No inquest into fatal Sunshine stabbing of mum Fiona Warzywoda
Craig McDermott had a long history of domestic violence before he killed Sunshine mum Fiona Warzywoda, even showing their young daughter the knife he planned to stab his estranged partner with. But it all fell on deaf ears, a court has heard.
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An inquest will not be held into the litany of failures of multiple agencies to protect slain mum Fiona Warzywoda from her killer ex.
Victoria Police was among authorities to come under fire after Craig McDermott stabbed Ms Warzywoda six times as she walked from her solicitor’s office on a busy Sunshine shopping strip on April 16, 2014.
The public execution came after years of family violence and just an hour and 20 minutes after a court denied him access to their four children.
The Coroners Court heard today how reports to police of McDermott’s increased threats to take the life of Ms Warzywoda had fallen on deaf ears.
Nicholas Ngai, counsel assisting the coroner, detailed “a long history of family violence” by McDermott towards Ms Warzywoda, with reports of him assaulting her, smashing her property and kicking in windows over their 18-year relationship.
He pointed out an incident in March 2010 where McDermott strangled and assaulted his partner in front of their children before pouring petrol through the house and threatening to set it alight.
But his violence and threats escalated from February 2014 when Ms Warzywoda left him and police took out an intervention order preventing him from committing family violence against her.
He soon after failed to return their children from an agreed visit, forcing Ms Warzywoda to take further court action to get her kids back.
The court heard three weeks before her death, her daughter’s principal reported to police the girl’s concerns for her mother’s welfare after she became upset at school.
She told her teacher her father had shown her a knife and said he was going to use it to kill her mum.
But police found no offence was committed and “there was no threat to the victim” so took no action, Mr Ngai said.
Failures of agencies to share information, including the Department of Health and Human Services, were also highlighted.
Joanna Davidson, for DHHS, said: “Many of the agencies involved with Ms Warzywoda didn’t have the full picture so were unable to assess the risk.”
She said family violence services at the time were “swamped” but were now better resourced.
Significant changes to department protocols had been made to prevent similar failures, including restrictions on how files can be closed, she said.
Ron Gripp, for Victoria Police, told the court there had been a “dramatic systemic change” in the way officer’s dealt with family violence matters in recent years.
Coroner Audrey Jamieson decided a public inquest was not necessary, acknowledging much had changed since the Royal Commission into family violence.
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“We as a community have progressed a long way in a short period,” Ms Jamieson said.
But she said there were still things that could be learnt from this “tragic” case.
Ms Jamieson said she would pore over written submissions made by Victoria Police, Department of Health and Human Services and Victorian Legal Aid about policy changes regarding family violence matters since Ms Warzywoda’s death.
She would then publish her findings and recommendations.
Ms Warzywoda’s family had previously spoken of their hopes for an inquest.
They did not attend today’s hearing.
McDermott, who shamelessly tried to claim the stabbing was self-defence, is serving a maximum 25-year jail term after being found guilty of murder.
He will be eligible for parole in 2034.