Matthew Johnston: System at fault in Kangaroo Flat fatal stabbing

A coroner has slammed the state’s monitoring of criminals following the bloody death of a Bendigo dad on Christmas Eve.

A Victorian Coroner has released his report into the death of Matthew Johnston, who was fatally stabbed at his Kanagroo Flat home by his girlfriend Elise Walker on Christmas Eve, 2016. Picture: Facebook

A coroner has slammed “systemic issues” into the state’s monitoring of criminals following the violent death of a Kangaroo Flat father on Christmas Eve.

A Victorian Coroner has released his report into Matthew Johnston’s death, who was fatally stabbed at his Kanagroo Flat home by his girlfriend Elise Walker in 2016.

Both Mr Johnston and Ms Walker were on community corrections orders, but Corrections Victoria failed to flag critical shortfalls in their behaviour, the coroner said.

The 37-year-old father-of-one was remembered by his family as a man who turned his passion for the outdoors into a career, having worked at several outdoor camping retailers before becoming a tree lopper while studying to be an arborist.

But a spiralling drug addiction, spates of homelessness and an abusive relationship took over Mr Johnston’s life.

In 2013 Mr Johnston started dating Ms Walker in a relationship that was marred by physical, psychological and emotional abuse and the use of cannabis and methylamphetamines.

The report said Ms Walker had also been violent towards her boyfriend, including once hitting him with a bottle to get his attention.

Mr Johnston was remanded in custody in September 2016 for a month for reckless conduct, theft and committing an offence while on bail.

Ms Walker confided with a friend about her relationship.

“(He) controlled everything including all the money,” Ms Walker said.

She said he was “manic and demanding” and ranted to her about how he would “kill when he got out”.

A Victorian Coroner has released his report into the death of Matthew Johnston, who was fatally stabbed at his Pauline Crt, Kangaroo Flat home by his girlfriend Elise Walker in 2016. Photo: Rob Durston

After Mr Johnston was released friends said he continued his abusive patterns, and “had an obsession with knives and sticks from the garden”.

The coroner’s report said Mr Johnston was putting knives everywhere in the house, including in the gaps in the couch and was sharpening sticks.

In the days before Christmas Ms Walker’s friends were convinced she was preparing to leave the relationship.

On Christmas Eve, Ms Walker returned home and woke her boyfriend at 2pm.

The pair got into an argument over their Christmas plans and over three-hours the fight escalated.

Several neighbours overheard the man and woman yelling, screaming and swearing at each other as well as doors slamming.

Neighbours said Ms Walker tried to leave the house several times, and Mr Johnston would follow her out.

On some occasions he would tell her to come back, on others he dragged her inside.

A neighbour called police to report the “domestic” at 5.30pm after seeing a blood-soaked Ms Walker leaving the house.

Ms Walker appeared hysterical and was asking for others to call the ambulance while blood covered her arms, legs and clothes.

When police arrived they found the door open and Ms Walker sitting in the hallway with Mr Johnston lying on his back.

“The carpet around him was observed to be soaked with blood and his body was cold to the touch,” the coroner’s report said.

“I was trying to get out of the house and I stabbed him, is he okay?” Ms Walker asked police.

A forensic pathologist Malcolm Dodd examined the single 18mm stab wound in Mr Johnston’s upper left chest.

Dr Dodd said the bade sunk in 40 to 50mm into his chest and pierced his left lung, leading to blood loss and pools collecting in his chest.

He said there was also bruising to his left hand, suggesting a defensive injury, and methylamphetamines, alcohol and cannabis in his system.

On March 28, 2018 Ms Walker was found guilty and convicted of manslaughter.

She was sentence to seven years in prison, with a non-parole period of four years.

Coroner John Cain said there were “systemic issues” in the corrections system at the time, including poor risk identification, inadequate drug testing and delays.

Mr Cain said Ms Walker and Mr Johnston were on community corrections order, and were falling well short of their conditions.

Mr Johnston missed key appointments, failed to attend community service and offended while on his community order.

“The failure to take earlier action through proactive monitoring of …(their) compliance was a significant missed opportunity to intervene in the circumstances leading to (Mr Johnston’s) death,” Mr Cain said.

He said since 2017 Corrections Victoria has reformed its system, including better case management and supervision of offenders in the community.

Mr Cain commended positive reforms since Mr Johnston’s death, including the introduction of the domestic violence services, Orange Door.

“(Mr Johnston’s) death, and deaths similar to his, highlight the difficult and often dangerous predicament that family violence presents to family, friends and others,” Mr Cain said.

He said loved ones often felt ill-equipped to help someone trapped in a violent relationships, and information via services like Orange Door could have allowed opportunities for intervention and prevention.