Domestic violence research shows shocking statistics for SA

MORE than half of murders with a known killer in South Australia over the past 10 years are linked to domestic violence, research from the State Coroner’s office shows.

• SA’s domestic violence toll revealed
• Zahra Abrahimzadeh: How the police failed this mother
• Graziella Daillér: Children blame system for their mother’s death
• Lana Towers: Michael McDonald jailed for murder of partner
• Glenys Heyward: The tragic, horrific death of Glenys

MORE than half of murders with a known killer in South Australia over the past 10 years are linked to domestic violence, research from the State Coroner’s office shows.

A senior research officer within Coroner Mark Johns’ office has undertaken preliminary work to develop a database designed to create a “retrospective analysis of SA homicide deaths which have an identified domestic violence context”.

The preliminary findings — published in Mr Johns’ annual report 2015-16 — showed there were 104 homicides between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2015, where a killer had been identified and the relationship between the killer and victim was known.

Zahra Abrahimzadeh was stabbed to death by husband Zialloh in front of 300 shocked witnesses at the Adelaide Convention Centre in March 2010. Mrs Abrahimzadeh had moved to divorce her abusive husband after 20 years of violence. Zialloh, who was sentenced in 2012, is serving a minimum 26-year jail term.

Graziella Daillér was found murdered in her rented Encounter Bay home in May 2014. Her killer, Dion Muir, took his own life. An interim intervention order had been issued against Mr Muir but he was repeatedly allowed to harass her.

Of those 104 murders, 59 had a link to domestic violence including 52 victims who were in an intimate or domestic relationship with the primary perpetrator.

A further seven murder victims were killed in a domestic violence context despite not knowing the perpetrator.

Examples included good Samaritans or police officers stepping in to diffuse a domestic dispute and being killed as a consequence, or someone killing the new partner of their ex-partner.

Arman Abrahimzadeh — whose father murdered his mother Zahra at the Adelaide Convention Centre in 2010 — said the figures were “alarming”.

“But I have to ask — what now?” he said.

“It’s all well and good (compiling the statistics) because we need to know the extent of the issue but we need to know what is going to happen next to change it.”

Victims’ Rights Commissioner Michael O’Connell said domestic violence responses — including preventive programs and support for victims — should be grounded on solid evidence, such as statistical data and analysis.

“One of the coroner’s functions is to examine deaths resulting from domestic violence and, as appropriate, to identify systemic failings that contributed to such deaths then to recommend ways to prevent deaths,” he said.

Lana Towers — Michael Suve McDonald used a vacuum cleaner pole and his fists to inflict a brutal attack on partner and young mum Lana Towers, 25, at their Aldinga Beach home in May 2013. McDonald was sentenced to at least 23 years in jail over the murder.

Glenys Heyward, 53, was abducted and murdered by her partner, Neil Heyward, in July 2007, after being lured to a vacant Mt Gambier home by youngest son Matthew Heyward. Neil Heyward took his own life while in prison awaiting trial.

“Given on average on one woman dies each week in Australia due to domestic violence, prevention must be a central focus of our efforts to address such violence.

“The coroner’s work is necessary and vital to save lives.

“His office and those who work with him should be properly resourced but that should not be at the expense of those working at the ‘coal face’, helping, for instance, victims escape violence.”

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Mr Johns said resources dedicated to domestic violence death reviews in South Australia were limited.

“More detailed reporting would be desirable but that is dependent on the provision of resources,” she said.

“It is difficult to quantify what additional resources would be required.”

An SA Police spokesman said it was not appropriate to comment on the coroner’s report.

He said there had been an increase in cases reported to police.

But he attributed that to improved reporting of domestic violence incidents as well as policy changes stemming from an internal review following the death of Mrs Abrahimzadeh.

Last June, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed seven South Australians had died as a result of domestic violence in 2015-16 and six died during the previous financial year.

Mr Stevens made the revelation after SA Police media had previously told The Advertiser it was “not in a position to release” the information.

When killers are close to home

Of the 104 homicides in SA with a known relationship between victim and killer from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2015:

■ 52 victims were in an intimate or domestic relationship with the primary perpetrator

■ Seven victims did not know their killer but were a bystander, good Samaritan or third party to a domestic violence relationship

■ 45 homicides had no link to domestic violence

Source: State Coroner’s office