Father of slain Margaret River family shocked that inquest was rejected

Aaron Cockman, who lost his three sons and daughter when their grandfather shot them dead, has been told an inquest is ‘not desirable.’

Aaron Cockman, who lost his four children after they were killed, together with their mother and grandmother, by their grandfather. Picture: Marie Nirme

The father of four children who were killed by their grandfather in Margaret River says he is shocked that his request for an inquest into their deaths has been rejected.

Aaron Cockman lost his daughter Taye, 13 and sons Rylan, 12, and Kayden, 8, and 10-year-old Ayre when they were shot dead, along with their mother Katrina and grandmother Cynda, by the children’s grandfather Peter Miles. He then killed himself.

The seven bodies were found on the grandparents’ rural property at Osmington, near Margaret River south of Perth, in May 2018. The tragedy that was the worst mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Mr Cockman, who had separated from his wife and had disputed access arrangements over his children in the WA Family Court, says he has been informed by State Coroner Ros Fogliani that a public inquest into the deaths is “not desirable .”

In a letter to Mr Cockman, she said “I am satisfied that all relevant lines of inquiry have been followed and that a coroner is now able to make the required findings about the deaths on the evidence that has already been obtained.”

She rejected Mr Cockman’s request, made last May, that she hold an inquest that would include examining the impact of family law proceedings leading up to the murders. She noted the Family Court proceedings had concluded more than 11 months before their deaths and there was no ‘nexus’.

Peter Miles (centre), with his wife Cynda Miles (back), their daughter Katrina Miles (R) and her four children. Picture: Courtesy of Nine News

In her letter to Mr Cockman, the Coroner said she had “considered the likelihood of an inquest uncovering important systemic defects or risks not already known about.” She told him an inquest is not likely to generate further relevant evidence.

Mr Cockman says he was told he had seven days to appeal to the Supreme Court if he objected to the Coroner’s decision.

He says he has written to the Coroner expressing his concern. “My children’s murders were splashed all over the media back in May 2018. I think the least they deserve is a full inquiry that may help stop this happening again. “

In February 2019, Mr Cockman launched the aaron4kids foundation at Parliament House in Canberra, calling on the Prime Minister to initiate a royal commission into the family law system. His call was backed by For Kids Sake, a non-profit organisation dedicated to “healthier approaches” to family separation.

Karen Clarke, from For Kids Sake, said family breakdown in 2020 is a public health crisis. “If state coroners are unwilling to investigate these horrific murders of children and family members fully and transparently, then we need a formal, national investigation.”

“We can’t just keep saying these murders are unpredictable events carried out by evil people. Not when there’s data that shows how many of these horrific events are linked to family break-ups and family law proceedings,” she said.