Coroners Court of Victoria
An Indigenous man died slowly in his cell. A coroner says the prison could have prevented it
Aunty Donnis Kerr says the death of her 32-year-old son, Joshua, is another example of authorities failing to act to prevent the deaths of Indigenous people in custody.
- by Erin Pearson
Latest
Years-long delays holding up vital advice that could help prevent family violence
A tripling in the workload of a specialised family violence unit at the Coroners Court is delaying the delivery of recommendations to prevent further tragedies.
- by Chris Vedelago
A ‘proud Wemba Wemba’ girl wrote a letter asking for help. The state didn’t listen
The 17-year-old took her own life in 2021, and a coroner found her human rights were breached when a Victorian department did not listen to her desire for culturally competent care.
- by Emily Woods
Dad’s plea for concussed son to give boxing ‘a rest’ before brain bleed death
George Diamond had weeks of concussion symptoms after a head knock at his boxing gym, but despite the concerns of family he returned to the ring.
- by David Estcourt
Teen died after getting 64 prescriptions from 31 doctors
The death of a 16-year-old who overdosed after receiving three prescriptions for addictive drugs in the days before his death has triggered a coroner’s warning that many GPs are ignoring a watchlist to prevent “doctor shopping”.
- by David Estcourt
Exclusive
Domestic violence
‘The sky became three stars richer’: Father recalls losing his family in deliberate car fire
James Swan Palakamannil sobbed as he recalled to a courtroom the night his wife took her life and those of their two young girls.
- by Erin Pearson
Killer who reached over children to stab ex had fallen through the cracks, coroner hears
James Leonard Fairhall murdered Noeline Dalzell after arriving at the family home in breach of safety orders.
- by Erin Pearson
Chronic staffing issues still plaguing hospital that discharged toddler who died
Two and a half years after the death of Noah Souvatzis, an emergency department doctor says he is kept up at night by unacceptable patient waiting times.
- by Erin Pearson
Doctor’s regret over treatment of toddler who died after being discharged
Paul Bumford told a coroner he was on his first locum shift at Wangaratta hospital when he treated Noah Souvatzis and should have escalated his care to a more senior doctor.
- by Erin Pearson
Parents’ fight to save their toddler from a broken health system
Noah loved cuddles, the swings and music, but his parents say a chaotic and under-resourced regional health system took the 19-month-old from them.
- by Erin Pearson
Analysis
For subscribers
It took minutes for Nick to die during a triple-zero delay, but the crisis was months in the making
The failures of Victoria’s emergency call-taking service during the pandemic have been exposed as it emerged other states acted to prepare.
- by Aisha Dow
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/coroners-court-of-victoria-1neq