Whispering Wall murder: Kill threat against baby Kobi revealed in chilling court papers

Baby Kobi’s father was arrested for threatening to kill her months ago, had a history of violence – and a ban on accessing her was lifted just hours before her murder.

Whispering Wall murderer Henry David Shepherdson threatened to kill his daughter Kobi late last year – and was refused police bail due to his “penchant for firearms”.

The Advertiser can also reveal Shepherdson had been accused of imprisoning Kobi’s mother in SA and had “an extensive history of violence” in WA, including a 2014 knifepoint robbery.

That criminal history kept Shepherdson in custody until March this year – when the accusations of assaulting and threatening to kill Kobi were dropped.

It can also be revealed a court-imposed ban, preventing Shepherdson from going within 200m of Kobi, was lifted only hours before the murder on Wednesday.

The Advertiser had previously revealed Shepherdson had been in court that day, when a variation of the ban was sought.

That means the little girl was lawfully in Shepherdson’s custody when he killed himself and murdered Kobi, nine months, at the Whispering Wall reservoir in the Barossa.

On Friday, Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said it did not appear that the legal system had failed Kobi and her family.

“It seems that there has been an agreement between the parties as to what is to progress, and what is to remain, in respect of the protective orders,” she said.

“It seems on the face of it, no (the system did not fail the family) but, again, that’s a matter that’s subject to police inquiry.”

Kobi’s mother wanted her baby girl to be remembered with this photo in particular. This was her favourite.

Kobi Shepherdson, aged nine months, in a picture provided by her mother.

Court documents, released on Friday, show Shepherdson, 38, of Torrensville, was arrested at Largs Bay on December 16, 2020.

READ: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD ASKS ABOUT KOBI TRAGEDY

He was charged with two aggravated counts of threatening to kill or endanger life, and two aggravated counts of assaulting a child or spouse.

Shepherdson was further charged with one count of false imprisonment.

The documents allege the offences occurred on December 16 and that the victims were Kobi and her mother.

Shepherdson, they allege, threatened to kill Kobi’s mother, assaulted her and also prevented her from leaving the residence in which the offending took place.

They further allege Shepherdson assaulted and threatened to kill Kobi “knowing that the victim was a child of whom he had custody as a parent or guardian”.

At 6.40pm that day, Shepherdson sought bail at the Port Adelaide Police Station, which was refused.

In the written reasons for refusal, SA Police noted Shepherdson had “two prior breaches of bail in WA”.

“He lacks a fixed address (in SA) and has ties to WA, where he has an extensive history of violence,” they wrote.

WA court documents show Shepherdson robbed the Ezy Plus deli in Kardinya at knifepoint in June 2014.

He grabbed $280 before fleeing, but not before apologising to the person behind the counter – he was arrested and charged days later.

In sentencing, WA Justice John Chaney said Shepherdson was born in Perth, that his parents separated when he was four, and he moved to Kalgoorlie with his mother.

He spent most of his childhood there – his mother, however, abused heroin.

“You were reasonably successful at school and you completed Year 12, but by that time you had begun to experiment with alcohol and illegal drugs,” Justice Chaney said.

He said that, after finishing school, Shepherdson and his mother moved to Adelaide – they returned to Perth in 2012 after he had been in trouble with the law.

“By that time, you had been in prison twice in SA for assault and deprivation of liberty-type offences,” he said.

Justice Chaney imposed a 2 ½-year prison term – court records do not detail how much of that sentence he served before being released on parole.

Kobi was nine months old when she died after her father leapt from the Whispering Wall, with her attached to him in a baby carrier.

Kobi Shepherdson in one of the photos supplied by her mother.

SA Police’s other reasons for refusing Shepherdson bail, in December last year, included his “attitude towards partners”.

“It is believed he has a penchance (sic) for firearms and has a history of such in WA,” police wrote.

“There are fears he may obtain firearms and hurt the victims.”

Shepherdson faced the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court the following day, did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody.

He next appeared in court on March 4, 2021, at which time the charges were dropped and he was released.

No reason is given, on the court papers, for the decision to drop the charges.

At the time of his death, Shepherdson had two outstanding court cases – the one for which he appeared the day of the murder, and a speeding case that was next due in court in May.

On Friday, Ms Chapman said she would not comment further on specifics of the case while police investigations were ongoing.

“I am not going to prejudge the circumstances, or introduce a proposal, or impose an obligation on other families, until we get to the bottom of what happened in this case,” she said.

“I will not disrespect this family’s grief.”