Ngeygo Ragurrk inquest told of multiple failed arrests in lead up to Mindil Beach killing

A killer who admitted setting a car on fire, assaulting and threatening women, and who tried to burn down a petrol station was not arrested by police.

Police have released police body cam of Garsek Nawirridj after he admitted to setting a car alight at Fannie Bay. He was not arrested on December 23, 2019 and later killed his wife Ngeygo Ragurrk.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the names and image of Indigenous people who have died, used with the permission of their families.

Police admit they missed the “red flags” in failing to arrest a violent abuser after he burnt a car and assaulted women, before threatening to turn a petrol station into a ball of flames.

On the third day of a coronial inquiry investigating the killing of Ngeygo Ragurrk, the ability for police to recognise risk — particularly with domestic violence — has come under intense scrutiny.

Constable Justine Yanner told the inquest that as a general duties police officer, more than 80 per cent of her jobs were call-outs to domestic violence incidents.

Yet, when Constable Yanner faced the man who would eventually kill Ngeygo, she said she missed the “red flags”.

On the morning of December 23, 2019, Constable Yanner and three other officers were called to Fannie Bay after neighbours reported a car fire.

Police have released police body cam of Garsek Nawirridj after he admitted to setting a car alight at Fannie Bay. He was not arrested on December 23, 2019 and later killed his wife Ngeygo Ragurrk.

“I had an argument with my missus, she ran away from me and I burnt this car,” Garsek Nawirridj told Constable Yanner.

Body worn cameras recorded the moment the known domestic violence abuser demonstrated to police how he stuffed the bonnet with coconut leaves and sparked a lighter over the bonnet — even mourning the Christmas presents he had destroyed in his fit of rage.

“I’m sorry, take me to prison.” Nawirridj was heard saying.

“I was getting angry with her, and I told her I would burn the car and I did. I burned the car.”

The intoxicated man told officers his injuries — a scratch to his neck and a bump on the head — were from a fight, and that his wife was “somewhere here hiding”.

A NT coronial inquest is investigating the killing of a 40-year-old Mirrangagu woman from the Manjungung clan, known for cultural reasons as Ngeygo Ragurrk.

The inquest heard officers did not check Nawirridj’s criminal history, which would have revealed a long history of violence.

Nawirridj told them there was a warrant out for him, and he had breached a court order.

Yet officers did not arrest him.

“I’m just having difficulty understanding why there was no further follow up to investigate about the welfare of his wife,” Coroner Elisabeth Armitage said.

“You don’t normally come across burning cars, and for someone to have said that they’ve been arguing with their wife, he was injured, she’s run away, and now he’s set fire to a car — that is a reasonably significant incident.

“It’s quite a threatening act.”

Constable Yanner acknowledged that Ngeygo was likely very afraid and scared, and said it was unclear why no one followed up to find her that morning.

Counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer asked Constable Yanner if she should have been more suspicious of Nawirridj.

Counsel assisting the Coroner, Peggy Dwyer asked arresting police if more training was needed to recognise domestic violence risks.

“In hindsight, yeah I wish I did things different,” she said.

“I think I missed the red flags, I don’t think it’s because of a lack of training.

“I don’t think I would benefit from any more training.”

But Dr Dwyer said three other officers also missed those same signs, suggesting indeed more domestic violence risk-assessment training was needed.

“Yes,” Constable Yanner replied.

Over the next hour Nawirridj would assault and threaten other women before threatening to blow up a petrol station.

First Class Constable Christopher Davies was called to all three incidents, and admitted he failed to stop the man running amok.

The family of a woman killed by her husband at Mindil Beach on December 23, 2019 has provided an image of Ngeygo Ragurrk when she was 18 years old at Goulburn Island.

“I can’t believe that I had the information he threatened to burn a petrol station down, on top of the fact that I believed he could be arrested for the arson of a vehicle — and not act on it,” Constable Davies said.

“I don’t know why. I have no answer to that. It’s a failing.”

Dr Dwyer asked Constable Davies if other officers would benefit from training to recognise risks, critical thinking, and the importance of checking history — to remind them “what goes wrong when you don’t put the pieces of the puzzle together”.

“Everyone benefits from training,” he said.

Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage is holding four inquests investigating the domestic violence killings of four women. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The inquiry has repeatedly heard officers remembered doing domestic violence courses by studying the Act, but could not remember any specific risk assessment, or expert training.

Instead of arresting Nawirridj police took him to hospital, which he left once he sobered up.

On his next night shift, Constable Davies was told the man he failed to arrest had tortured and killed his wife next to the Mindil Beach Casino.

Among the charges were the offences he failed to lay — making threats to kill, assault, arson, and threats to burn.

In 2021, Nawirridj pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his wife and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with his parole period making him eligible for release by 2028.

The latest NT Ombudsman annual report noted there were six sustained complaints against police for failing to regard domestic violence and sexual assault cases, including six instances of failure to investigate, two of failure to provide victim support, and one where they failed to check if there was a DVO in place.

The NT Police annual report said there were 39 complaints about their investigation of family violence incidents involving police, only one was sustained but there was no mention of investigations into the remaining 38 complaints.

The 2020-21 annual report said 63 per cent of all reported assaults were domestic and family violence related, with the victimisation rate for Aboriginal people 18 times higher.

Originally published as Ngeygo Ragurrk inquest told of multiple failed arrests in lead up to Mindil Beach killing