Coroner calls for ‘urgent reforms’ to stop scourge of DV in wake of Doreen Langham murder

Doreen Langham begged for help to almost 20 officers in the weeks before her death. Her pleas went unanswered. A coroner has now recommended a massive change to how police handle DV complaints, but Ms Langham’s grieving family have outlined why it’s not enough.

A specialist domestic ­violence police centre and DV social workers for every ­station in the Logan region could serve as a legacy for murdered mum Doreen Langham, after a coroner’s searing assessment of the police ­system that failed her.

Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley on Monday delivered a scathing analysis of the Queensland Police Service’s treatment of Ms Langham, who was killed by her ex-partner Gary Hely in a fiery murder-suicide at Browns Plains in February last year, despite begging for help to almost 20 officers in the weeks leading up to her death.

While her pleas went unanswered, key recommendations in a 141-page coronial report could help others escape the same fate.

Doreen, right, had spoken to police multiple times before her death, fearing her ex Gary Hely (bottom left).

Speaking after the delivery of the recommendations, which included a push for the state government to fund the trial of a specialist DV police station, Ms Langham’s daughters Shayne Probert and ­Tabitha Bleys said that she would be “proud” to know her death could create a lasting legacy for other victims of domestic violence.

“It might not be the legacy she wanted, but ... to be part of a change, she’d be proud of that,” Ms Probert said.

“To help other women, to help other victims, she’d be very proud.”

Her sister said the recommendations were a good start, but thought the trials of specialist DV police stations and experienced social workers embedded at Logan stations should be spread across the state.

“Unfortunately, this issue is greater than just the Logan district,” Ms Bleys said.

“This is one step by having these staff in Logan, (but) I believe what we will find is this step will carry on and it will be not just a state thing, but you will find it’s across Australia, which is heartbreaking to say, that this isn’t a one-off event, we’re not the only people that have lived through and will live through something like this,” she said.

Doreen Langham’s daughters Shayne Probert and Tabitha Bleys. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The specialist police station, one of several “urgent reforms” recommended by Ms Bentley, would be “specifically designed to deliver an integrated response for victims of DV” and be staffed by “multidisciplinary teams”, including police with specialist DV training, as well as social workers and legal advisers.

DV specialist social workers would also be embedded at every police station in Logan, working at the front counter as the first point of contact for DV cases.

Ms Bentley also recommended police officers must view the interstate criminal history of every alleged offender in a DV matter.

Ms Bentley slammed the conduct of individual officers, who did not take Ms Langham, 49, seriously, as well as the broader picture, which she described as a “systemic failure”.

“I find that, overall, the response of the QPS to Ms Langham’s complaints and contacts ... was inadequate and police officers failed to protect her and prevent her death,” she said.

“There were numerous missed opportunities for police officers to respond to Mr Hely’s escalating behaviour,” she said.

“The poor response by numerous officers indicates a serious lack of training, and consequently, understanding of the complex nature of DV.

“The response she received fell far short of basic expectations,” Ms Bentley said.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said that the state government would “carefully consider and respond to the recommendations of the inquest”.

The property in Browns Plains that was set on fire by Gary Hely. Picture: Tara Croser

“Every death from domestic and family violence is an absolute tragedy, and my thoughts today are with the family and friends of Doreen Langham,” she said.

“I would like to thank the Deputy State Coroner for her strong recommendations and the inquest into this devastating homicide.”

The government has already accepted all 89 recommendations of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce report, committing more than $360 million to support their ­implementation.

In a statement, the QPS also promised to “carefully consider” the recommendations and findings “as part of our ongoing commitment to learn and improve”.

The statement also said the QPS had made “significant changes” to the way the organisation recorded and responded to DV incidents since Ms Langham’s tragic death.

Hely’s brother-in-law David Guthrey described the murder as “horrific and ­indefensible”.

Klaire Coles, director of the Coronial and Custodial Justice Practice at Caxton Legal Centre, represented Hely’s relatives during the inquest and said that the lack of ­adequate intervention had cost two lives.

“There was clearly poor integration between services including the Queensland Police Service in this case,” she said.

“There was also a complete failure to intervene with Gary (and) as the Coroner has now found, intervention should have occurred to prevent these tragic circumstances.”

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