Inquest told baby Kobi and her mother were incorrectly classified as ‘medium risk’ before murder-suicide at Whispering Wall

The baby killed in a horrific murder-suicide was wrongly classified as at “medium risk” of violence by her father before a non-contact order was eased, an inquest has heard.

A domestic violence police officer teared up as she recounted that baby Kobi Shepherdson and her mother should have been classified at “high risk” of violence by her murderous father.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Senior Constable Loriann Harris of SA Police family and domestic violence, policy and training said inaccuracies in the risk assessment which led to her endorsing changes in a non-contact order.

Senior Constable Loriann Harris of SAPOL family and domestic violence section gave evidence in the Whispering Wall murder-suicide inquest. Picture: Dean Martin

In a case that horrified the nation, Henry Shepherdson drove his nine-month-old daughter to Whispering Wall reservoir on April 21, 2021.

At 4.30pm, Shepherdson jumped off the 36m-high dam as witnesses watched in shock. Both died at the scene.

Murderous dad’s violent past revealed

Opening the inquest on Tuesday, counsel assisting Martin Kirby told the court Shepherdson had a history of domestic violence.

The court was told Shepherdson met Kobi’s mother, who moved to SA six months prior, on a dating app in 2019 and fell pregnant with Kobi after a month.

Mr Kirby said police first became involved in October 2020 after Shepherdson’s abuse of Kobi’s mother continued to worsen.

The court was told Shepherdson was arrested on December 16, 2020, for alleged offences against Kobi and her mother, including false imprisonment and threats to kill.

He was remanded in custody and a court order was served on him, preventing him from any contact with Kobi and her mother.

Kobi Shepherdson was nine months old when she was killed by her father in April 2021. Picture: SA Police

Kobi Shepherdson’s father was granted access to her despite his history of violence. Picture: SA Police

In January 2021, Kobi’s mother began receiving phone calls from Shepherdson in prison, while the order was still in place.

“Whilst in custody Mr Shepherdson called and spoke with (Kobi’s mother) 149 times,” Mr Kirby said.

Mr Kirby said in the recorded calls a “highly manipulative” Shepherdson could be heard exerting pressure on Kobi’s mother to withdraw the charges against him.

“None of these reported calls were known to police, police investigators, to prosecutors or to the Magistrates Court,” he said.

The Whispering Wall. Picture: Mike Burton

In February 2021, Kobi’s mother signed a form to have the charges dropped against Shepherdson and he was released in March.

The order continued at Kobi’s mother’s request but she eventually contacted police to have that withdrawn too.

The court was told the order was downgraded on April 21, 2021, at consent of prosecution, to allow Shepherdson to have contact with Kobi and her mother.

That same day Shepherdson arranged to spend time with Kobi before taking her to Whispering Wall. Kobi was attached to Shepherdson, 38, in a baby carrier when members of the public saw him jump from the popular tourist attraction near Williamstown in the Barossa Valley.

Members of the public tried to save baby Kobi, and emergency services found them working on her when they arrived. Shepherdson was found deceased.

“This was murder-suicide that shocked South Australians,” Mr Kirby said.

Mr Kirby said the inquest would investigate the holes Shepherdson slipped through, including how he was able to contact Kobi’s mother 149 times in prison and evidence about how SA police handle domestic violence cases.

On Wednesday, Snr-Cst Harris told the court she spoke to Kobi’s mother on March 29, 2021 who told her she wanted to allow Shepherdson to see Kobi.

Snr-Cst Harris said her focus was on how they could enable contact to make it a safe environment for everyone if they did make those changes.

“I remember saying if it were my baby I wouldn’t want to just hand it over,” she said.

Snr-Cst Harris said Kobi’s mother was classified as “medium risk” on a risk assessment form but she only read as far to see his aggravated assault charges.

Tearing up, Snr-Cst Harris said if she had recognised Shepherdson’s charges of threats to kill – including to kill himself, Kobi and her mother – she would have realised there were inaccuracies in the risk assessment.

She said she would have recorded that Kobi and her mother continued to be at “high risk” and would have noted that she doesn’t recommend or support the non contact order being reduced.

“Regardless it’s her (Kobi’s mother) decision but I guess it would have better informed the prosecutor had she known about that,” Snr-Cst Harris said.
Former SA police prosecutor, Tahni Whybrow, who consented to the non-contact order being changed, also gave evidence.

She told the inquest she would have rejected supporting the application if made aware prior to the court hearing that Shepherdson had called Kobi’s mother 149 times from prison.

“I could almost 100 per cent say had I known that there had been contact ... and the extent of that contact, that would have been enough of a flag for me to say that I think there’s been some level of pressure being applied there,” she said.

The court heard if prosecution had known they may have considered laying other charges on Shepherdson, such as attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“All of which had you known would have made this day completely different, in terms of your support,” Deputy State Coroner Ian White remarked.

The inquest continues.