Decade anniversary into death of St Helens teen Eden Westbrook sparks calls for inquest

It is 10 years on Tuesday since the tragic passing of St Helens teen Eden Westbrook. Her family are still fighting on to ensure she gets justice, marking the anniversary with a vigil and call to action.

Eden Westbrook, 15, was deemed to have died by suicide in the Tasmanian east coast township of St Helens during 2015. But new evidence has come to light that she may have in fact been murdered. Picture: Supplied

“I am now 21 years old whereas Eden will remain 15 for the rest of my life; my older sister is now and forever will be younger than me due to what happened on that tragic night,” Sky Westbrook said on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of St Helens teen Eden Westbrook’s death.

Joined by brother Dontay and supporters, the Westbrook siblings renewed their calls for an inquest into the death of their sister Eden in 2015, where her body was found hanging from a tree in Fishermans Memorial Park, St Helens.

Sky Westbrook, sister of Eden Westbrook at Tuesday's vigil. Picture: GRANT

Her death was ruled a suicide by Tasmanian coroner Oliva McTaggart in 2016, despite inconsistencies highlighted in her case by her family, supporters and other experts.

“I have seen acts of cowardice from the systems and institutions who were meant to act as a pillar of strength for the people,” Sky said, who started studying law in Tasmania motivated by her sister’s death.

“I have seen this in the institutions that have withheld critical information from my family for 10 years.

“In the evidence connected to Eden’s case which disappeared or was never collected.”

Eden’s case has gained traction during the 10 years since her passing, including a popular podcast Our Little Edey, private investigation by high-profile Sydney Lawyer Peter Lavac; special investigation by 9News’ Liz Hayes For the Love of Eden including Mercury Court report Amber Wilson and, most recently, Senator Jacqui Lambie’s address to Federal Parliament.

Eden Westbrook, 15, died in the Tasmanian seaside township of St Helens in 2015. Picture: Supplied

Ms Lambie labelled the investigation as stinking “to high heaven of incompetence” and said she believed Eden had been murdered.

“This is a botched investigation at the very least,” Ms Lambie said in the Senate.

“The police had clearly decided from the start … nothing else to see.

“That was it, end of story.

“You didn’t even look to see if it was murder.

“You made your mind up.”

Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner attended Tuesday’s vigil, standing by as Dontay Westbrook criticised the way Eden’s death was treated.

“The police left Eden, my sister, hanging like she was put on show for the whole world to see for hours into the day, long enough for a school bus to go passed and take photos of Eden’s lifeless body,” he said.

Dontay Westbrook speaking at Tuesday's vigil. Picture: GRANT

“She would have never wanted that to be her last image.”

Dontay said the family would never “be whole again” after Eden’s death.

“That night when Eden died, it didn’t just change her life, it changed the lives of all those around her too,” he said.

“I’ll never get the years back I spent tormented by grief, but what I can do is make the most of now, whether that be treating myself to a day out or fighting for the truth or justice to be served in Eden’s name.”