Coroner labels police lack of expertise ‘disturbing’ after 13-year-old Grace’s firearm suicide

The Territory Coroner has labelled NT Police’s lack of expertise in firearm reconstruction “disturbing” following the tragic suicide of a 13-year-old girl in 2022.

The Coroner found Grace's father's .308 Winchester rifle was stored in an unsecured wardrobe in an unlocked bedroom in the family home.

The Territory Coroner has labelled NT Police’s lack of expertise in firearm reconstruction “disturbing” following the tragic suicide of a 13-year-old girl in 2022.

Grace, whose surname is suppressed, was found deceased at her Darwin home next to her father’s rifle, but an inquest in February heard “police did not have the expertise to accurately reconstruct and record a crime scene involving firearms”.

In handing down her findings on Thursday, Elisabeth Armitage also criticised officers’ decision not to charge Grace’s father with firearms offences, saying they “misunderstood and misapplied” previous advice from prosecutors.

Ms Armitage said despite NT Police having told her predecessor the force had commissioned an independent review of its crime scene, fingerprints and firearms units in 2018, “any improvements that were achieved have been lost”.

“I too am asked to be reassured that an agency wide review of police which was commenced by the NT government in 2023 will specifically report on forensic capabilities, identify gaps and future priorities,” she said.

“Even with that assurance, I am concerned that reviews achieve nothing without implementation and steadfast commitment (even in spite of new competing priorities).

“However, I am told and accept that since Grace’s passing action has been taken to improve capability concerning the investigation of firearms incidents.”

Ms Armitage found Grace’s father had failed to safely store his weapons and ammunition, having kept the .308 in an unsecured wardrobe in an unlocked bedroom.

The coroner said despite “prima facie evidence that (Grace’s father) had not complied with his obligations” under the Firearms Act, police “did not charge him with available offences”.

“NT Police sought to justify the decision not to charge by relying on reasons provided by the Director of Public Prosecutions in a prior case which bore similarities to this case,” she said.

Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage said it was ‘not possible to know whether Grace’s death might have been prevented’. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“However, the comments in that earlier advice, concerning whether or not it was in the public interest to proceed to charge, appear to have been both misunderstood and misapplied to the circumstances of this case.”

Ms Armitage said police had just four compliance officers overseeing 66,446 firearms registered to 15,825 licence holders in 2022, meaning there was “no capacity” to conduct physical spot checks.

“As it currently stands, the sad reality is noncompliance is often only identified when other offences or tragedies which warrant the attendance of police, such as this one, occur,” she said.

But Ms Armitage said “despite any shortcomings in the investigation”, she was “satisfied that there was no third party involvement in Grace’s death”.

Ms Armitage also recommended the Education Department ensure its policies incorporated best practice “following any disclosure of suicidality or suicidal thoughts by a student”.

“It is not possible to know whether Grace’s death might have been prevented, but I consider that more decisive policies and guidelines concerning risk assessments and interventions in schools following suicide disclosures are warranted,” she said.