Byron Bay inquest into ‘kambo’ ritual death of Lismore man Jarrad Antonovich, 46, suspended, referred to DPP
The long-running inquest over a Lismore man’s death - who died after consuming ‘kambo’ frog poison and ayahuasca at a bizarre retreat - has sensationally been suspended and referred to the DPP where charges may be laid. VIDEO >
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The long-running inquest over a Lismore man’s death - who died after consuming ‘kambo’ frog poison and ayahuasca at a bizarre northern NSW retreat - has sensationally been suspended and referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) where charges may be laid.
Jarrad Antonovich, 46, died while taking part in a ‘kambo’ frog poison and ayahuasca ceremony at Arcoora Arts & Eco Retreat at Collins Creek, north of Casino in October 2021.
Mr Antonovich allegedly suffered a horrid display of symptoms including “frog-face” and looking like he had been blown up by a “basketball pump” for 12 hours, before a 4cm hole was torn in his oesophagus resulting in death, the inquest previously heard.
On Friday, in what was expected to be the final day of the inquest, NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan, prompted by Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer, suspended the inquest and handed the matter to the DPP to consider whether charges should be laid.
Two central figures in the inquest, supposed “shaman” and retreat organiser Lore Solaris and Cameron Kite, were due to give evidence at the inquest on Friday before it was suspended.
Outside Byron Bay Local Court, Mr Antonovich’s family described their relief over the matter being referred to the DPP.
Jarrad’s father Glen Antonivich said the long-running inquest had been an “ordeal”.
“It’s been an ordeal not only for Chistopher (Jarrad’s brother) and myself but for the family including Jarrad’s mother, who can’t be here today,” he said.
“We’re just relieved some action (may be) taken.”
The family thanked NSW Police for “the unrelenting work” and “dedication”.
Mr Antonovich’s brother Chris Antonovich said the family wished that “no one has to go through what we’ve been through”.
“We want these ceremonies stopped so no one else’s life is taken,” he said.
“He (Jarrad) was the most generous, sweetest guy you could ever meet - musical genius, brilliant guitarist, loyal son and grandson, friend and brother. Nobody has said a bad thing about him.
“He had a heart of gold, it was a privilege to be his little brother. No one deserves what happened to him.”
Shock ‘kambo’ ritual claims: ‘Shaman’ told me to lie to dead man’s mates
May 23, 2024: Explosive claims have been aired in an inquest over a man’s death who died after consuming ‘kambo’ frog poison and ayahuasca, with one witness alleging a “shaman” ordered her to tell the man’s mates he had died but was never at the fatal retreat.
On Thursday in Byron Bay Local Court, in what is expected to be the second last day of the inquest into the death of Lismore man Jarrad Antonovich, Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan continued to hear from witnesses about the bizarre sequence of events which allegedly took place at the ‘retreat’ north of Casino on October 16, 2021.
Witness Lurelle Alefounder gave her evidence through an audiovisual link from Newcastle, airing explosive claims about what allegedly happened in the aftermath of Mr Antonovich’s death.
An hour after Mr Antonovich died, supposed “shaman” Lore Solaris allegedly told Ms Alefounder to drive to Lismore to tell his roommates he had passed away and not tell them he was at an ayahuasca ceremony to “protect the ayahuasca ceremony”.
The inquest heard Ms Alefounder “refused” to do it and assumed Mr Solaris was asking her to hide the details about the medicine because ayahuasca was still taboo in Australia.
The inquest heard that the fatal retreat cost guests “$350 per night and $350 per ceremony”, but Ms Alefounder attended the gathering for free in exchange for giving Mr Solaris singing lessons.
She sought Kambo as an alternative medicine to help her with medical issues. No one was trained in mainstream medicine at the retreat, the inquest heard.
“Lore was in tune with how much ayahuasca somebody could handle,” she said.
Ms Alefounder spoke to Mr Antonovich, describing him as “friendly” and “warm” before he participated in the Kambo ceremony and “seemed nervous”.
He told Ms Alefounder he “drank too much water earlier that day which he was not supposed to do”.
She told him if he had any doubts to talk to the “shaman”.
Ms Alefounder said Mr Antonovich was making unpleasant noises before he went into cardiac arrest.
“He was groaning like he was in intense pain,” she said.
While this was happening, everyone was encouraged to continue singing as the music played.
“I feel for the family. There’s a lot of things I would have done in hindsight.”
Witness and accountant Lee O’Dwyer, of the Byron Shire hinterland, took to the stand in court to give evidence.
The inquest heard he did a short kambo training course in 2021, but it didn’t make him qualified to administer the deadly ‘medicine’.
He told the inquest he did not recall putting any ‘kambo’ on anyone’s body the day Mr Antonovich died and claimed Mr Solaris was responsible for the retreat and the ceremony.
When he saw Mr Antonovich after the ceremony, Mr O’Dwyer said the way he looked was “concerning”.
He talked to Cameron Kite, another central figure in the inquest, at about 4pm, airing his concerns and suggesting to Mr Kite that an ambulance be called.
“Mr Kite seemed concerned for Jarrad’s health,” Mr O’Dwyer said.
“I inquired about my concerns again and was told by Mr Kite a decision was made (to not contact a hospital).”
When Mr O’Dwyer witnessed paramedics performing CPR on Mr Antonovich “everything was intense”.
Mr O’Dwyer then broke out into tears on the stand and described Mr Antonovich as a “gentle” person.
“I liked Jarrad, I thought he was a nice positive, gentle person,” he said.
The inquest will resume on Friday at Byron Shire Local Court.
Excessive psychoactive brew given before ‘kambo’ death, inquest hears
May 22, 2024: A supposed “shaman” allegedly measured out an excessive amount of psychedelic ayahuasca for a suffering Lismore man to consume in a bid to combat the effects of ‘kambo’ poisoning hours before he died, an inquest has heard.
Jarrad Antonovich, 46, deeply suffered before losing his life after participating in a ‘kambo’ frog poison ceremony at Arcoora Arts & Eco Retreat at Collins Creek, north of Casino on October 16, 2021.
Mr Antonovich suffered massive swelling – “frog face” – and had a protracted death from a perforated oesophagus, with a 4cm hole in his throat.
He moaned in agony for about 12 hours before an ambulance was called, the inquest previously heard.
The inquest, expected to be in its final three days, resumed at Byron Bay Local Court on Wednesday, with Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan closely investigating the bizarre sequence of events which allegedly took place at the gathering.
The inquest has previously been told of two supposed “shamans” – Soulore ‘Lore’ Solaris and Laara Cooper.
Ex-girlfriend of Cameron Kite – a central figure in the inquest along with Lore Solaris – Chelsea Hope, who witnessed the psychedelic ayahuasca ceremony, took to the stand to give evidence.
Ms Hope said it was unusual for the alleged administrator of the ayahuasca, Lore Solaris, to pass the cup containing a psychoactive brew to Cameron Kite, who then allegedly gave it to Mr Antonovich.
She alleged Mr Solaris measured a clear cup of brew for Mr Antonovich to drink.
“It was not a small amount of liquid in the cup,” she told the inquest.
“I felt unsettled because I thought Lore should have directly given Mr Antonovich the medicine.”
Mr Solaris was present at the inquest when Ms Hope gave her evidence and shook his head while handing a note to his defence lawyer.
Before Mr Antonovich died, Ms Hope said she “was not concerned” with his bloated face and neck, which caused difficulty of breathing.
“I think he was in pain, I didn’t know the severity of what was happening,” she said.
“Everyone was trying to figure out what was going on. If people really thought he would die I think everyone would have acted differently.”
She told the inquest Mr Solaris ushered everyone to a separate area as music continued to play while paramedics treated Mr Antonovich.
“When I learned Jarrad had passed away I was a mess, I was crying. I was thinking about going to jail,” Ms Hope said as she burst into tears in court.
“We messed up, we should have taken him to hospital but when it was happening there was no alarm bells,” she said.
“I trusted these medicines, I didn’t think something like this would happen.”
Ms Hope told the inquest after Mr Antonovich, there were allegedly talks between “leaders” to “protect the medicine”.
“There were plans for a few people from the ceremony to travel to Mr Antonovich’s home to tell his roommates he was not at an ayahuasca ceremony,” she alleged.
Ms Hope said she wasn’t okay with not telling the truth – “as a parent I would like to know what happened to my child.”
She said after Mr Antonovich died, people began to blame others.
“From what the media has presented no one has released their truth in the scenario – no one in the witness stand has owned their bit,” she said.
Nobody she referred to was named.
Another witness, Raphael Lima, was present when Mr Antonovich died.
He said there was 25-35 people at the ceremony – which started at 10am. All participants wore white and men and women faced each other in a circle.
The inquest heard Mr Solaris played music as the “kambo” was injected, everyone purged like they were supposed to – except for Mr Antonovich.
Mr Lima told police Mr Antonovich was “pale”, “struggling” and “having difficulties breathing” after the ceremony.
“It was hard to tell something major would have happened to him,” he said.
When journalists tried to question Mr Solaris during a court break, he scurried away hiding his face with a folder.
This is the second inquest in recent months into a ‘kambo’ related death in the Northern Rivers.
In an unrelated incident, Mullumbimby woman Natasha Lechner died while frothing at the mouth after having the same Amazonian frog toxin applied to burn lesions on her body.
The inquest will continue on Thursday. To date, no one has been charged over Mr Antonovich’s death.
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