Coroner's Court of Western Australia

Inquest into the Death of Shionah Violet Teneille Carter

Delivered on 12 September 2014 at Perth.

Finding of E F Vicker, Deputy State Coroner.

Recommendations

The Western Australia Police Communications Centre include the voice call from 3:21am on 15 August 2010, as a practical case study for 000 call takers to use in their initial training to become 000 call takers. Consideration should also be given to using the call as a refresher case study for call takers in certain circumstances.

In furthering the development of computer aided dispatch, Western Australia Police assess it for its capability to include an automated system of electronic alerts, where information relevant to possible dangers at an address, or posed by a caller, can be automatically fed between the computer aided dispatch job created by a 000 call taker, and the 000 call taker’s screens, via IMS.

Alerts should be linked to the confirmed caller line identification data (name, address and number) and may include such things as previous domestic violence incidents at the address, or those involving the caller; previous calls from the number to 000 within the last 15 to 24 hours; violent offences attracting imprisonment (linked to the caller, subscriber, any other names entered into computer aided dispatch by the call taker).

This system would supplement the current ad hoc reporting of matters of concern by officers external to the Police Communications Centre. This should be done with a view to the function being implemented to the extent possible within the core functionality of the future system.

Summary

The deceased was a 26 year old female who died on 15 August 2010 from a combined result of a number of injuries sustained during a prolonged altercation with her partner.

The inquest examined police protocols and procedures surrounding 000 calls and whether any police action contributed to the death of the deceased.

The Coroner found that the deceased’s partner both caused and contributed to her death. It was possible, but unknown, earlier medical intervention could have prevented her death.

The Deputy State Coroner made two recommendations.

The Deputy State Coroner found that death arose by way of Unlawful Homicide.

Catch Words

000 Calls : s.22(1)(b) Coroners Act 1996 : s.53(2) Coroners Act 1996 : Training : methylamphetamine.


Last updated: 20 July 2022

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