SA Police investigating death of Holdfast Bay councillor Mikki Bouchee who had received ’bullying’ emails

Police are investigating the death of a long-serving Adelaide councillor after she received “bullying” emails.

Police have interviewed senior members of an Adelaide council in relation to the death of a long-serving elected member.

The Advertiser can reveal Holdfast Bay Council mayor Amanda Wilson and deputy mayor Rebecca Abley met with police at the council chamber last month over the unexpected passing of Mikki Bouchee, the former member of the council’s Somerton Ward.

The Advertiser has learned Ms Bouchee, 70, had raised concerns with colleagues regarding “bullying” emails from a member of the public in the days before her July 30 death.

Ms Wilson confirmed she and Ms Abley met with officers from Henley Beach police station on August 9 to discuss the correspondence.

“She was really upset and distressed about the emails,” Ms Wilson said, declining to comment further on the meeting.

Ms Wilson said it was her “understanding” Ms Bouchee had a heart attack. She said Ms Bouchee had called for an ambulance.

A police spokeswoman said Western District police were preparing a report for the coroner in relation to Ms Bouchee’s death, which they have described as “non-suspicious”.

“We are unable to disclose any dealings with individuals due to privacy principles,” she said.

Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson

Ms Bouchee, who had served more than 25 years on the Glenelg and Holdfast Bay councils, had circulated copies of the emails to elected members. She lived alone, was not married and has no next of kin.

Ms Abley said Ms Wilson had asked her to attend a meeting with two police officers.

She said Ms Bouchee had called her in an anxious state 24 hours before she died at her Glenelg South home.

“To say she was a bit distressed by the correspondence would be an understatement,” she said.

“Part way through the conversation she had to hang up the phone and compose herself and that’s very out of character for Mikki.

“She was unwell at the time and she was affected by the correspondence she received.”

Holdfast Bay Councillor Jane Fleming said she received emails from Ms Bouchee in the “days before she passed away” that she said in her opinion were “bullying and harassing a woman who was vulnerable and on her own”.

“I rang her straight away to see if she was okay and she was quite distressed,” she said. “I was horrified and shocked with the language used.”