Inquest into New Zealand-born Toko-Harieta Maki’s death in Top End domestic violence shelter

‘Like there’s a death sentence hanging over your head’: Self harm tragedy in domestic violence shelter being investigated by the Territory coroner. *WARNING: DISTRESSING*

A woman, not pictured, died in a Top End crisis shelter. Picture: istock

A horrific tragedy in a Top End crisis shelter is being investigated as a potential death in custody by the Northern Territory coroner.

New Zealand-born Toko-Harieta Maki, 32, died while staying at a domestic violence crisis accommodation centre in the Greater Darwin area on July 25, 2024.

On Thursday, counsel assisting the coroner Chrissy McConnel said Ms Maki had a known history of domestic violence, as well as mental health issues.

Ms McConnel said on that night Ms Maki self harmed, and triple-0 was called.

However when paramedics arrived they could not get into her locked room so police were called to force open the door.

Ms McConnel said Ms Maki was “resistant to assistance” and was restrained so first aid could be provided, but she died at the scene.

“This is a particularly sensitive and traumatic matter for police, as I understand the scene was particularly graphic,” Ms McConnel said.

She said the incident was being investigated as a death in custody, due to direct police involvement before Ms Maki’s death.

Ms McConnel said this was “not as clear cut”, and it would be up to Ms Armitage to determine if it met the mandatory inquest criteria.

Coroner Elisabeth Armitage outside Darwin Local Court following Pukumani Alimankinni's death in care coronial on April 24, 2024. Picture: Zizi Averill

Ms Armitage said she was seeking Territory Families records in relation to Ms Maki, ahead of the next directions hearing.

The hearing comes as Ms Armitage separately prepares to hear the final submissions in Australia’s largest ever coronial inquest into domestic violence on Monday.

The Territory’s chief specialist forensic pathologist Marianne Tiemensma told the inquest while many women’s death certificate stated suicide, natural death, or a fatal crash, their bodies told the story of a long history of domestic violence.

“In our daily practice, whether you deal with suicide cases, natural cases, motor vehicle accident deaths – so frequently, you see a history of domestic violence and alcohol abuse,” Dr Tiemensma said in August last year.

“Some of the cases that we see, when you look at the bodies, and you look at the scars, it looks like somebody’s been living in a war zone for 20 years.”

Specialist Forensic Pathologist Marianne Tiemensma leaving the Supreme Court in Darwin. Picture: Zizi Averill

Dr Tiemensma said their abuse was often clearly documented through medical histories — sometimes spanning over decades — yet the system had “missed” the opportunities to intervene.

“Sometimes when you read it after a person has died from this, you just think: ‘But this was something waiting to happen for the last 20 years. This could have happened last year or last month or last week’,” Dr Tiemensma said.

“And I think if you look at the notes and you just think, ‘But how could you not have stopped this?’

“Anybody can see this coming.

“It’s almost like there’s a death sentence hanging over your head, because it is just a matter of time before this is going to happen.”