Inquest told of DCS’ plans to work with SAPOL to block prisoners from calling protected people

Plans are in place to block prisoners from calling protected people after a murderous father breached a court order undetected 149 times, an inquest has heard.

Police will work with DCS to block prisoners from calling protected people after a murderer breached a court order undetected 149 times, 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.

Opening the inquest last week, counsel assisting Martin Kirby told the court police first became involved in October 2020 after Shepherdson’s abuse of Kobi’s 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

While Shepherdson was in custody he called Kobi’s mother 149 times – none of which were known to police or the court.

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

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.

The Whispering Wall. Picture: Mike Burton

On Wednesday, Director of Operational Support for the Department of Correctional Services Ida Petracarro told the court she recently became aware of advice that SAPOL that they would work with DCS to best ensure prisoners would be blocked from contacting protected persons.

“I haven’t had direct conversations but my experience and my assessment would be that the Department would very much engage in those conversations,” she said.

When Deputy State Coroner Ian White asked if she would be surprised if they rejected it, Ms Petracarro replied “absolutely”.

The court previously heard Shepherdson used deceptive methods to contact Kobi’s mother – sometimes over a dozen times a day – to coerce, pressure and “completely manipulate” her into dropping the charges against him.

Director of Operational Support for the Department of Correctional Services Ida Petracarro gave evidence on Wednesday. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

In one call played to the court, Shepherdson could be heard “coaching” Kobi’s mother on what to say to prosecution to have the charges dropped and to not tell them they had been in contact or he would get into “big trouble”.

The court heard while the names of protected people are recorded in the DCS system, some prisoners use deceptive methods to get around the non-contact orders.

“As soon as it’s identified that there’s a breach or that activity occurring it would be immediately stopped through the application of a restriction,” Ms Petracarro said.

“I believe the Department would be open to ideas, all ideas … it’s about working through the best way to ensure consistency and receiving that information that would also us to place those restrictions into the system as quickly as possible.”

The inquest continues.

Originally published as Inquest told of DCS’ plans to work with SAPOL to block prisoners from calling protected people