Inquest investigates death of William George Grimes

Two young children have told a coronial inquest into their father’s death about their pain. It comes as the probe into the use of a police taser, training and resources continues.

An inquest is being held into the death of Maryborough's William George Grimes.

The young children of a man who died of severe burns following a standoff with police at a Maryborough school, have addressed an inquest investigating their father’s death.

William George Grimes died on March 10, 2020, aged 31.

The inquest has heard Mr Grimes ran from the police into Granville State School while holding a jerry can and a lighter and threatening to self-harm.

Police were responding to a triple-0 call made by Mr Grimes’ brother, David, after he left a suicide note and took the jerry can of fuel from the family’s Granville home.

Four officers who were at the scene that night, including Constable Lars Gartrell, who tasered Mr Grimes in an effort to prevent him from self-harming, have appeared at the inquest.

The decision to taser Mr Grimes has come under scrutiny this week after the inquest heard the flames that engulfed the father of two had been caused by either the taser or the lighter, but it was not possible to say which.

An inquest is being held into the death of Maryborough's William George Grimes.

For 20 minutes on Wednesday morning, the focus was taken off what was described as Mr Grimes’ “darkest moment” and the attention instead placed on the two people who were among those who loved and mourned him the most – his children Donte Grimes, 13, and Tarnia-Leigh Pratt, 11.

The inquest heard Mr Grimes had been a beloved father and mentor who had protected his children and enjoyed spending time with them.

Reading his statement to the court, Donte told the inquest he knew little surrounding the events of his father’s death.

He said he’d had the chance to see his father in hospital before he died, describing it as “upsetting”.

In the years since his father’s death, Donte described the struggled to cope with the pain and the feelings of loss he had experienced.

In particular, the knowledge of what he would miss out on experiencing with his father had caused distress, from milestones such as his first day at high school, to just seeing his face and spending time together.

“Life without dad is hard to deal with,” he said.

Donte shared fond memories of his dad playing guitar, saying that when he heard the songs his father used to play, his dad “came back” to him.

He told the inquest his father’s death had left a scar.

Tarnia-Leigh’s statement was read to the court.

In it she remembered the moments they had spent together, whether it was visiting her father at his workplace, arguing with her brother about who got to sit next to their dad in the car, having a frozen coke together or going for a walk.

She also spoke of the times she had been picked on at school for no longer having a father and the pain of seeing other dads at their children’s events.

“If he was alive, I know he would be there,” her statement read.

The statement also revealed she regularly visited her dad’s grave.

“It’s not the same, but it’s as close as I can get.”

Coroner Terry Ryan, who is hearing the inquest this week, thanked the children for sharing their statements and told them their father would be proud.

“I’m very sorry he’s not here with you,” he said.

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Originally published as Inquest investigates death of William George Grimes