DV is ‘everybody’s business’: Recommendation made for peak DV body in the inquest into Kumanjayi Emitja
Domestic violence is ‘everybody’s business’, an inquest into the death of a young mum has heard, with the Coroner now set to decide if she’ll recommend how DV deaths are recorded in the NT.
A grieving brother’s plea that domestic violence is “everyone’s business” could be met as an inquest into his sister’s death concludes by hearing a peak DV body “is required”.
Troy Ratara told the Alice Springs Local Court his sister’s daughters “will never get to see their mother’s face” again during emotional scenes at the inquest into the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi Emitja.
The inquest, which ran for one week, heard Ms Emitja was killed when she was hit by a car being driven by Robert Mumu.
Prior to Mr Mumu hitting her, the court heard she’d been struck three times with a hammer by her then partner Jonah Multa.
Mr Mumu was charged for Ms Emitja’s death and fleeing the scene.
Multa was charged for breaching his DVO, driving under the influence, and aggravated assault.
The outcome of Mr Mumu’s court case is unknown, but Multa was given a two-year prison sentence for his charges – which was suspended after 12 months.
Mr Ratara said domestic violence was “everyone’s business” and wanted to see his sister’s death classed as a domestic violence death.
When Mr Ratara concluded his statement, the court observed a two minute silence for Ms Emitja.
The inquest concluded on Friday, August 29, with counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer submitting to Coroner Elisabeth Armitage she should recommend a “death review” process so “the true extent of domestic and family violence deaths in the Northern Territory is recognised”.
The court previously heard the Territory had the highest rate of domestic violence in Australia, with Aboriginal women disproportionately affected.
Ms Dwyer also told the court a peak domestic violence body “is required” in the Territory and the Coroner should make a recommendation it is “funded, of course based on consultation with the broader community”.
Throughout the inquest, the court heard there had been a number of failures by police in identifying Multa was subject to a national domestic violence order, in which Ms Emitja was named a protected person.
NT Police assistant commissioner for domestic violence and youth Michael White said it was a missed opportunity police did not identify the order.
Mr White said police conducted two separate investigations into Multa and Mr Mumu, and arrested Multa for assault after viewing CCTV footage which showed Ms Emitja being struck.
Multa was charged by police, Mr White told the court, and there was “consideration around potential manslaughter charge” but it “did not proceed”.
Throughout the inquest, the court heard police had improved their processes in how they dealt with domestic violence, and multiple officers had undertaken DV-specific training.
The Coroner will hand down her findings at a later date.
