Janice Bufton: Coroner find police failed to follow family violence policy before Colin Sooks murder

Police failed to follow family violence guidelines before a man was murdered by his ex-partner in western Victoria, a Coroner has ruled.

A Coroner has found police failed to follow their own family violence guidelines before a woman killed her ex-partner with a car in southwest Victoria.

Colin Snooks, 70, was murdered by Janice Bufton, then 66, in the driveway of her Fyans Creek property on October 30, 2017.

He had moved in with Bufton in January the previous year and was working for her following the breakdown of his marriage when they began a relationship.

Friends and associates of the pair told a review by the Coroner’s Prevention Unit they had a “pretty volatile relationship” and argued frequently.

Multiple times during the year before his death, Mr Snooks attempted to leave Bufton but told friends he believed she was using his property “as a means to control him”.

The elderly man was killed shortly after midday when he attended the property with a friend to retrieve his caravan.

He was on the phone with triple-0, reporting Bufton had been verbally abusive and prevented him from taking the caravan, when she ran him down with his own car.

Bufton was jailed for 24 years in September 2019 after a jury found her guilty of murder, which was reduced to 20 years on appeal in August 2021.

Janice Bufton is seen at the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2019.

Last month, Victorian Coroner John Cain released his findings into Mr Snooks’ death, who was killed attempting to retrieve his caravan from Bufton’s property.

He found there had been a history of family violence between the pair, with police receiving multiple reports from each person alleging the other had committed family violence.

Judge Cain said cross applications were not in line with police policy at the time, which directed officers to identify the “primary aggressor”.

“The available information suggests that Ms Bufton was the primary aggressor in this incident,” he said.

“Bufton admitted to controlling and coercive behaviours, including removing Mr Snooks’ glasses and hearing aid when he tried to leave the relationship.”

He said there was a “potential opportunity” for police to remove themselves from the application on behalf of Bufton when she told officers she was not afraid of Mr Snooks.

In his findings, Judge Cain noted Victoria Police had since improved the oversight of family violence investigations and was currently working to refine its policy to identify primary aggressors.

He also requested Mr Snooks’ death to be examined as part of the Victorian Systemic Review of Family Violence Deaths.