Top cop denies police wrongdoing into death investigation of Eden Westbrook

Police have denied they botched the investigation into the tragic death of a St Helens teenage girl. But all hope is not lost, as the girl’s father continues his push for an inquest to be reopened.

• Dad wants inquest reopened into daughter’s tragic St Helens death
• Premier tells grieving dad mistakes weren’t made in daughter’s death investigation

DEPUTY Commissioner Scott Tilyard has denied any police wrongdoing following the tragic death of a St Helens teenage girl and the subsequent investigation.

But his comments have done little to assuage the anger of the girl’s father, who says he won’t stop asking tough questions until the truth is written for his daughter.

Eden Westbrook died in February 2015, with a coroner deeming the following year in a confidential report that she died by self harm.

But her father Jason claims serious mistakes were made during the investigation, and that foul play should not yet be ruled out.

Eden Westbrook, 15, died during 2015 at St Helens. Her dad is now pushing for an inquest into her death to be reopened, arguing foul play should not be ruled out. Picture: Supplied

He has also raised concerns that Rene Hidding, who was then Police Minister, obtained a copy of the confidential and sensitive 2016 coronial findings without Mr or Mrs Westbrook’s permission.

Deputy Commissioner Tilyard, in a recent letter to Mr Westbrook, denied his allegations that police had failed to speak with several key people related to Eden’s death.

He said that an investigator had spoken to one person, couldn’t recall if he’d spoken to a second but had deemed their comments on Facebook not to be relevant, and claimed he hadn’t provided any inconsistent information to the coroner.

Regarding Mr Westbrook’s concerns that CCTV footage from the night of Eden’s death hadn’t been provided to the coroner, Deputy Commissioner Tilyard said he’d been advised the footage wasn’t of value given its poor quality and low visibility.

Deputy Commissioner Tilyard also said Mr Hidding had obtained the report lawfully.

Last month, Premier Peter Gutwein wrote to Mr Westbrook, declining to intervene in the case and deeming it was “quite correct” for Mr Hidding to obtain the report.

Meanwhile, the Coronial Division has responded to Mr Westbrook’s request to reopen the inquest, with Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason currently reviewing his application.

“My plan is to continue with the tough questions until the truth is written for Eden,” Mr Westbrook said.

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