Father who leapt off Whispering Wall at Barossa reservoir with baby Kobi Shepherdson strapped to him sought contact permission in court hours earlier

The man who killed himself and baby Kobi at the Whispering Wall reservoir had been in court just hours earlier, seeking permission to have contact with his family. WARNING: This report may upset some readers

The man who killed himself and baby Kobi at the Whispering Wall reservoir had been in court just hours earlier, seeking permission to have contact with his family.

The Advertiser can reveal Henry David Shepherdson appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday – the same day, police allege, he murdered Kobi and took his own life at the Barossa tourist site.

Shepherdson, of Torrensville, had been subject to court-imposed conditions on his movements and internet use for four months.

He was accused of domestic violence-related offending in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on December 23 last year.

At that time, the court banned him from contacting or being within 200m of his family, and from publishing any material about them on the internet, as part of his bail conditions.

Police on Thursday said a number of domestic violence reports had been made prior to this incident and court processes were in place. No one else is wanted over Kobi’s death.

On Wednesday, Shepherdson’s case was heard in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for an application to vary those two conditions.

Kobi Shepherdson, aged nine months, in a picture provided by her mother.

Kobi’s mother wanted her baby girl to be remembered with this photo in particular. This was her favourite.

His case was also referred to the Abuse Prevention Program – one of the Courts Administration Authority’s specialist “intervention” initiatives.

Participants in the program are “diverted” away from the standard court process to undergo counselling and treatment designed to bolster their rehabilitative prospects.

On Thursday, SA Police said the deaths of Kobi, nine months, and Shepherdson, 38, were being treated as a murder-suicide.

READ: WHAT TO DO IF YOUR CHILD ASKS ABOUT KOBI TRAGEDY

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said Kobi was attached to Shepherdson, 38, in a baby carrier when members of the public saw him jump from the Whispering Wall, a popular tourist attraction near Williamstown in SA’s Barossa Valley.

He said there was a history of domestic violence in the family.

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

Mr Parrott said Shepherdson had “lawful access” to Kobi and he “didn’t believe” it was meant to be supervised access.

“The baby was not taken,” he said. “There was a very short time frame between the public having notified us that the incident had occurred and Kobi’s mother making contact with triple-0.

“Every relationship is complex, particularly when there is also domestic violence involved.

“While I’m not at liberty to discuss the specifics, it will form part of our investigation as to what was happening in the relationship and what was done prior to this incident.”

As stunned locals said the tragedy had utterly rocked their town, he told a press conference Kobi’s mother was not there at the Wall at the time.

Mr Parrott paid tribute to the bravery of Kobi’s mother, who released pictures of how she wanted Kobi to be remembered.

“We have a beautiful little face, which will probably be the face of domestic violence going forward,” he said.

Kobi Shepherdson in one of the photos supplied by her mother.

Kobi was nine months old when she died after her father leapt from the Whispering Wall, with her attached to him in a baby carrier.

An SA Tourism picture showing the barrier along the Whispering Wall.

Police said other children, not linked to the incident, were visiting the Whispering Wall at the time of the tragedy. Those families have been offered counselling.

Police said in a statement the “highly distressing and emotional incident” was affecting those who saw it, those who tried to help Kobi, emergency services personnel and family and friends, and the police were supporting those impacted by this incident.

“Thank you to those members of the public who assisted ... no-one likes to see kids suffering, the bravery, the compassion that those people showed to help Kobi at the time is immeasurable,” Mr Parrott said.

“They were thrust into a situation they would have never imagined, probably. To respond the way they did is amazing.

“This is something that none of us want to experience ever ... the way that police and other emergency services have responded is extremely professional and I’m proud of what they’ve done.”

Police at the gate of the Whispering Wall, Barossa Reservoir. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Police left the scene on Thursday afternoon, with gates to the dam locked.

SA Water said the site was expected to reopen at 8.30am on Saturday.

“As you can understand, this week’s serious incident has wide-reaching impacts, including on our local reservoir team,” she said. “We will take the time to make sure our people are OK and, out of respect for them and the family involved, we have decided to keep the reservoir reserve closed to the public.”

In a post on Facebook, Kobi’s aunt Leisa Shepherdson Casey asked for privacy as the family “went through these emotions.”

“We are completely devastated. My heart is heavy and my tears are dry, robbed in the most cruellest way of my beautiful niece Kobi,” she wrote.

“Auntie Leis loves you little poppet. You’ll be forever in my heart.”

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the deaths would be “subject to a full investigation, and we will be watching that process closely”.

“This is a tragic and traumatic event,” she said.

“Our thoughts are with Kobi’s mother, her family and friends at this difficult time.”

Shepherdson’s neighbour, Anastasia Kouts, 87, said she was heartbroken when she was told of the baby’s death.

“She was such a happy child, a truly beautiful baby,” Ms Kouts said.

“I’m heartbroken, I’m so sad and devastated.”

Ms Kouts said she last saw Kobi a month ago.

“It was around Easter. I bought Kobi an Easter egg that’s still in the fridge,” she said.

Kobi’s middle name, Anastasia, was chosen by the family due to their relationship with Ms Kouts, she said.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, in the Barossa, after 4.30pm on Wednesday to find the man dead and the girl unresponsive.

Paramedics worked on her but she died at the scene.

Multiple people reported seeing the man and girl go over the edge of the wall, falling to the ground.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Originally published as Father who leapt off Whispering Wall at Barossa reservoir with baby Kobi Shepherdson strapped to him sought contact permission in court hours earlier