Police set to finish report into suicide of woman who accused former federal Attorney-General Christian Porter of rape

SA police have been investigating the suicide of the woman who accused Christian Porter of rape – and now they’re nearly finished.

The police report into the suicide of the Adelaide woman who accused former attorney-general Christian Porter of rape is almost complete.

The lengthy report, compiled after six months of renewed investigations by a team of detectives, will be handed to State Coroner David Whittle within a fortnight.

Mr Whittle will then examine the report and decide if he will hold an inquest into the woman’s June 2020 suicide at her eastern-suburbs home.

Former Attorney-General Christian Porter at his press conference in Perth on March 3, 2021, at which he confirmed he was at the centre of historical rape allegations, which he has denied. Picture: Stefan Gosatti / AFP

In March, Mr Whittle asked police to conduct further investigations into her death following the sensational revelations of sexual assault allegations.

Mr Porter strenuously denies the allegations and has never been charged.

It can be revealed that following Mr Whittle’s request for further inquiries, a team of up to four detectives seconded from several CIB units was assembled that considerably widened the scope of the original report into the woman’s death.

A source said when the original police report was sent back by Mr Whittle “it was clear the pool of people to be spoken to needed to be widened”.

“That has been done and it is a comprehensive report,’’ the source said.

“It is fair to say that because of the political ramifications it has probably had more attention than many other coroner’s reports.’’

SA coroner David Whittle (AAP Image/Kelly Barnes)

It is understood the report includes statements from dozens of individuals that include close friends of the woman in whom she had confided in the years leading up to her death, along with medical reports and statements relating to her mental health treatment.

The police investigation has not been into the historical rape allegations but the circumstances of the woman’s suicide death.

The woman first made the allegations to SA police in November 2019 and the matter was referred to NSW police in February last year.

NSW police closed their investigation after determining there was insufficient evidence to mount a prosecution.

If Mr Whittle decides an inquest is warranted, it would focus on identifying if any systemic failures in procedures had occurred and examine what changes may be needed to prevent similar deaths in the future.