‘I believe that something awful happened’: Lambie calls for inquest into Eden Westbrook case

“A botched investigation and potentially a blatant cover-up.” Outspoken Senator Jacqui Lambie has passionately spoken out about the Tasmanian tragedy of teenage girl, Eden Westbrook.

Senator Jacqui Lambie has delivered a passionate speech in the Senate about the death of Tasmanian teenager Eden Westbrook. She has called on the Attorney-General to hold a public inquest into the case. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Outspoken Senator Jacqui Lambie has weighed in to the Tasmanian tragedy of Eden Westbrook – calling on the Attorney-General to intervene and order a public inquest.

In a passionate speech delivered in Senate on Tuesday night, Senator Lambie raised concerns that the real circumstances behind Eden’s death may have been covered up by some members of Tasmania Police.

She also called for an independent commission of inquiry into the “integrity, impartiality, competence and effectiveness” of Tasmania Police and the state’s coronial and criminal justice systems.

Eden Westbrook, 15, was found deceased in central St Helens on February 18, 2015.

Her death was deemed a suicide by police and a coroner, but her family has long maintained she was in fact murdered.

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

The full complexity of Eden’s story has become more apparent over the years, with murder allegations by a whistleblower, claims of police bungling the investigation, and concerns over key evidence, witnesses, and why autopsy photos have not been released.

Revelations that Eden’s death investigation was overseen by now-deceased pedophile policeman Paul Reynolds has also thrown open more questions about the tragedy and its investigation.

“I believe, and I am not alone in this belief, that something awful happened, and that Eden was probably murdered,” Senator Lambie told the Senate.

“It is my worry that there is a small number of rotten apples in the Tasmanian police who appear to have engaged in a cover-up.”

Senator Lambie referred to a whistleblower who came forward in early 2023 to claim Eden had been strung up in a tree by an adult man and a younger female accomplice, with her death staged to look like a suicide.

She also referred to new evidence, revealed this week, from the woman who first found Eden’s body, who said she “straightaway” did “not think it was suicide”.

Senator Lambie said there were seemingly “numerous gaping holes” in the police investigation and reinvestigation, including the failure to interview critical witnesses, download information from Eden’s phone, or provide CCTV footage to the coroner.

“It also appears that no real forensic examination or analysis occurred,” she said.

She told the Senate it was “concerning” that Tasmania’s Coronial Division had refused to release autopsy photographs to an independent forensic pathologist – noting claims from Eden’s sisters they’d witnessed shattered teeth and bruising while preparing her funeral makeup.

“If there is nothing to hide, why not release the photos and let the parents properly grieve for their young daughter? They simply want the truth.”

Eden Westbrook. Picture: Supplied

Senator Lambie raised concerns the disgraced Reynolds – whose long history is now subject to an independent review – may have played a role in the “obviously deficient police investigation”.

She also noted allegations of child sexual abuse perpetrated by members of Tasmania Police in St Helens, and at St Helens District High School, around the time of Eden’s death.

“Was Eden somehow caught up in this awful activity?” Senator Lambie asked.

“Was she being groomed or even abused? Was she bashed and tied up before a staged hanging?”

She called on Attorney-General Guy Barnett to intervene and order a public inquest, as done by his predecessor Elise Archer in the case of Jari Wise.

“This case clearly needs an urgent public inquest headed by a respected interstate judge or coroner – and with independent counsel assisting from interstate – as soon as possible,” Senator Lambie said.

“The possible murder of a young girl and what appears to be a botched investigation and potentially a blatant cover-up should be of enormous concern to us all.”

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