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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/31/queensland-police-wrongly-identified-woman-as-perpetrator-of-violence-after-she-was-raped-and-abused-report-finds
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| Queensland police: woman who was raped and abused killed herself after being wrongly identified as offender, report finds | Queensland police: woman who was raped and abused killed herself after being wrongly identified as offender, report finds |
| (3 months later) | |
| Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Board’s 2022 annual report found Maeve* took her own life after protection order issued | Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Board’s 2022 annual report found Maeve* took her own life after protection order issued |
| A Queensland woman who was raped, physically assaulted and subject to financial abuse by her partner, killed herself after being wrongly identified as a perpetrator of domestic violence by police, a coronial study has found. | A Queensland woman who was raped, physically assaulted and subject to financial abuse by her partner, killed herself after being wrongly identified as a perpetrator of domestic violence by police, a coronial study has found. |
| The 2022 report of the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Board raised concern that police and support services are missing – or not adequately responding to – key indicators of lethal risk. | The 2022 report of the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Board raised concern that police and support services are missing – or not adequately responding to – key indicators of lethal risk. |
| It revealed that Queensland police had prior contact with the primary perpetrator of domestic violence in more than 70% of intimate partner homicide cases, where the person had any contact with services, since 2016. | It revealed that Queensland police had prior contact with the primary perpetrator of domestic violence in more than 70% of intimate partner homicide cases, where the person had any contact with services, since 2016. |
| The annual report, tabled in parliament on Monday, highlights several anonymised homicide and suicide cases, including Maeve*, a mother of two children, who was pregnant when she died. | The annual report, tabled in parliament on Monday, highlights several anonymised homicide and suicide cases, including Maeve*, a mother of two children, who was pregnant when she died. |
| Maeve was subject to physical assault, rape, sexual violence, financial abuse, non-lethal strangulation and verbal abuse by her partner. | Maeve was subject to physical assault, rape, sexual violence, financial abuse, non-lethal strangulation and verbal abuse by her partner. |
| But she was named as the respondent – or perpetrator – on a domestic violence protection order taken out by police. | But she was named as the respondent – or perpetrator – on a domestic violence protection order taken out by police. |
| The report details that the police’s vulnerable persons unit raised concern that the order imposed by a frontline officer “was inappropriate as she was the victim of violence” and recommended that it be withdrawn. That advice was rejected by both the responding officer and his superior. | The report details that the police’s vulnerable persons unit raised concern that the order imposed by a frontline officer “was inappropriate as she was the victim of violence” and recommended that it be withdrawn. That advice was rejected by both the responding officer and his superior. |
| The day the order was ultimately withdrawn, Maeve attempted to kill herself and disclosed to police that her partner “had told her to kill herself”. | The day the order was ultimately withdrawn, Maeve attempted to kill herself and disclosed to police that her partner “had told her to kill herself”. |
| A police officer who attended the hospital then applied for a new protection order, listing Maeve as the respondent, on the basis that “exposing her ex-partner and her unborn child to threats (in this case actual) self-harm would seem to fall within the broad definition of DV”. | A police officer who attended the hospital then applied for a new protection order, listing Maeve as the respondent, on the basis that “exposing her ex-partner and her unborn child to threats (in this case actual) self-harm would seem to fall within the broad definition of DV”. |
| She killed herself three days later. | She killed herself three days later. |
| “Concerningly, on both occasions where police had contact with Maeve, the police officers turned off their body worn camera mid-interview with her,” the report said. | “Concerningly, on both occasions where police had contact with Maeve, the police officers turned off their body worn camera mid-interview with her,” the report said. |
| “On the first occasion, the pregnant Maeve had tried to explain that she had accidentally hit [her partner] – who was significantly taller than her – in self-defence, as she was trying to free herself from his restraint and to stop herself being thrown against the wall.” | “On the first occasion, the pregnant Maeve had tried to explain that she had accidentally hit [her partner] – who was significantly taller than her – in self-defence, as she was trying to free herself from his restraint and to stop herself being thrown against the wall.” |
| Police have previously claimed most domestic violence killings occur off the radar of authorities. | Police have previously claimed most domestic violence killings occur off the radar of authorities. |
| Last year, after the killings of Gold Coast women Kelly Wilkinson and Doreen Langham, the Queensland police said that in 70% of domestic violence homicide cases over six years, police had no interaction with the victim. | Last year, after the killings of Gold Coast women Kelly Wilkinson and Doreen Langham, the Queensland police said that in 70% of domestic violence homicide cases over six years, police had no interaction with the victim. |
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| Assistant commissioner Brian Codd made similar claims in an interview with the Guardian in May 2021, to argue for the need for broader community responsibility. He said police needed to “be open to the fact there are still some horrific practices that are perpetuated mainly by men we never know nothing about”. | Assistant commissioner Brian Codd made similar claims in an interview with the Guardian in May 2021, to argue for the need for broader community responsibility. He said police needed to “be open to the fact there are still some horrific practices that are perpetuated mainly by men we never know nothing about”. |
| The death review report says that in 73% of intimate partner-related homicides from 2016 to 2022, the primary perpetrator of violence in those relationships had known prior contact with police. | The death review report says that in 73% of intimate partner-related homicides from 2016 to 2022, the primary perpetrator of violence in those relationships had known prior contact with police. |
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| In 68.3% of such cases, the primary victim of violence had known prior contact. | In 68.3% of such cases, the primary victim of violence had known prior contact. |
| The Queensland police service said that data might not capture some cases, where people had “no known service contact”, including with GPs, hospitals, lawyers and mental health services. Sources say they are not aware of any intimate partner homicide case not captured by the data. | The Queensland police service said that data might not capture some cases, where people had “no known service contact”, including with GPs, hospitals, lawyers and mental health services. Sources say they are not aware of any intimate partner homicide case not captured by the data. |
| Police also said the data referred only to intimate partner homicides and did not capture family or informal care relationships. | Police also said the data referred only to intimate partner homicides and did not capture family or informal care relationships. |
| The death review board raised concerns that in some cases there “was a lack of understanding of, and response to, disclosures made by people experiencing domestic and family violence”. | The death review board raised concerns that in some cases there “was a lack of understanding of, and response to, disclosures made by people experiencing domestic and family violence”. |
| “This resulted in key risk indicators being missed, or not adequately responded to, including non-lethal strangulation, non-consensual sexual acts (sexual violence), escalation of violence, threats to kill … [a] history of violent behaviours, and the victim’s sense of being in danger.” | “This resulted in key risk indicators being missed, or not adequately responded to, including non-lethal strangulation, non-consensual sexual acts (sexual violence), escalation of violence, threats to kill … [a] history of violent behaviours, and the victim’s sense of being in danger.” |
| The board found the impact of “misidentification and criminalisation is greatest for First Nations women”. | The board found the impact of “misidentification and criminalisation is greatest for First Nations women”. |
| “First Nations women and allies have argued that the structures established to respond to domestic and family violence should focus on social programs designed and controlled by the communities they are intended to serve, rather than expansions of the criminal law.” | “First Nations women and allies have argued that the structures established to respond to domestic and family violence should focus on social programs designed and controlled by the communities they are intended to serve, rather than expansions of the criminal law.” |
| The Queensland police service said: “any homicide is a concern for the QPS and it is important we understand as much as we can around the circumstances leading up to homicides.” | The Queensland police service said: “any homicide is a concern for the QPS and it is important we understand as much as we can around the circumstances leading up to homicides.” |
| *Not her real name | *Not her real name |
| In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org | In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org |
| In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org | In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org |