Coroner believes that police officer has acted ‘too hasty’ before he shot the woman

A West -Australian coroner has discovered that the fatal shooting of a woman could be prevented by the police in a street in Geraldton and made nine recommendations to prevent a similar result in the future.

Warning: The following story contains discussions about suicidal ideas and the image of a native person who has died.

The 29-year-old Ngarlawangga Yamatji Martu-Vrouw, referred to as JC for cultural reasons, was shot by officer Brent Wyndham, after recently released from prison and reported that she was walking through a suburbs in September 2019.

Two years later, Mr Wyndham was acquitted of murder after he told his WA Supreme Court process that he was acting in self-defense, in the conviction that she would stab him before firing his weapon.

The verdict led to an outpouring of JC’s friends and family sorrow, as well as the local indigenous community.

A two -week coronary study in Geraldton and Perth investigated the actions of the eight officers at the site of the shooting.

‘Legal murder’

The research was aimed at factors, including the circumstances of the death of JC, the adequacy of the WA police policy and the training with regard to de-escalation and the use of violence, and the adequacy of mental health care that she received in the weeks prior to her death.

Coroner Ros Fogliani eventually found JC’s death as a “legal murder”.

However, she discovered that there were a number of options for the police to de-escalate the situation.

Coroner Fogliani said that JC’s death could be prevented, even though it was unknown whether a de-escalation tactic could have prevented the shooting.

The findings have detailed how JC had endured a difficult life, which was marred by long -term effects, with its likely fetal alcohol spectrum disorder that contributed to its volatility.

She said that JC’s social factors were “overwhelming” and have contributed to some cases of poor decision -making in her life.

‘Fragile mental state’

The findings stated that JC’s homelessness has exacerbated its “fragile mental state”, which led to suicide thoughts.

Both the research and the process emphasized the important challenges with which JC was confronted with access to effective mental health care, especially after her return to Geraldton.

She was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and psychosis induced by medicines at the age of 20, with an additional diagnosis of schizophrenia in later years.

But with the majority of her treatment that took place in Perth, the research that she was effectively fell from the radar of local support services after her return to the country.

One of Mrs Fogliani’s recommendations is a call for better information between WA’s different health services, as well as between health and the WA police, about potentially vulnerable people who come in again.

“That she died three weeks after her release from prison … is significant,” said Corporate Fogliani.

The coroner said that Mr. Wyndham JC shot down within 17 seconds after leaving his vehicle.

“He acted too hastily in the direction of the threat of JC, not considering communication with the other police officer who tried to get in touch with JC and place himself in a situation where he was the need to shoot,” she said.

Shooting ‘enlarging distrust’

Coroner Fogliani said that the premature death of JC caused immeasurable sadness for her family and caused suffering for Aboriginal communities.

“Unfortunately, it reactivated and increased the historical distrust and antipathy that many Aboriginal -people feel towards police officers, for reasons that are known and deeply embedded in the unfortunate and brutal consequences of colonization,” she said.

The coroner said she was satisfied that WA police missed the opportunities to effectively train the officers present at the incident.

“There were missed opportunities to communicate, so JC might be approached so quickly,” she said.

Coroner Fogliani said she could not rule out that JC had a psychotic episode when she was shot deadly.

“JC fell through the cracks in the system,” she said.

The coroner said she was hopeful that her recommendations would help offer “continuity of care and follow -up” when Aboriginals are removed from the country for treatment.

Recommendations

The findings also include nine recommendations from the coroner, with the first improving relationships with Aboriginal communities.

Coroner Fogliani said that the setting up of a section or branch within the WA police must be taken into account that focuses on improving the relationship between the police and Aboriginals.

Coroner Fogliani ordered WA-Politie to supervise the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training, to be designed together with and delivered by native people-regulated.

She asked for the effect of intergenerational trauma, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and the importance of cultural well -being, to be a focus.

There was a recommendation for six police officers to follow extra training.

Coroner Fogliani has also made a number of recommendations in the treatment of people with psychological problems.

She called for the Ministry of Health to consult with WA Police, when working on how relevant information, such as mental disorders can be shared between agencies.

A recommendation was also made to discharge care providers to consider local health services that a patient returned to the country or an area that they usually live.

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