Natalie Hatton charged with stalking

A Queensland woman says she fears for her own safety as she faces stalking charges after carrying out her own investigations into the shooting death of her young mother when Natalie was 10 weeks old.

Paul Hatton and his wife Julie Hatton with Natalie as a baby.

In a determined effort to uncover the truth about her mother’s suicide, a Gayndah woman has found herself on the wrong side of the law.

Natalie Hatton was 10 years old when she first learned the woman she thought was her mother was actually her stepmother, and that her biological mother - Julie Hatton nee Clifford - had shot herself in the middle of her forehead with a rifle in 1978.

Julie had been 22 years old, and her baby daughter 10 weeks old when the tragic incident took place on the family’s North Burnett property of Dareen.

Forty-five years later, Ms Hatton began to question the facts of her mother's death as they had been presented to her all those years ago.

She discovered no coronial inquiry had been completed, heard contradicting stories from those who were close to Julie and struggled to track down a paper trail relating to her death.

Natalie Hatton just wants the truth about her mother's death in 1978.

In April of 2023, Ms Hatton got hold of an 11-page coroner’s report from the Gayndah Courthouse, dated October 19, 1979, which said her mother’s death – caused by a gunshot wound to the forehead – had been ruled non suspicious.

Ms Hatton found it strange the report did not mention “suicide” or “self-inflicted” and that it also listed different locations where her mother died.

That same month, after reaching out to then Attorney-General and Justice Minister Shannon Fentiman, the Coroners Court of Queensland launched a coronial investigation into Julie’s death.

As the investigation continues and communication from the coroners office remains limited, Ms Hatton has shared her concerns on social media and her suspicions about her mother's death online, saying she hopes to raise awareness and gather information.

Natalie Hatton is trying to untangle the web of statements and documents relating to the death of her mother when Natalie was a 10-week-old baby. Photo Paul Beutel.

However, her choice to share insights into her journey to the “truth” and her suspicions of “foul play” have frustrated people who were close to her mother at the time of her death.

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, police attended Ms Hatton’s Mount Lawless property, and she later said she thought they had come to share updates into the investigation on the anniversary of her mother’s death.

The reality was far different, as police seized her phone and laptop before taking her to the Gayndah Police Station and charging her with two counts of stalking.

She was charged over some social media posts involving one of her alleged stalking victims: a relative and Queensland Police Service ­employee.

The charges are still before the court, with broad bail conditions requiring Ms Hatton refrain entirely from posting about her mother’s death or her own investigation.

“You must not make any posts to social media naming in any way, or implying the identity of any person who is a witness, a potential witness or is involved in the death of Julie Gay Hatton,” orders obtained by The Australian stated.

Paul Hatton and his wife Julie Hatton with Natalie as a baby.

“This includes mentioning versions or statements supplied to police by any person.”

On February 13, 2024, Ms Hatton was again arrested and charged with four counts of breaching her bail on the stalking charges after police allege she continued to post to social media discussing her mother’s post-­mortem results.

Court documents obtained by The Australian revealed police had tried to keep her in custody after she spent two nights in a cell at the Maryborough watch-house.

“A review of the defendant’s social media posts which have been provided to police indicate that she seems highly fixated on the investigation surrounding the death of her biological mother in 1978,” the documents state.

“The defendant is aware the coroner has directed police to make certain inquiries, but feels that is not sufficient.

“The defendant seems unable to let the coronial process take its course, making numerous posts to Facebook which mention various things in relation to her mother’s death and investigations surrounding it.”

Natalie Hatton was initially only able to find two documents relating to her mother's passing. The death certificate and this death notice published in the newspaper.

Ms Hatton pleaded guilty in February to the breach of bail charges she faced on the back of her stalking charges.

She claimed when she initially continued to share her mother’s story on social media she was unaware she was breaching a bail condition.

Despite pleading guilty to the breach of bail charges, Ms Hatton has formally pleaded not guilty to the stalking charges.

Her matter was listed for a mention on Friday, April 19, 2024 in a Gayndah court.

While she continues to share parts of her journey on social media, Ms Hatton said she was aware of just how “careful” she had to be about what she posts, and said her online presence was partly to keep her safe.

“If something happens to me, they can see my trail, it’s to protect myself,” she said.

Ms Hatton claims a lack of communication from the coroner's office in the past year had left her feeling excluded and “in the dark” about the investigation.

A Coroner's Court of Queensland spokesman confirmed the investigation was still under way, and now in the hands of coroner Don MacKenzie.

“Coroner Don MacKenzie has responsibility for leading the coronial investigation into Mrs Hatton’s death and is reviewing all investigative material,” the spokesman said.

“Due to the matter being an active investigation, the CCQ cannot provide any further comment at this time.”

Originally published as Natalie Hatton charged with stalking