24 dead, stalking, sexual offences and assault: Qld’s DV state of emergency

Queensland’s domestic violence scourge has worsened into a state of emergency, as shocking new data shows increases in almost every offence and more than 20 people killed.

• List: Qld DV convictions in 2023

Queensland’s domestic violence scourge is now a state of emergency, as shocking new data shows increases in almost every offence in just a year, and more than 20 people killed, allegedly by a partner or relative.

The Courier-Mail can reveal 24 people were allegedly murdered by their partner or family member in the 2022-23 financial year, compared to 16 the previous year – an increase of 50 per cent.

And a third of the alleged killers had a domestic violence order against them, or had contact with police in the 12 months before the deaths.

Police allege Emily Thompson, 18, was murdered by her 19-year-old ex-partner Aaron Daniel Mitchelson Huckel, on October 22, 2022. Photo: Supplied.

The grim data comes more than a year after a damning Commission of Inquiry into police responses to domestic and family violence, where 78 recommendations were made, and two years after the Hear Her Voice report, which catalogued 89 “essential reforms” required to the domestic violence and justice systems.

The state’s major DV support service says if recommended changes across all previous inquiries and reports were implemented in a “consistent and connected way”, the number of DV-related homicides would be reducing.

“We need to continue to focus on and put effort into properly implementing these recommendations, which includes funding the sector appropriately,” DV Connect director of clinical governance Michelle Royes said.

People gather at Rob Akers Reserve for the candlelight vigil for Emily Thompson. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“The trigger for these inquiries was the escalating number of murders and the calling out of victim/survivors and advocates of the seriousness, pervasiveness and widespread nature of DFV in our community. While these numbers of offences and murders have continued to increase, we hope that the increased awareness and improvement in responses has had positive impact.”

Speaking generally, Ms Royes said any DV was simply “unacceptable” and called on the government to do more to protect victim-survivors.

“The numbers of people experiencing domestic, family, and sexual violence is a national emergency,” Ms Royes said.

The Courier-Mail this month obtained an in-depth analysis of domestic violence homicides conducted by Queensland Police Service’s Domestic and Family Violence command.

The report shows in the 2021-22 financial year, 16 people were allegedly murdered in domestic violence settings – with police claiming eight were by a partner, seven by a family member and one bystander was killed during an incident.

Of those 16 alleged murders, domestic violence orders were in place for five and there was police contact with half of the accused in the preceding 12 months.

In 2022-23, 24 people were allegedly murdered in domestic violence settings – with police claiming nine were at the hands of their partner, 12 by a family member, and three bystanders were also killed.

Domestic violence orders were in place for six of those alleged murders, and a third of the accused had contact with police in the 12 months leading up to the death.

Some of those killed include 18-year-old Emily Thompson and Bundamba woman Krystal Monks, 19.

In October 2022, Ms Thompson was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Aaron Daniel Mitchelson Huckel.

He is yet to enter a plea and will face court on January 22.

Kurt Michael Pringle (left) and Krystle Monks (right)

In February 2023, Michael Kurt Pringle initially told police Ms Monks fell off a bed and suffered head injuries, but the Dinmore man was later charged with her murder. He will face court again on February 16.

The Courier-Mail in December revealed 114 specialised domestic violence police officers were yet to be hired across the state, putting pressure on an already stretched service.

A recent Question on Notice also paints a bleak picture of DV in the state, showing a 27 per cent increase in all domestic violence-related offences.

Domestic violence attempted murders rose from nine to 18 offences in a year.

Domestic violence assaults rose from 25,201 to 31,439 compared to the previous year.

The trend continued in almost every domestic violence offence type, including a 57 per cent rise in sexual offences, 73 per cent rise in kidnapping offences and 172 per cent rise in stalking offences.

Krystle Monks died over the weekend after collapsing at a home in Bundamba.

Overall, more than 119,000 domestic violence offences were recorded in the last financial year compared to 93,846 in 2021-22.

These numbers don’t include breach of domestic violence protection orders, which increased by more than 13,000 offences in a year.

A Queensland Police spokesman said the increased number offences showed “greater awareness”.

“The data demonstrates that the efforts of the QPS, other government agencies and the social service sector are working to bring greater awareness to the plight of domestic violence and the confidence to report domestic and family violence.”

A government spokesman said more than $177 million will be spent in the domestic violence sector this financial year.