Inquest told of violent dad’s interest in serial killers before deadly leap with little Kobi at Whispering Wall

A father who killed himself and baby Kobi at the Whispering Wall reservoir had breached a court order undetected 149 times amid other failures, an inquest has been told.

The father who threw himself and his baby, Kobi Shepherdson, off Whispering Wall near Williamstown had breached a court order undetected 149 times amid other failures adding to the “catastrophe”, an inquest has heard.

In a case that horrified the nation, Henry Shepherdson drove his nine-month-old daughter to Whispering Wall reservoir on April 21, 2021.

At 4.30pm, Shepherdson jumped off the 36m-high dam as witnesses watched in shock. Both died at the scene.

Murderous dad’s violent past revealed

Opening the inquest on Tuesday, counsel assisting Martin Kirby told the court Shepherdson had grown up being exposed to significant violence and started abusing drugs in his teenage years.

“On several occasions in his adult life Mr Shepherdson spent time in custody for offences that included violence and domestic violence,” Mr Kirby said.

The court was told Shepherdson met Kobi’s mother, who moved to SA six months prior, on a dating app in 2019 and fell pregnant with Kobi after a month.

Mr Kirby said police first became involved in October 2020 after Shepherdson’s abuse of Kobi’s “vulnerable” mother continued to worsen.

The court was told Shepherdson was arrested on December 16, 2020, for alleged offences against Kobi and her mother, including false imprisonment and threats to kill.

He was remanded in custody and a court order was served on him, preventing him from any contact with Kobi and her mother.

Kobi Shepherdson was nine months old when she was killed by her father in April 2021. Picture: SA Police

Kobi Shepherdson’s father was granted access to her despite his history of violence. Picture: SA Police

In January 2021, Kobi’s mother began receiving phone calls from Shepherdson in prison, while the order was still in place.

“Whilst in custody Mr Shepherdson called and spoke with (Kobi’s mother) 149 times,” Mr Kirby said.

“And that’s 149 crimes?” Deputy State Coroner Ian White asked.

“Yes sir,” replied Mr Kirby.

Mr Kirby said in the recorded calls Mr Shepherdson could be heard exerting pressure on Kobi’s mother to withdraw the charges against him.”

“He gave her specific instructions on what to do to drop the charges, on what to say and to whom,” he said.

“None of these reported calls were known to police, police investigators, to prosecutors or to the Magistrates Court.”

Mr Kirby said Shepherdson was “highly manipulative” in his behaviour, which was ultimately successful.

The Whispering Wall. Picture: Mike Burton

In February 2021, Kobi’s mother signed a form to have the charges dropped against Shepherdson and he was released in March.

The order continued at Kobi’s mother’s request but she eventually contacted police to have that withdrawn too.

The court was told the order was downgraded on April 21, 2021, at consent of prosecution, to allow Shepherdson to have contact with Kobi and her mother.

That same day Shepherdson arranged to spend time with Kobi before taking her to Whispering Wall. Kobi was attached to Shepherdson, 38, in a baby carrier when members of the public saw him jump from the popular tourist attraction near Williamstown in the Barossa Valley.

Members of the public tried to save baby Kobi, and emergency services found them working on her when they arrived. Shepherdson was found deceased.

“This was murder-suicide that shocked South Australians,” Mr Kirby said.

What the inquest will investigate

Mr Kirby said the inquest would investigate how Shepherdson was able to contact Kobi’s mother 149 times in prison and, if SA police were aware of those communications, would they have resisted the variation more strenuously.

“Should and could SA police done more to support (Kobi’s mother) in this matter?” Mr Kirby said.

He said the inquest would hear evidence from Shepherdson’s treating doctor who was aware he was overusing his prescription medication, Tramadol – which is an opioid medication for pain relief.

“How was it that Mr Shepherdson, with his significant mental health and drug misuse issues was not in the receipt of mental health support,” he said.

Mr Kirby said the inquest would also hear evidence from the SA Police family violence section about various issues, including whether Kobi’s mother was provided with any support services and how police deal with domestic violence victims who seek to withdraw charges.

“Realistically it’s unlikely that this inquest will be able to single any one interaction, any one system or procedure that’s ultimately responsible for Mr Shepherdson’s and Kobi’s death,” he said.

“Each of the potential fails by themselves might not have led to this outcome, but in combination the holes through Mr Shepherdson slipped in each case all lined up to catastrophic results.”

General practitioner at Prospect Medical Centre, Dr MD Moniruzzaman, who was Shepherdson’s treating doctor, also gave evidence on Tuesday.

When asked if he had any suspicion or fear that Shepherdson might harm himself or others, Dr Moniruzzaman replied: “With my consultation and my interactions, I did not have that sense”.

The inquest was told about a “very disturbing” statement made by Shepherdson to a psychologist Dr Moniruzzaman had referred him to.

“Mr Shepherdson stated that he had a fascination with serial killers and psychopaths and believe that he was just one wire different from being like them,” the psychologist said.

“He could see himself being like them but was not”.

The inquest continues.

Originally published as Inquest told of violent dad’s interest in serial killers before deadly leap with little Kobi at Whispering Wall