Attorney-General to intervene in mother’s fight for inquest into roadside death of son Jari Wise
The Attorney-General will intervene in an upcoming Supreme Court case waged by a mother seeking an inquest into her son’s death.
Police & Courts
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- Jari Wise’s grieving mother takes inquest fight to Supreme Court
- Jari Wise’s grieving mother fights for changes to help recognise male victims
ATTORNEY-General Elise Archer will intervene in an upcoming court battle fought by a grieving mother demanding an inquest into her son’s roadside death.
Later this year, Faith Tkalac will face the Supreme Court of Tasmania in a bid to overturn a decision by Coroner Simon Cooper not to hold an inquest into Huonville death of her son, Jari Wise.
Ms Tkalac has questioned the police investigation after Mr Wise was struck dead by a car driven by his girlfriend Melissa Oates at Huonville last year.
She also says the cause of his death has never been determined in court.
Ms Archer has now written to Ms Tkalac, advising Mr Cooper would not take active part in the proceedings, leaving the case without a respondent.
“This could leave the court in a difficult position,” she said in her letter.
“Applications such as yours under … the Coroners Act are very rare, which itself is a good reason for an Attorney-General to apply to be made a party.
“I have been advised that I should seek to adopt that role in this proceeding, not to oppose what you seek, but rather to assist the court in making its decision.”
A directions hearing has been set down for August 31.
Meanwhile, Ms Tkalac has arranged a Men Matter march to be held in Elizabeth Street mall on Father’s Day.
She said the event aimed to celebrate dads with their children and recognise that men can be victims of domestic violence too.
Oates, a 35-year-old mother-of-four, was not charged with causing Mr Wise’s death in the wake of the February 2020 tragedy.
However, she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drink driving and failing to stop and assist in an accident, and is currently serving an eight-month jail sentence.
She was later convicted in the Hobart Magistrates Court of two more crimes against Mr Wise – common assault and injuring property.
Ms Tkalac has since waged a campaign – including waiting outside Ms Archer’s office for several days – in support of male victims of domestic violence.
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