‘Too many tragedies’: Ex-girlfriend’s burning of home evokes other fiery deaths

A coronial inquest into another fire-related domestic violence killing will be held, after the death of a man whose ex-girlfriend set his house on fire while he and their children were inside.

The deaths of Stanley Obi, 33, and his former partner Sarah Mudge, 31, will undergo a coronial inquest, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, as police were condemned this week for their actions regarding an earlier death.

An inquest has been held this week into the 2021 death of Doreen Langham, whose burnt body was found in the scorched shell of her Browns Plains townhouse.

Ms Langham’s ex-partner had set her home on fire, killing her and himself, after he repeatedly threatened to end her life.

The inquest into her death found Ms Langham interacted with 16 police officers, raising questions around whether police were adequately trained and if there was a culture problem within the Queensland Police Service.

Mr Obi and Ms Mudge’s deaths this week have drawn similarities with the case.

Sarah Mudge, 31, and Stanley Obi. Credit: Nine News

Both cases followed the horrific 2020 deaths of Hannah Clarke and her three children, set on fire in her car during the morning school run.

Ms Palaszczuk said domestic and family violence “has to stop”.

“There are far too many tragedies.”

On Thursday, Ms Mudge entered Mr Obi’s home in New Beith, Logan, a suburb close to Browns Plains, and began to “throw petrol around”, before setting the house on fire.

After the fire, her body was found in the home.

Three children, aged 5, 3, and 2, escaped without injuries, while Mr Obi’s partner was rushed to hospital for suspected airway burns.

But Mr Obi succumbed to his burns in hospital overnight.

Police were probing domestic violence links between Ms Mudge and Mr Obi, with recent court proceedings around the custody of three children a key factor.

Mr Obi died after he was taken to hospital with significant burns. Credit: Nine News

The day before Mr Obi died was “supposed to mark the beginning of a new chapter, having won custody of his children and guardianship of a third”, according to an online fundraiser created for the family.

“But in the early hours ... our colleague and friend Stanley, his partner and three children (all under five years of age), slept,” the post read.

“Somehow and thankfully, his current partner and three children escaped, but unfortunately Stanley himself was very badly burned while shielding his family and was initially in intensive care, but sadly did not survive through the night and passed away.”

In recent months, Ms Mudge had posted on an online sperm donation page looking for a donor who “might produce children who look similar to mine”.

“I have four wonderful children, but my heart is not yet full. My youngest is just 3 months and my eldest will be 5 in December,” Ms Mudge wrote in August.

“But I like to keep my babes close in age as I believe it fosters a closer bond.”

She was understood to have been declined by members of the online group.

Police Superintendent Mark White said previous domestic violence applications were made between Mr Obi and Ms Mudge.

In June, the state government will receive the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce’s final paper on women and girls’ experience in the criminal justice system.

“In terms of the police response, I am sure there will be a thorough coronial inquest into this,” the Premier said.

“She [taskforce head Margaret McMurdo] has done some excellent work initially, she has provided some recommendations, so we’ll look at that, and I’m quite sure the police will comment on that, but if there are any improvements that need to happen, they will be done.”

Deputy Commissioner Tracy Linford on Thursday said police had sought to strengthen their response to domestic and family violence in the past few years, with a particular focus on being victim-centric.

The fire at Mr Obi’s home. Credit: Nine News

But she admitted there were occasions when police “probably don’t” responded accurately to domestic violence.

Police responded to 120,000 domestic and family violence last year, she said, and officers spent about four hours on average attending those incidents.

“It’s a lot. Our people right now in the QPS spend 40 per cent of their police time investigating domestic and family violence. That is the scale of what’s happening out there.”

Three children were rushed to hospital. Credit: Nine News

She said in Ms Langham’s case all officers had the full domestic violence training.

Recruits at the academy underwent three full days of domestic violence-related theory, which included the relevant legislation, following by two days of practical exercises, and then two days of assessment in the academy, she said.

Once in the field, they were paired with a senior officer to gain further experiential training.

State Coroner Terry Ryan’s annual report tabled to Parliament highlighted a 14 per cent backlog of cases.