‘Send a chill along anyone’s spine’: The ‘creepy’ moments before woman’s death

Doreen Langham was sitting outside her friend’s home, to which she had fled, when she told police she could be killed in three weeks, an inquest into her death has revealed.

The inquest, at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday, dove into the final moments of Ms Langham’s life, assessing the police response to her domestic violence claims.

Doreen Langham. Credit: Facebook

Ms Langham had fled to her friend’s home in Marsden in Logan, and called police, where she laughed nervously as she described the threats that had been made by her ex-partner, Gary Hely.

Hely would later kill her and himself after he brought several litres of petrol and set fire to Ms Langham’s Browns Plains home in February 2021.

Before this, Ms Langham told police Hely had told her she could be “T-boned”, “sniper shot” or “bashed”.

Ms Langham told officers Hely had snuck into her bedroom and taken photos of her while she was sleeping, later sending them to her with messages about “how peaceful” she looked.

Ms Langham and Gary Hely died in a house fire in Browns Plains after Hely brought several litres of petrol to the property and started a fire. Credit: Nine News

It was an act Ms Langham described to police as “creepy”.

Counsel assisting the coroner Ben Jackson told the court Ms Langham’s last moments must have been “filled with terror” and there were inadequacies with how police responded, notably that no police protection order was issued to Ms Langham.

He said Hely had made threats to Ms Langham on the day of her death that would “send a chill along anyone’s spine”.

One of the police officers who was called to give evidence at the inquest became emotional and cried during her recount of the event, causing the hearing to be adjourned for a few minutes.

Doreen Langham at her daughter Tabitha’s wedding.

She told the court she was not adequately trained and there needed to be more domestic violence training.

When asked about how she would have treated the situation differently, the officer said she would not have relied on Ms Langham’s demeanour as much and instead asked more questions, including whether Ms Langham had evidence of the claims, or if there was a history of violence between the pair.

In body-worn camera vision shown in court, the officer said it would appear Ms Langham was not injured.

“Right now what I see ... I don’t see you being injured, you seem calm, you seem happy, you’re here with your mates. You’re not bashing down my door bawling your eyes out, you’re not covered in blood, I don’t have to go ‘holy crap, I really need to check her’,” the officer says in the recording.

Daughters Shayne Probert (left) and Tabitha Bleys at the service for their late mother in February last year. Credit: Fairfax Media

“Unfortunately for you, that is a bad thing, because we need to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that domestic violence has occurred.”

The officer told Coroner Jane Bentley she now knew that was incorrect, but was later questioned by Mr Jackson why she did not ask for further evidence from Ms Langham or check whether she was fearful.

The officer replied that she did not know why she did not ask Ms Langham if she was fearful.

Mr Jackson also asked whether she contemplated a police protection notice in relation to Ms Langham.

“I don’t recall,” the officer answered.

The officer was questioned on several other issues, including her domestic violence training, and why she did not follow up on Hely’s claims that he was in NSW.

She told the court that she took Hely’s word.

The officer told the court she acted on instruction from her sergeant, who told her to obtain Hely’s version of events.

The inquest continues.

If you or someone you know needs help or support, contact DV Connect on 1800 811 811 or 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or the Brisbane Domestic Violence Service on 07 3217 2544.