was 20 years old. He had been experiencing some personal issues and mild depressive symptoms in the months prior to his death but his death by suicide was sudden and wholly unexpected.

In the hours prior to his death the deceased had been involved in an incident that had resulted in him being briefly arrested by police before he was released without charge. The deceased spoke to his family and friends about the incident and appeared upset.

The deceased had been arrested together with a number of his cousins after a party at a hall. There is a conflict in the accounts between the deceased and the police in respect to the treatment and care provided to the deceased on the night, but clearly the arrest left the deceased being upset and angry.

The deceased later that night spoke with his girlfriend and he was seen to be crying and upset. The deceased’s father and cousin also spoke to the deceased and tried to assure him of their support.  His father and cousin then went to bed, assuming the deceased would follow them.  Instead, the deceased left the house and hanged himself.  At approximately 3.00 am on 29 December 2013 a man was walking along Jarrah Grove in Gosnells and as he neared the intersection with Rainbird Way he found the deceased hanging from a tree on the street verge.

The Coroner found that the conduct of the police officers did not directly contribute to the deceased’s death but it is clear that he felt humiliation and despair at his treatment by the police on the night and what he saw as an injustice. In combination with other issues he had in his life, it led him to decide that life was not worth living.  The incident reinforces the need for more cultural awareness training for police.

The Coroner concluded the deceased died on 29 December 2013 as a result of ligature compression to the neck (hanging) and death occurred by way of suicide.

Catch Words : Use of restraints and handcuffs by police : Cultural Awareness Training : Body Worn Video by Police : Recording of Pod Camera Footage : Suicide.


Last updated: 30-Apr-2019

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