Navy apologises for giving sailor accused of killing ex then himself a military funeral

THE Royal Australian Navy has apologised for giving a sailor a full military funeral after he killed his former partner and then himself.

Commander Matt Buckley RAN, Executive Officer HMAS WATSON, presents Seaman Combat Systems Operator (Above) Elliott Coulson, with his certificate for graduating from the BCSO(A) 292 course, held at HMAS WATSON. Mid Caption: Commander Matt Buckley RAN, Executive Officer HMAS WATSON and Lieutenant Commander Chris Straughan RAN, Training Authority Mine Warfare, Officer in Charge Primary Warfare Officer Faculty, join family and friends as they celebrate the graduation of Basic Combat Systems Operator (Above) Course 292 and Intermediate Combat Systems Operator (Underwater) Course 02/11.

THE Royal Australian Navy has apologised for giving a sailor a full military funeral after he killed his former partner and then himself.

Seaman Combat Systems Operator Elliott Coulson was buried with full naval honours at taxpayer expense on the same day his ex-girlfriend Kate Malonyay was farewelled by mourners in her tiny hometown in May, 2013.

Kate Malonyay.

The 32-year-old RAN sailor was suspected of killing Ms Malonyay in her Sydney apartment the previous week.

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Coulson fled to the Gold Coast before plunging to his death from the 26th floor of the luxury Marriott Hotel as detectives moved in to arrest him.

His send-off on the Gold Coast angered women’s rights groups who said the seaman had ‘lost the right/’ to be treated as a hero.

One of the city’s leading campaigners against domestic violence said the full naval service was ‘offensive and out of step with society’.

In a statement on the RAN website, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett said he was, and remained, “appalled at the brutal and violent murder at the hands of Elliott Coulson”.

Kate Malonyay.

“I acknowledge that the decision to support Elliott Coulson’s family with Navy participation in the funeral has caused distress to Ms Malonyay’s family, friends and the wider community,” he said.

“It was not Navy’s intent to cause this distress and, for this, I unreservedly apologise.”

The apology came in response to an online petition, which garnered more than 10,000 signatures, and also called for the full cost of the funeral to be donated to the Homicide Victims Support Group.

The Vice Admiral said he would “ensure that Navy’s future application of Defence policy in this area receives very close scrutiny”.

Vice Admiral Tim Barrett.