Death of baby Kobi Shepherdson must lead to better protection for children

The death of baby Kobi Shepherdson at the hands of her father has reignited calls to better protect children caught up in family violence.

The death of a baby girl at the hands of her father has reignited calls to protect children caught up in family violence, as experts warn abusers can resort to murdering their child as “an ultimate act of control”.

Nine-month-old Kobi Shepherdson died on Wednesday when her father Henry jumped from the top of the Whispering Wall reservoir with his daughter strapped to him in a carrier.

SA Police are treating the case as a murder-suicide and have confirmed there was a history of domestic violence in the family.

Women’s safety specialists and anti-violence advocates say Kobi’s death must spark greater efforts to protect children from being used as tools by domestic abusers. “We’ve seen someone take their child’s life as an ultimate act of control,” said Women’s Safety Services SA acting chief operating officer Kathrine Cock.
“It’s absolutely devastating to see another child lose their life.”

Nine-month-old Kobi Shepherdson died on Wednesday. Picture: SA Police

Last year Australians were shocked when Brisbane father Rowan Baxter killed his estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three young children – Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey – by setting fire to their car in a suburban street.

Earlier this month the NSW coroner handed down findings into the deaths of siblings Jack and Jennifer Edwards, who were shot dead by their father John in 2018, before he killed himself. Edwards had a history of domestic violence. And this week, Gold Coast mother Kelly Wilkinson died after she was allegedly set alight by her estranged husband Brian Johnston in the backyard of her home, while their three children were inside.

CentaCare deputy director Pauline Connelly said the “utter horror” of such deaths sparked “shock and sadness” and “a strong sense of helplessness”. “There’s also a little bit of fear in the background about how much worse can it get? When is this going to stop for us as a society?” she said. “It’s the ultimate selfish act (to kill a child). It’s the ultimate revenge ... an act of punishment.”

White Ribbon Australia executive director Brad Chilcott said abusers “often use children and threats against children as they attempt to maintain control over their partner”.

“When we know that fathers will use children as a weapon to punish the mother we need to protect them,” he said. Mr Chilcott said more consideration must be given to whether parents with a history of violence or domestic abuse should be allowed access to their children.

Ms Cock said research showed women who were pregnant or had a child aged younger than one year were “at significantly higher risk of domestic and family violence, to themselves or their infant or unborn child”.

“Every woman’s situation is different but I think there will be a number of women who find this (death of baby Kobi) an event that is triggering in terms of their fear levels,” she said. “What I would say to those women is we’re here for you 24-hours a day.”

Originally published as Death of baby Kobi Shepherdson must lead to better protection for children